“She doesn’t believe Brad has fundamentally changed. She believes Brad is who Brad is, and no amount of sobriety or reinvention changes that,” the source alleged.
Brad Pitt (left) and Angelina Jolie attending the premiere of Maleficent at Kensington Palace, London in 2014. Photo / Getty Images
Pitt quit drinking after his separation from Jolie, following a private-plane incident in 2016 that marked a turning point in their relationship. Jolie later accused Pitt of abusive behaviour during the flight involving her and their children, allegations Pitt has denied or disputed.
In 2017, Pitt told GQ he had to “step away” from alcohol, famously remarking that he could previously “drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka”.
He later credited actor Bradley Cooper for helping him get sober and spoke about attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Pitt described his current approach to alcohol as “more restrained”, explaining that while he can now have “a few glasses of wine”, he remains cautious because he “can’t have a lot” and must remain professional. He admitted to becoming “overconfident” a couple of times before realising that large quantities were “not good for me”.
His admission came after he was photographed drinking at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s celebrity-filled wedding celebration at Madison Square Garden in July. Page Six reported that some guests were surprised to see the Oscar winner drinking after years of sobriety.
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and their six children Maddox Jolie, Pax Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie, Shiloh Jolie, Knox Jolie and Vivienne Jolie, pictured at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan in 2011. Photo / Getty Images
In the interview with Esquire UK, Pitt reflected on the “oppressive” pain he felt during the “family stuff” following the 2016 split. He said there was a brief period where he felt “suicidal” because he “didn’t see a way out”, though he noted that his survival instincts eventually kicked in.
The news of his return to drinking comes amid ongoing legal battles with Jolie over their French winery, Chateau Miraval, and reports that several of his children have legally dropped “Pitt” from their surnames.