Brad Pitt Confesses to “Diabolical” Fart That Forced Entire Film Set to Evacuate
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Brad Pitt may be a two-time Oscar winner and one of Hollywood’s most beloved leading men, but his journey to stardom wasn’t always glamorous—especially when it came to a now-infamous incident early in his career involving a particularly “diabolical” fart.
On the July 2 episode of the New Heights podcast, hosted by NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce, the 61-year-old actor shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes story from one of his early indie film shoots. Pitt recalled filming a scene in a cramped, sweltering café packed with about 60 crew members. His character hadn’t eaten in days but was finally served a big plate of beans and bacon.
Determined to nail the scene, Pitt went all-in, method acting by consuming the same heavy meal multiple times across several takes. “I just powered down this plate of beans. Take two, do the same thing. Take three, I do the same thing. Take four, I do the same thing,” he explained.
But after the fourth take, nature called in a way no one expected. “There was nothing I could do. I was stuck in this chair, and nature took its course,” Pitt recalled. Initially, he thought he had escaped the embarrassment. “Then there was nothing. I went, ‘Oh, great. I got away with that one.’”
That sense of relief was short-lived. Suddenly, “the most diabolical something-something descended on the crew in the whole room,” forcing everyone to flee the café. The stench was so overwhelming it effectively evacuated the set.
Since that memorable experience, Pitt admits he has learned to “pace myself” when it comes to meals on set.
The story is just one of many amusing anecdotes Pitt shared about his early struggles in Hollywood. After landing his first speaking role in a 1987 episode of the soap opera Another World, Pitt was thrilled when his photo appeared in USA Today. Proudly, he sent the clipping to his parents with the message, “Look ma, I made it.”
However, not every moment was smooth sailing. Pitt recalled an awkward encounter involving that very photo during a visit to a friend’s apartment, where he spotted the newspaper clipping placed “right next to a big cat turd” in a litter box—a humbling reminder of his humble beginnings.
Now, decades into his celebrated career, Brad Pitt can look back and laugh at these stinky moments that shaped his path to Hollywood stardom.