Hollywood star Brad Pitt has opened up for the first time about his much publicised split from actor wife Angelina Jolie, saying that the end of the marriage had a “jarring” affect on their kids.
Jolie, 41, filed for divorce last September after a reported altercation involving the couple’s 15-year-old son, Maddox, which led to an investigation by the FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Pitt was ultimately given a clean chit by the agencies.
In a recent interview with GQ magazine, the 53-year-old actor said he and Jolie are now primarily focused on co- parenting their six children.
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“I was really on my back and chained to a system when Child Services was called. And you know, after that, we’ve been able to work together to sort this out. We’re both doing our best. I heard one lawyer say, ‘No one wins in court — it’s just a matter of who gets hurt worse.’ And it seems to be true,” he said.
Court proceedings are just an “investment in vitriolic hatred”, he added.
“You spend a year just focused on building a case to prove your point and why you’re right and why they’re wrong... I just refuse. And fortunately my partner (Jolie) in this agrees. It’s just very, very jarring for the kids, to suddenly have their family ripped apart,” Pitt said.
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While the actor said he was still grieving the end of his marriage and joy remained “elusive”, he revealed that after the separation he had abandoned substance use — including alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes — and had been “sober” for six months.
“...I’m really, really happy to be done with all of that. I mean, I stopped everything except boozing when I started my family. But even this last year, you know — things I wasn’t dealing with. I was boozing too much. It’s just become a problem. And I’m really happy it’s been half a year now, which is bittersweet, but I’ve got my feelings in my fingertips again,” Pitt said.
The star delved into his destructive drinking habits.
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“I mean, we have a winery. I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground. I had to step away for a minute. And truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good,” he said.