Brad Pitt, Naomi Campbell, and Sir Elton John have all spoken candidly about their sobriety journeys. Photo/AP
In recent years, more and more celebrities have spoken out about their journeys to sobriety and why they chose to stop drinking completely.
Anne Hathaway's journey to sobriety has been in the headlines recently.
The mother of two revealed in a recent interview that she hasn't had a drink in five years. New York Times.
“I don't usually talk about it, but I've been sober for over five years,” she said, confirming that she got sober in 2019.
“It feels like a milestone to me.”
She's not the only A-lister living alcohol-free. Here are seven stars who spoke out about sobriety.
sir elton john
It's no secret that the beloved Piano Man once struggled with the dark side of fame.
Early in his rise to stardom, John fell into constant drug and alcohol abuse, and confessed to spending most of the 1970s and 1980s in a “drug haze”. But after witnessing the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic in 1990, he decided to come clean.
he said correction 2017: “Within six months, I was sober and have remained so for the next 27 years.”
The Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award (EGOT) winner remains open about his decision to say goodbye to drugs once and for all.
In 2020, while celebrating 30 years of sobriety, he told fans in a social media post: “If I hadn't taken the big step of asking for help 30 years ago, I would have died. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has inspired and supported me along the way. ” he wrote.
John also shared a photo of a cake shaped like the number 30, a 30-year recovery chip and a table filled with cards from friends and family.
The latter photo was accompanied by the following caption: “I'm looking back on the most magical day celebrating my 30th sober birthday. I received so many lovely cards, flowers and chips from my sons, David, friends from the program, and staff at the office and home. I am a truly blessed person.”
miley cyrus
The pop star also sparked global headlines at the 2013 MTV European Music Awards in Amsterdam when she pulled out a marijuana joint and lit it up on stage before smoking it. .
However, despite her former party girl antics, the 31-year-old has reportedly quit drugs and alcohol in the past.
In June 2020, the star sat down. variety There, she revealed that she had been “sober” for six months, a move she initially took because she needed voice surgery.
In an interview with the same media, she said:At first, I only had voice surgery…but it was really difficult, especially [sober and] There is a prejudice against young people that they are not interesting. [but] It's like, “Honey, you can call me all these things, but you know I'm a fun person.” ”
Later that year, plastic heart The singer revealed to Apple Music's Zane Lowe that she had a relapse during the pandemic, but instead of getting mad at herself, she worked through it and quickly decided to return to a substance-free life.
Cyrus revealed her choice to start a sober life, stating that she was “not a temperate person” and had decided to give it up completely, adding, “I don't think everyone needs to be sober. No one should be sober.” Everyone has to do what is best for themselves,” he added. .
“I don't have a problem with drinking, but once I get above that level I have problems with the decisions I make…I become very impulsive.”
The star hasn't shared any updates regarding his drinking in recent years.
Brad Pitt
The mega-star has kept comments about his sobriety to a minimum, but strangely he has opened up about his sobriety and said that fellow Hollywood star and friend Bradley Cooper has helped him get sober. He even admits that he has become.
Speaking at the National Board of Review gala, Pitt accepted the Best Supporting Actor award from Cooper and told the audience: “Bradley put his daughter to bed and rushed here for this.
“He is my sweetheart. Thanks to him, I was able to quit drinking and have been happy every day since then.”
Pitt first became sober in 2016 following his high-profile divorce from actress Angelina Jolie.
In the 18 months following their breakup, the Super Express actor said he spent 18 months in Alcoholics Anonymous. new york times In 2019, he said he was “committed” to sobriety, adding: “I was doing the best I could and I removed my drinking privileges.”
Elsewhere in 2022, the star sat: GQ There he shared insights from his time with the group, adding: “There was a really cool group of guys here, and it was really private and curated, so it felt safe,” he added.
Pitt went on to say, “Because I've seen other people like Philip Seymour Hoffman record things that were gut-wrenching, and that was terrible for me.”
He also said that his experience with AA was a “liberating” experience that allowed him to “expose the ugly side of myself.”
naomi campbell
The supermodel has been candid about her past struggles to control her drinking, particularly between 1998 and 2005, after the shocking assassination of her best friend Gianni Versace in 1997.
Appearing in the Apple TV+ documentary series, super modelsLast year, she spoke about the years after Versace's death, confessing that she had been “coping with my grief internally” by turning to alcohol and drugs, particularly cocaine, to cope with her grief.
