My Big Fat Fabulous Life star Buddy Bell celebrates three years sober after assault arrest and cocaine addiction
MY Big Fat Fabulous Life star Buddy Bell is celebrating three years sober, thanking his “best friends in the world” for helping him to hold his “head high.”
The reality star took to Instagram to share the milestone, which comes after a debilitating cocaine addiction and an assault arrest.
He shared a throwback picture alongside a current picture, and captioned the snap: “3 years sober my dudes!
“I thought that a life without drugs and alcohol wouldn’t be a life worth living, but I’ve learned otherwise.
“This recovery thing is the shit. I have the best friends in the world and I can finally hold my head up high.
“If you’re struggling, google “12 step groups near me.” There are people there who cannot wait to hear from you. Love!”
Buddy, who is best friends with the star of the TLC show Whitney Thore, has had a tough past and in 2014 was charged with assaulting a government official, second-degree trespassing, resisting a public officer, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
He moved in with now-BFF Whitney the following year but was convicted of the disorderly conduct charge, and given a 45-day probation and $380 fine.
At the same time Buddy was recreationally using cocaine, which unfortunately turned into daily use.
In 2018 he entered rehab and in an emotional episode admitted that “it got out of hand.”
He said: “Truth of the matter is I just started using cocaine recreationally and it got out of hand. I was almost about to fall off a cliff, I was pretty far down that slippery slope.
“There were a couple times where my heart felt like it was in danger of overworking.
“I was ready to die an addict, I just didn’t care.”
Buddy and Whitney have been close friends for years, and he was her rock during her recent disastrous breakup and fans even rooted for them to end up together.
READ MORE IN ENTERTAINMENT
However, Buddy debuted his new girlfriend on Instagram on Sunday as he posted a picture with a woman named Brittany Sherman.
Along with a picture of the two smiling while on a paddleboat, he wrote: “@brit_sherman went and got herself a boyfriend.”