Rapper Flavor Flav admits he 'briefly relapsed' but says his sobriety journey continues

Rapper Flavor Flav said he "briefly relapsed" during his sobriety journey - but he vowed get back on track and continue. The hip hop artist, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., said he wanted to hold himself accountable as after four years of being sober , he had a relapse.

The 66-year-old said he decided to share the information publicly to show people that sobriety journeys are not easy and there is always a risk of going back to old habits. "I remain authentic to who I am and a large part of the past 4.5 years for me has been my sobriety journey," he shared on Instagram .



"I think I've been an inspiration to many that if I could get sober, anyone can do it. "But just when you think it's easy, it ain't. I briefly relapsed.

I say this to admit my mistake and publicly hold myself accountable." Flav has been open about his journey over the past few years and in October 2024 he celebrated his four-year mark on World Mental Health Day, saying, "My mental health is an important part of my sobriety journey." During an appearance on the Off the Record with DJ Akademiks podcast in 2023, he admitted he was spending between $2,400 and $2,600 day on drugs, but would hide it from the public.

Over the Christmas holidays, Flav posted a reminder on X, letting people know that it's helpful to be mindful of those who are sober. "Note for the upcoming holiday season,,, some of us are on a sobriety journey and mocktails or non-alcoholic beer options make a big difference," he wrote. In his latest statement after admitting his brief relapse, the Grammy-winning artist wrote, "I am a human being who makes mistakes and it doesn't make me a bad person.

I hope those who are around me support my choice to be sober. I went back to Day 1, again. Time didn't stop, my journey continues.

" Fans have praised the rapper, the iconic hype man of Public Enemy, for his openness and also for admitting that there might be setbacks during someone's sobriety journey. One wrote on Reddit, "He's right. Instead of focusing on a number (days sober), focus on the positive impact sobriety has had on your life and dial back in.

" Another said, "Respect to Flav for keeping it real. relapse happens. getting back up matters more than falling down.

Public Enemy changed hip-hop forever. man's earned his flowers." A third fan added, "It happens to almost everyone that quits drinking.

Don't be hard on yourself and just get back on the sobriety wagon. I've had plenty of Day 1's. It'll stick eventually.

" If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.

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