Brad Pitt Opens Up About Battling Dark Thoughts After Angelina Jolie Split: "This Ain't Easy"

In a heart-wrenching confession, Hollywood icon Brad Pitt reveals he felt "suicidal" navigating the fallout from his split with Angelina Jolie, 10 years on. Speaking candidly to Esquire, the award-winning actor shared, "I've never been suicidal except for one little period. And in that one little period, I just thought — I just couldn’t — just didn’t see a way out." Recounting his darkest moments, Pitt continued, "The pain was so oppressive that — I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel — I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief. And I thought, 'Oh, okay, now I understand' — I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain." Despite this harrowing revelation, Pitt stressed, "Family stuff," when asked about his struggles with "kid stuff." He added, "This s--t ain't easy. And you’re talking to a guy who won the lottery." The "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" star, 62, shares six children with Jolie — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox. However, Pitt did not wish to elaborate further on the sensitive topic. As Page Six reached out to Jolie for comment but did not receive an immediate response, the details of their ongoing challenges remain private. The "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" co-stars separated in 2016, with Jolie filing for divorce and requesting full custody following an alleged abusive incident on a private jet. However, no charges were brought against Pitt by the FBI. Following years of legal battles, the former couple was declared legally single in 2019 and finally settled their divorce in December 2024. Reports suggest that Pitt remains estranged from some of his children despite making several attempts to reconnect. If you or someone you know is struggling with similar issues, please reach out for help at SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).