Jack Vidgen has told fans he’s ‘not OK’ as he undergoes treatment for addiction.
The 27-year-old singer and social media influencer made the brave admission via Instagram, and told how he was “terrified” of the judgement surrounding his ongoing battle.
This is the fourth time he’s entered rehab in four years.
“I’m terrified of what people will think, what they’ll say or whisper to each other if I pass them by on the street,” he wrote.
Alongside an image of himself in bed at an undisclosed treatment facility, he added, “I’ve been so scared, for years, of this thing that lives inside me which is my addiction.”
‘I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy,’ Vidgen says
Vidgen, who rose to fame as a 14-year-old on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011, assured fans, “This isn’t some ‘tell all’ post as I’m far from being in a space to do that.”
Instead, he said he “just wanted to let you in a bit and let you know, I’m not ok”.
“For years I’ve heard the saying ‘It’s okay not to be okay’ and never really known what the f**k that means,” he added.
“I feel like I’m somewhat understanding it now,” he continued, explaining that he’d been struggling with a five-week-long relapse where he hadn’t “been able to come up for air”.
“I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy,” the I’m A Celeb… alum wrote.
Before entering rehab on Oct. 21, Vidgen said he’d been four months completely clean. His longest stretch of complete sobriety in the last four years has been six months.
As for whether something triggered his most recent relapse, the star wondered if stresses like the death of a close friend, and also a family member were contributors.
Vidgen: ‘I’m sure there’s going to be fall out’
In a very honest admission, Vidgen suggested the revealing post would be a detriment to his career, but assured his fans he would now prioritise his health over everything else.
“I’m sure there’s going to be fall out from it in terms of working the brands, gigs, and other career related things,” he wrote.
“To be completely honest, that’s why I haven’t made this kind of a post soone.”
He added that he was “past the point of that stuff mattering to me more than my mental health and being honest about where I’m at”.
He also thanked the “angels” in his life that have been there for him every step of the way, and assured anyone else out there suffering from addiction or mental health issues to know that they’re not alone.
Vidgen has always been open about his struggles with addiction and mental health.
After competing on The Masked Singer in 2021, the star sat down with WHO to talk about his new music. At the time, he’d just released a new single which was inspired by his substance abuse.
“My new song ‘Goodbye’ – it’s bittersweet because it is reflecting on a darker time in my life,” he said at the time.
“The song is about my years of substance abuse, but at the same time there is a positivity about it because I’m out the other side and I’m in a really good place now,” he said, at a time when he’d also completed his first rehab stay.
He added, “If I can help at least one person then I’m happy with that”.