The singer addressed audio from a leaked phone call that has been circulating online alleging he was taking a number of drugs – he admitted to abusing substances
Tommy Fleming
Tommy Fleming has spoken about abusing drugs and alcohol.
The singer, who came out as gay in an explosive radio interview on Friday afternoon, admitted he had been abusing drugs and alcohol to mask the pain.
Tommy revealed he had been living a double life and straying from his marriage to wife Tina Mitchell before they separated last October.
A phone call between himself, Tina and his stepdaughter Rebecca was recorded without his knowledge and recently leaked. In the call, it was alleged that he had been taking drugs.
“Alcohol and substances were… I medicated with them,” he told Ciara Kelly on Newstalk. “They were a painkiller. They helped me sleep.
“It was across a broad spectrum of prescription medication, illegal substances, alcohol, all of the above I dabbled with.”
He went on to say that when he is living as his true self, he felt no need to drink or take drugs.
“The moment I stepped out on the ground wherever I was, as a gay man, the last thing I want is a drink,” said Tommy. “It’s like a switch. I’m not looking to numb something anymore. Actually a painkiller is the wrong word, an anaesthetic is what it was.”
The performer also spoke in the interview about being admitted to St Patrick’s Hospital last year.
He has been significantly struggling with his mental health as a result of leading a double life and hiding his true health.
After a suicide attempt via overdose, the singer was admitted to St. Patrick’s Mental Hospital last September.
“[It came from] an overwhelming sense of absolute sadness and hopelessness,” he explained. “And the fact it would be so much easier if I wasn’t here. I was admitted to St Pat’s for treatment for acute depression and anxiety.”
He told his doctors in the hospital about his sexuality and said that being admitted into treatment was “terrifying”.
“I initially felt like an absolute failure,” he said. “I felt like I had absolutely failed in every walk of life, in every thing I had done and I wasn’t a real man.”
He added that if the events of recent weeks happened six or seven months ago, he wasn’t sure if he would have survived it.
If you are struggling with your mental health, you can ring Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123
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