High on stardom, low on sobriety: the hidden costs of fame
We all dream of fame - the red carpets, the screaming fans, the luxurious lifestyle. But behind every glittering smile often lies a hidden battle with addiction.
While the world sees the glamour, many celebrities silently fight demons that fame itself helped create.
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Not all that glitters is gold! This is clear from the countless stars who have spoken out about the entertainment industry's darker side, whether through memoirs or candid interviews.
Substance abuse runs rampant in the entertainment industry. The world of high-profile events and endless parties makes drugs and alcohol easily accessible, turning them into common coping mechanisms for stress, loneliness and performance anxiety.
When celebrities speak openly about their struggles with addiction, they send a powerful message. Stars like Demi Moore, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Simpson have all bravely shared their journeys, reminding us that even the most successful people are not immune to life's challenges.
Moore, for example, revealed her struggles on Jada Pinkett Smith's 'Red Table Talk" in 2019, where her daughters spoke openly about how her addiction had impacted them.
'It was not the mom that we had grown up with.'
She has since recommitted to sobriety.
Substance abuse runs rampant in the entertainment industry.
Image: Pexels/Towfiqu Barbhuiya
In October 2023, Adele told fans during a Las Vegas concert: 'I stopped drinking maybe like three and a half months ago. I mean, I was literally borderline alcoholic for quite a lot of my 20s.'
Cooper also opened up in August 2023 on 'Running Wild With Bear Grylls', saying, 'In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah … But that had nothing to do with fame. I was lucky. I got sober at 29, and I've been sober for 19 years.'
Simpson has been sober since 2017 after years of struggling with alcohol and pills. In her memoir 'Open Book", she wrote candidly: 'I was killing myself with all the drinking and pills.' That year, she told her friends: 'Something's got to stop. And if it's the alcohol that's doing this, then I quit.'
Here at home, South Africa also grapples with its share of addiction issues. TKZee star Kabelo 'Bouga Luv' Mabalane battled dependence on alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, spending shocking amounts on drugs.
Today, he has maintained sobriety for over two decades and is an outspoken advocate against substance abuse.
Comedian Trevor Gumbi, creator of the dark comedy show 'Sober Companion', draws from his own recovery from a long cocaine addiction that began around 2000. He's often spoken about how staying clean has transformed his life.
The late rugby icon James Small admitted to abusing cocaine and alcohol and once tried to take his own life. He entered therapy and credited relationships and fatherhood with saving him before passing away in 2019 from a heart attack.
More recently, controversial Limpopo rapper Shebeshxt admitted to drug use, once again highlighting how widespread these struggles are.
Earlier this year, media personality Penny Lebyane sparked debate when she criticised South Africa's entertainment industry.
Taking to X, she wrote: 'South African Entertainment Industry = Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, Promiscuity and Prostitution, Mental illness, Sangomas and Cult Christians, Gamblers, Pimps and Drug lords. The results so far of what looks like success.'
South African Entertainment Industry = Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, Promiscuity and Prostitution, Mental illness, Sangomas and Cult Christians, Gamblers,Pimps and Drug lords.
The results so far of what looks like success. — PennyLebyane💚RasediLebyane (@PennyLebyane) March 4, 2025
Keesha Scott, co-founder of Guardian Recovery, told 'Independent Media Lifestyle':
'The constant exposure to the limelight, combined with a party-driven lifestyle and easy access to drugs and alcohol, often becomes a breeding ground for addiction.'
Scott said what makes it even more complex is that those who seemingly have everything are sometimes less impacted by consequences, legal trouble, financial losses or broken relationships, don't hit as hard when you're insulated by wealth and status.
'This lack of immediate consequence can make the path to recovery longer. Many celebrities are also surrounded by 'yes men' who fear telling the truth, which enables the cycle of substance use and delays real intervention,' she said.
Umm-e-Habiba, clinical director at Choice Point Health, added: 'Fame brings attention, influence and opportunity, but it also comes with relentless pressure, identity confusion and emotional isolation.
She said in her experience, the root causes of substance abuse in celebrities often include: Constant public exposure and lack of privacy.
Persistent anxiety and perfectionism.
Unprocessed trauma, masked by outward success.
A social circle where substance use is normal and rarely questioned.
'Therapeutic support should be seen as essential to career maintenance, not a last resort. It also helps if managers understand mental health so they can spot the warning signs and take action.'
Over the years, countless talented people have lost their lives to addiction. Each story is unique and deeply tragic, but together they serve as stark reminders of the need to address substance abuse and support those who struggle.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) at 011 892 3829 or WhatsApp 076 535 1701.
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