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Tag: sober stars

  • "Vanderpump Rules" Star James Kennedy Is 5 Months Sober

    "Vanderpump Rules" Star James Kennedy Is 5 Months Sober

    “I never realized how much alcohol was slowing me down and making me procrastinate in big life things that I could be pursuing now,” Kennedy says.

    Reality TV star James Kennedy is enjoying his newfound sobriety. The Vanderpump Rules star, who infamously showcased his heavy drinking on the show, spoke to People during BravoCon, a convention dedicated to all things related to the popular basica cable channel that is home to Rules and the Real Housewives franchise.

    “I don’t drink anymore,” the 27-year-old told People. “I’m five months sober now. It’s been incredible.”

    Going Public With His Sobriety

    Kennedy first went public with his sober journey on Instagram back in August. In the post, he announced that he was coming upon four weeks of sobriety and fans showered him with support. Prior to becoming sober, Kennedy’s problematic relationship with alcohol was highlighted on the show as he lost work due to his drinking and hurt many friendships that he had cultivated with other stars of the show. 

    “I never realized how much alcohol was slowing me down and making me procrastinate in big life things that I could be pursuing now,” he told People during BravoCon. “My career is getting even bigger and my deejaying is really taking off so I’m taking it seriously. I’m going to take over!”

    Now that’s he sober, he has had to learn to deal with stage fright and anxiety without the aid of alcohol.

    “I’m dealing with all the anxiety and pre-show jitters without drowning myself in vodka,” he described. “You’ll see this season what I do to actually get over alcohol, it was a process for sure. I take it day by day and keep it gangsta.”

    Lala’s Sober Journey

    Kennedy’s Vanderpump Rules castmate Lala Kent is also thriving in sobriety, having just celebrated her first-year sober in October. Kent opened up about her decision to become sober back in March. 

    “Five months ago, I came to the realization that I am an alcoholic, and I am now a friend of Bill W., which you will never know how much this program means to me [and] has given me new life,” Kent said in an Instagram story, according to People. 

    “I always say if you don’t have to be sober, I wouldn’t recommend it, but me—as someone who does need to be sober—being in my right frame of mind every single day is truly incredible. When I’m having the roughest day that I could possibly have, I—for once in a very, very long time—see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know that tomorrow I’m gonna be okay,” Kent said. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • A Tearful John Stamos Thanks Jodie Sweetin For Helping Him Get Sober

    A Tearful John Stamos Thanks Jodie Sweetin For Helping Him Get Sober

    Stamos tearfully thanked his “Full House” co-star Jodie Sweetin for helping him when he hit rock bottom.

    Actor John Stamos publicly thanked his Full House co-star Jodie Sweetin for being there when he hit rock bottom and pushing him to get sober.

    Stamos was speaking for an audience at Los Angeles’ Skirball Cultural Center, where he presented her with the Experience, Strength and Hope Award.

    Sweetin was being honored for her advocacy for the recovery community and her memoir, UnSweetined.

    Stamos recounted how he got sober four years ago after hitting rock bottom and turned to Sweetin for guidance.

    “It took me a long time, a long time disappointing everyone who cared about me, culminating in a terrible DUI where I could have killed somebody,” Stamos told the audience. “I hit rock bottom. Jodie lovingly allowed me to walk my own path and when I finally humbled myself to ask for your help, I realized that the perky little blabbermouth had become the master of wisdom and was right by my side during some of the most difficult days of my life.”

    Sweetin, who herself is now eight years sober, helped by organizing 12-step meetings at Stamos’ house as well as on the set of Fuller House, Netflix’s sequel series to the original Full House.

    “Thank god, my wife and my new son will only know me as a sober husband and father,” said Stamos. “This is Jodie’s legacy in my life.”

    Stamos also shouted out Sweetin on Instagram, posting a photo from the Full House series and captioning it with his gratitude.

    “Proud moment last night honoring @jodiesweetin at the Experience, Hope & Strength Awards. Who knew this little blonde scene-stealer in a side pony-tale would grow up and change so many lives. (Mine included),” he wrote. “Her sobriety is inspirational to say the least. Congrats Jodie on this award recognizing your extraordinary journey. You give so many people HOPE. Love you! UJ”

    The signing of “UJ” likely means “Uncle Jessie,” referring to their characters’ relationship in Full House.

    On stage, Sweetin had kind words in response.

    “John, I’m so proud of you and it’s been the greatest thing to watch someone that you love have the light come back on again,” she spoke.

    Last week, Sweetin spoke to The Fix’s John Lavitt about acting, sobriety, and social media in an exclusive interview.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • John Goodman Dishes on Sobriety, Roseanne Barr & Showbiz

    John Goodman Dishes on Sobriety, Roseanne Barr & Showbiz

    The 66-year old-character actor gave up alcohol in 2007 and still attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings almost every day.

    John Goodman, 66-year-old character actor and Roseanne star, shared details about his life, including his struggles with alcohol, in an interview with The Sunday Times.

    Goodman now lives in New Orleans with his wife, Annabeth. Despite an earlier prediction that his career would have dried up by now, he has roles on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones and BBC2’s Black Earth Rising.

    However, his life may not be as idyllic if he had not gotten his alcoholism under control, he revealed.

    “I was an alcoholic parent. If I saw a bottle of vodka I had to have it, it was a compulsion,” he told The Times. “My wife had given up on me, I sometimes wondered if she was just waiting for me to die. She’d had enough.”

    Goodman gave up alcohol in 2007 and has been sober since then. He says he still goes to Alcoholics Anonymous almost every day. “You never beat it, it’s a daily thing,” he said.

    When the interviewer suggested that beating alcoholism must have taken a lot of willpower, Goodman declined to take credit.

    “It didn’t have anything to do with will. It just grew old,” he admitted. “I was unhealthy and I was hurting people and I tired of it.”

    Giving up alcohol also gave way to healthier living for Goodman. He began to eat less and exercise more, and despite two knee replacements is feeling the best he’s felt in years.

    “I do about 40 minutes on an elliptical machine every day. And I don’t eat as much as I used to. I was eating alcoholically—with both hands,” he said, adding that he does not follow any special diet plans. “I just eat smaller portions.”

    His career, and happiness, recently took a hit with the cancellation of the Roseanne revival due to a racist tweet by the show’s titular star, Roseanne Barr.

    “I was broken-hearted, but I thought, ‘OK, it’s just show business, I’m going to let it go.’ But I went through a period, about a month, where I was very depressed,” he revealed. “I’m a depressive anyway, so any excuse that I can get to lower myself, I will. But that had a great deal to do with it, more than I wanted to admit.”

    He did not expect the network, ABC, to react the way it did.

    “I was surprised. I’ll put it this way, I was surprised at the response. And that’s probably all I should say about it,” he said, pausing. “I know, I know, for a fact that she’s not a racist.”

    View the original article at thefix.com