The star checked into rehab aged just 17
Jack Osbourne has revealed he entered rehab at just 17 years old after struggling with substance abuse during his teenage years – and hasn’t relapsed since getting sober.
The 40-year-old television personality opened up about the challenges of sudden fame when his family – father Ozzy Osbourne, mother Sharon Osbourne and sister Kelly Osbourne – became household names through reality series The Osbournes. He confessed that having access to a ‘ton of money’ and ‘no rules’ as a teenager in Los Angeles proved problematic.
Speaking on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last night (Tuesday, November 18), he explained: “When you give a 16 year old a s*** ton of money and no rules, in LA, you’re kind of just like, ‘OK, let’s go play.’ I got sober when I was 17.”
When fellow campmate Ruby Wax enquired about his substance use at the time, he responded: “A lot of pills, a lot of alcohol, a lot of weed.”
Asked about his recovery, he confirmed: “It was an adolescent treatment centre in California.” When asked if he ever relapsed, he simply stated: “No.”
Jack also discussed how the “result of filming” The Osbournes – which aired for four seasons between 2002 and 2005 – “bothered” him, particularly given his naturally reserved personality.
He continued: “The filming never really bothered me, it was the result of filming that bothered me. The huge amount of attention. I was always pretty shy. They were only supposed to film us for three weeks for a pilot but ended up staying for like four years.”
He added: “Being watched was really odd. There was not a lot of structure and too much abundance and freedom.”
Earlier this week, Jack became emotional on I’m A Celebrity as he discussed his father Ozzy Osbourne’s passing, after the Black Sabbath frontman died in July, aged 76.
Jack stated: “It was definitely a shock. I mean, we knew he was ill for a while but it was definitely a shock. I mean, we didn’t know it would be that quick. It was the ultimate mic drop, he did a massive big gig and was like, alright I’m done.”
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