Matt Willis details missing integral moments in his daughter’s life amid addiction
Busted star Matt Willis has revealed one of the heartbreaking moments when he hit rock bottom during his battle with substance abuse.
In the wake of his critically acclaimed documentary Fighting Addiction, which aired on the BBC earlier this week, the 40-year-old musician appeared on Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp on Friday, where he spoke further about his addiction.
Matt, who is the father of Isabelle, 13, Ace, 11, and Trixie, seven, has spoken about his lows, revealing that he missed his wife Emma Willis’s birthday and also didn’t see when their daughter began to crawl while he was ‘out doing’. drugs with strangers’.
He said, “When it hit me was when my daughter was born and she was about eight months old and I wasn’t with her, I was doing drugs with strangers…
“I missed her crawling, and I missed my wife’s birthday party with all the people I love there and I was out with strangers doing drugs and I woke up the next day and realized I was going to be a terrible dad.”
Shocking: Busted star Matt Willis has revealed one of the heartbreaking moments when he hit rock bottom during his battle with substance abuse
On Wednesday, Matt’s documentary about his battle with alcohol and drug addiction was praised by viewers, who labeled the show as “brave, bold, honest TV.”
Many viewers praised Matt’s wife Emma for standing by and offering her support during his battle with addiction, with one viewer labeling the documentary as “the most powerful thing they’ve seen in years.”
In the film, Emma broke down when she shared the fear that Matt could relapse at any time and revealed that she kept a daily diary of his drug use at the height of his addiction.
She also shared fears that Matt could relapse while touring with Busted, after it was announced the band will reunite for a series of concerts later this year.
Insight: She also shared fears that Matt might relapse while touring with Busted, after it was announced the band will reunite for a series of concerts later this year
In his Capital interview, Matt previously spoke of a touring relapse, as he said, “I’ve had moments in bands where I was sober and it was fine, then my last relapse was on tour with Busted and it was a disaster.” for everyone involved…
“I had been clean and sober for eight years and I picked up one night on tour… there’s a term I heard once that I always identify with: once you’re a pickle, you can never go back be a cucumber [laughs]and I think it’s so true…
“I suddenly got into my head, ‘oh I can be a cucumber again’ everything will be fine, I’ve been clean for eight years, I’m sober, I’m fine” and the little voice creeps in “you can have a little… you can just use drugs, drugs weren’t your problem’…
Importantly, the film was widely praised by viewers on social media, with some praising Emma in particular for standing by Matt through his struggles
“All this kind of rational stuff I have in my head, and it brought me to my knees and in four months I was right where I was the last time I stopped.”
During the chat, where Roman was also joined by Sian Welby and Chris Stark, Sian asked Matt: “There will be people listening, hopefully today can be the start of someone turning things around…
“I think if it’s coming from someone who on the outside might seem to have an incredibly blessed life, you’re a pop star, you’re in a band… have you always kept this side of your life hidden?”
Insight: In the film, the presenter burst into tears as she shared the fear that Matt could relapse, while revealing that she kept a daily diary of his drug use
Matt said, “Yeah, absolutely, I have yet to meet a stupid addict, we are very smart, we are very good at hiding, we are very good at lying, we are very good at going out to the races and just dealing with the implications …
“What I was really careful about is that I’m in a pop band and I’m a successful musician and there’s a sort of cliché with that, ‘another pop star on drugs’, it’s that story, and the people I meet that’s it’s not, but they’re exactly like me, and I recognize myself in everyone I meet in this kind of world…
“It’s not just people we see on TV, it’s your mom, it’s your brother, it’s your friend at work, and it’s only getting worse.”
Matt previously shared some of the harsh realities of his battle with drug addiction and the toll it took on his relationship with his wife.
The star candidly admitted that he would make Emma think she was crazy during the height of his addiction battle.
During heavy binges, Matt revealed that he had even left notes saying he was “sorry” for his current wife, when he was convinced he wouldn’t wake up the next day.
Pain: On Wednesday, Matt’s documentary about his battle with alcohol and drug addiction was praised by viewers, who called the show “brave, bold, honest TV”