Brad Pitt is drinking alcohol again after seven years of sobriety — and some of the people who reportedly stood beside him during his Alcoholics Anonymous journey are said to be worried about what could happen next.
The 62-year-old Hollywood star has revealed that he returned to drinking after years of staying completely sober following the bitter collapse of his marriage to Angelina Jolie.
Pitt insists things are different now. Rather than returning to his old habits, the Fight Club actor says he keeps his drinking under control and limits himself to a few drinks.
But according to sources, not everyone in his former AA circle is convinced that moderation is worth the risk.
“There are people Brad met through AA who are genuinely concerned,” one Hollywood insider claimed.
“They remember how seriously he approached sobriety and what his life looked like before he stopped drinking. For them, the worry is that somebody with that history cannot necessarily assume moderate drinking will remain moderate forever.”
Pitt Admits He’s Drinking Again
Pitt recently opened up about his relationship with alcohol, revealing that his seven-year stretch of sobriety eventually came to an end.
“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” Pitt told Esquire.
The Oscar winner said he now approaches alcohol in a much more restrained way.
Pitt acknowledged that he had become “over-confident a couple times” before realizing he needed firm boundaries.
“I can have a few,” he said. “I have to be professional about it.”
His girlfriend, jewelry executive Ines de Ramon, 33, is reportedly aware of Pitt’s difficult history with alcohol and has become an important source of stability in his life.
Sources claim Pitt’s return to drinking did not happen overnight. Instead, friends gradually noticed that he had begun having alcohol socially while spending time with de Ramon and others.
“Brad believes he understands himself much better now and has established boundaries,” a source said.
But some of the people who knew him during his AA years reportedly remain uneasy.
“They supported him through a period when complete abstinence became incredibly important to him, so naturally this is difficult for them to see,” the insider added.
Pitt Previously Said He Hit Rock Bottom
Pitt has been remarkably open in recent years about how badly he was struggling before getting sober.
Speaking on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the actor admitted he reached a point where he knew something in his life had to change.
“I was pretty much on my knees, and I was really open,” Pitt said. “It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting. I needed to wake the f— up in some areas.”
Pitt has also credited fellow actor Bradley Cooper with helping him during his sobriety journey.
While presenting Cooper with an award in 2020, Pitt told him: “Every day’s been happier ever since. I love you and I thank you.”
Drinking Became Part of Bitter Jolie Split
Pitt stopped drinking following the infamous September 2016 incident aboard a private plane that came shortly before Jolie filed for divorce.
Jolie later alleged in court documents that Pitt had been intoxicated and became physically aggressive toward her and some of their children during the flight.
Pitt was investigated by federal authorities but was never criminally charged. Child welfare officials also did not bring abuse charges against him.
The highly publicized incident became a major turning point in Pitt’s life.
His relationships with several of his children have since deteriorated, with some reportedly dropping “Pitt” from their surnames.
However, sources insist Pitt’s decision to begin drinking again was not triggered by his family estrangement.
Friends Hope He Knows What He’s Doing
Despite the turmoil in his personal life, Pitt’s career has continued to soar.
His Plan B Entertainment helped produce the Oscar-winning Moonlight, while Pitt won an Academy Award for his performance in Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood. More recently, he took the lead in F1: The Movie.
Those close to Pitt also reportedly see de Ramon as a calming influence as the actor enters this new chapter.
“Ines knows his history and understands why people are concerned,” a source said.
For Pitt, the belief is that seven years of sobriety gave him a much clearer understanding of himself and his limits.
His worried AA friends, however, reportedly see the situation differently.
After watching him rebuild his life without alcohol, they are said to be hoping one of Hollywood’s biggest stars is not taking a gamble that could undo years of progress.
