Brad Pitt opens up about his alcoholism: "I was practically on my knees."

BarcelonaWhile Hollywood had traditionally tried to hide from the general public all the issues its actors and actresses had that might make them seem like human beings rather than gods, the tables have turned, and the industry is increasingly less inclined to allow its stars to reveal some parts of their real lives, even though this may reveal some parts of their real lives. In the face of a more empathetic society, one that judges them less for being human, some of the greatest icons of the Mecca of cinema dare to show the wounds life has left them, which sends a beneficial message of relief to all those who, subjugated to idolization as something that has happened so often will happen to something that has happened. In other words, it helps us not feel so guilty about not being perfect in a society as demanding and competitive as that of this late-stage, digital capitalism in which we live.

One of the last to open up to the general public about one of the biggest problems of his life has been Brad Pitt, who after 40 years permanently on screen and at 61 years old, has spoken openly about the serious alcohol addiction he suffered until recently. In a US podcast presented by actor Dax Shephard, Pitt explained very intimate emotional details about his state of mind when he entered the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, where he coincided with Shephard. "My first day [at Alcoholics Anonymous] was my first day sober and I think it was simply incredible. We were men sharing experiences, mistakes, setbacks, needs, and with a great sense of humor," Pitt recalled about his first time there. In fact, as he explains, the experience was so positive that he wanted to do it again: "Something I was looking forward to came back."

Although when he arrived, he says he was "practically on my knees and very vulnerable" because he had already "tried everything," he says he felt calm and was able to overcome the shyness he felt when it came to opening up about his experience. "I had tried everything they offered me before, it was a difficult time," he recalls about his arrival at that group. Soon after, he explains that he began to take responsibility for what had been happening to him in relation to alcohol: "I realized that I had become very responsible for my problem. I'm very good at taking responsibility for things. That helped me take control of the situation and made it like a mission now, you know?" "It's like: 'Now what do I do with this? How can I fix it? And what can I do to prevent it from happening again?'" reflects the artist, from whom Angelina Jolie officially filed for divorce in 2021, in part, due to these problems.

After Alcoholics Anonymous, Pitt says he began doing solitary therapy, where he claims he initially practiced self-pity but hints that this has since changed. "When I've gotten into trouble, I'm pretty good at taking responsibility and facing the facts. Now I ask myself, 'How can I fix a problem and make sure it doesn't happen again?'" reveals the actor, who is estranged from the six children he shared with Jolie, most of whom have dropped their surnames.

In fact, it's hard to believe some of the messages Pitt communicates in this interview can't also be read as internal family messages. Now that so much distance has been created between him and his children, it can't be ruled out that this is one of the few ways he has at his disposal to secretly apologize to children who want nothing to do with him. And if there's one thing that hasn't changed in Hollywood over the decades, it's that the mix between the public and private lives of its stars has never been completely disconnected. It was when Jane Fonda and her father—with whom she had so many differences—filmed Where golden pond In 1981, it's the same now as it was then. The only difference is that the place where it all came together was a film, while now it's a podcast. With mobile phones and social media, escaping constant public scrutiny is impossible. Or to put it another way: actors and actresses can't prevent their saddest circumstances from being revealed now that they don't even have the favor of the media. Preferential treatment from stars. The bought media has dried up, and this has coincided with networks hungry for fresh meat every second. celebrities have decided to monetize or take advantage in one way or another of the misfortunes that they know they will not be able to hide.

If we add to all this the fact that the bad press that Brad Pitt had with his divorce needed to be counteracted in order to remain at the top of the royal hierarchy of the mass media, it was obvious that this moment of confession had to come. In fact, he'd already dropped some pills along these lines in the past, but the exorcism he needs involves long-term work. Killing the old, tainted Brad and replacing him in our minds with a self-aware, empathetic, and responsible one isn't a task that can be accomplished in two days. Perhaps that's why he's decided to make a change of heart in the process. look which has gone from a very traditional and canonical Hollywood elegance to avant-garde and fluid bets that seem to want to place it in the spotlight of some LGTBIQ+ minorities and of generation Z, to which its children belong.

But waiting to find out if this rebranding takes its toll on his public profile and the personal and family problems caused by alcoholism, we'll have to stick with a sad line of analysis that we haven't yet discussed. All this catharsis that Pitt is doing in front of the media coincides with the promotion of his new film, F1, in which she stars alongside Javier Bardem, which was produced by Lewis Hamilton and cost $300 million. If she embarks on the path to recovery, the media spectacle will have been worth it.