“Addiction is really bad,” she said.
“You may think your wounds will heal, but they don't.”
Despite entering rehab in 1999 after collapsing during a photo shoot and attempting to stay sober by attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, the star 's journey to sobriety wasn't always a straight one, as he battled multiple relapses over the years.
she said this before Vogue UK: “The period between 1998 and 2005 was particularly bad. During that time, I avoided looking in the mirror because I didn't want people to look back at me. To be honest, there were times when I thought I couldn't live anymore. there was.
“I used to have a lot of problems…particularly drinking too much, so I joined AA to get and maintain sobriety.”
Now, the supermodel has dedicated her life to sobriety and continues to share her experiences to help others.
elle macpherson
The popular Australian supermodel has proudly celebrated her sobriety over the years: she's been sober for 20 years.
talk to body + soul In November of last year, Just two months after celebrating 20 years of work; The Australian model and businesswoman admits that alcohol stopped her from reaching her full potential as a human being, and that quitting alcohol helped her get to know herself on a “deeper level.” said.
“I stopped drinking in 2003 because I felt like I couldn't fully participate in my life. It was a great starting point for getting to know myself on a deeper level,” she told the magazine.
Explaining that it's something she doesn't regret, she added: She said: “Everyone has their own path and I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do, but I know this is a decision I've never regretted.”
McPherson marked his September 2023 sobriety anniversary by sharing a photo on his Instagram page of a three-plate Alcoholics Anonymous medallion with the Roman numeral “XX” for 20 in the center. He celebrated by writing: a nice day. I've never seen anything like this before. ”
50 cents
The rapper once sold drugs and even owned the popular alcohol brand Branson Liquor, but that's where his relationship with drugs began and ended.
Speaking to Piers Morgan in 2011, the rapper said he had never done drugs and had only been drunk a few times.
“I don't actually use drugs,” he confessed. She added, “I had the opportunity to watch many of my mother's sisters and brothers experiment with drug and alcohol use at various times, and I saw their reactions so different.'' I didn't come close.”
As for his alcohol brand, the star doesn't let sobriety get in the way of his good times, explaining in his 2022 book: Work harder, work smarter Once you see him drinking from a champagne bottle, you realize that everything is not as it seems.
“First, I pour everyone who is in VIP with me a drink from a bottle of champagne,” he explains in the book.
“When the bottle is empty, I hand it to one of my men and have him quietly refill it with ginger ale. I plan to spend the rest of the night with that bottle in my hand. I take the occasional swig to make myself feel better. I drink, but nothing except Canada Dry.”
Regarding drugs, in da club The rapper said Snoop Dogg recently offered him a joint during a party.
“Everyone around me started rooting for me to hit.”
The star said she didn't want to “kill the vibe” and added that she “hit hard”, adding, “And I was waiting for the smoke to swirl in my mouth before I let it out. That was it. Bill Clinton probably inhaled more marijuana smoke than I did.”
ben affleck
Hollywood's biggest stars have a long history of sobriety journeys. His first attempt came almost 30 years ago in his 1997, right after his hit film. good will hunting Freed.
talk to fox news At the time, the actor said he “just wanted to quit” as he began to “regret” his actions while under the influence.
“It's funny when you feel uncomfortable or out of control, but in those cases, you might think, 'Did I hurt that person's feelings?' or 'I made a fool of myself,' or 'I didn't want to kiss her. It’s dangerous for me because I have very little inhibitions.”
The actor sought professional help in 2001 and entered a rehab facility, where he remained sober for many years. However, he has suffered numerous setbacks over the years, and while surviving a separation from Jennifer Garner, his ex-wife and mother of his three children, Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel, he has had multiple episodes in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He returned to a rehabilitation facility in 2016.
When speaking to ABC News in 2020, he explained: “I had been sober for a few years, and then I thought, 'I want to drink like a normal person, and I want to have wine with dinner.' And I haven't been able to do that for about eight years. I did.”
Affleck has since returned to a sober life, with his children being the driving force behind his choices.he said this new york times Later that year, as a father, he was taught to be sober “during their children's formative years.”
Where to get help:
* Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797
*Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 229 6757
* Lifeline 0800 543 354 (24 hours)
* Living Sober Support Network www.livingsober.org.nzhttp://livingwithoutalcohol.blogspot.co.nz (Lotta Dann's blog)
