BRAVE
Jackie O opens up on live radio about her battles with addiction. Conveniently, you can now read all about it for $29.

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This morning, Jackie O took to live air to open up about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse.

The radio host of the Kyle & Jackie O show revealed that she had originally told people she had been recovering from long COVID in November 2022. In reality, the 49-year old had checked herself into the Betty Ford Clinic in California. When speaking to her co-host Kyle Sandilands, she admitted to taking up to 12 Stilnox/Zolpidem, 24 Panadeine Forte and drinking alcohol on a daily basis.

The Betty Ford Clinic is famously known worldwide as the ultimate celebrity rehab centre. A one-month stay can cost inpatients up to AUD$90,000. Keith Urban, Lindsay Lohan and Robert Downey Jr have all similarly visited the institution.

“I was in a really, really dark place,” she tells listeners on Thursday morning.

Her complex relationship with prescription drugs apparently started fifteen years prior. After a diagnosis of endometriosis, the star had been prescribed strong opioids to cope with the pain.

“I got prescribed that and I found myself at the time taking it more than I needed and I recognised that this might be a bit of a problem, so I stopped at the time,” she said.

However, it appears the habit wasn’t fully kicked. After Jackie’s divorce with UK photographer Lee Henderson in 2018, the radio star found herself more often relying on substances to numb the pain she had been experiencing.

What’s the public’s take?

In just a few hours after the on-air revelation, fans reactions have been mixed to say the least. Many have spoken out in support of the star. Instagram comments included: “Good on you, Jackie, for having the courage and honesty to tell us about your battle with addiction.”

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Another fan wrote, “Cried my eyes out this morning…so much courage. You are amazing. A true inspiration to so many”.

Nevertheless, the announcement didn’t come without some backlash. Due to the inaccessible price point of the Betty Ford Clinic, many felt disconnected with the story. Comments like, “You’re not one of us”, and “not many people can afford a stint in rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic” soon flooded in.

And of course, while battles with addiction certainly don’t discriminate, the convenient timing of this revelation also shouldn’t be overlooked. After two years of keeping close friends, colleagues and even Kyle himself in the dark as to the truth, Jackie O’s candid confession comes just five days before the official release of her memoir. And for just $29, you’ll be able to read all about the nitty gritty details.

It appears even Kyle himself may have put the two-and-two together. This morning, we spotted him after recording on-air, making light of the situation.

“Oh…you guys are here for Jackie? I don’t think she’s got any pills left”.

All we’ll say is good luck Jackie. In your recovery, but also in your book launch.

What's Up Around Sydney

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