Social media star Arron Crascall, who has more than 26 million followers, has spoken out about his 12-year battle with alcohol and substance addiction and his two years of sobriety
Social media sensation Arron Crascall has opened up about a brutal 12-year struggle with booze and drug addiction – confessing he regularly blacked out, deceived his loved ones and spiralled out of control before achieving sobriety.
The entertainer, whose viral videos have garnered him a worldwide following of over 26 million fans, revealed he’s now been clean for two years and hopes to use his experience to support others on their recovery journey.
His dream, he disclosed, is to establish a 24-hour community hub in his home town of Dover, Kent, providing access to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other support networks for those battling addiction.
The 43 year old ex-William Hill employee’s journey to internet stardom kicked off in 2014.
Viral clips shot in supermarkets and high streets throughout Kent – showcasing his iconic ‘see you later’ phrase – launched him into the limelight, rapidly amassing a massive online following and securing profitable brand partnerships.
Yet behind the scenes, he admits his relationship with alcohol and substances was becoming increasingly damaging.
The father-of-three spoke openly during a frank chat with Grace Neutral on YouTube channel FFTV – marking the first occasion he’s discussed his addiction in detail publicly.
“I’ve been heavily in addiction, alcohol addiction and other substances for about, Christ, 12 years,” he confessed to Neutral, who tattoos celebrities whilst interviewing them.
“It got to the point where I was blackout drinking every other day an While juggling his career, fatherhood, and marriage, he confessed to losing touch with reality: “I was trying to do my career, and trying to be a dad, and trying to be a husband, until I didn’t really know what reality was anymore. “In the Under Your Skin with Grace feature, he depicted his compulsion as overpowering.”
One drink’s too many and a thousand’s not enough,” he admitted.He described the uncontrollable urge after having one pint: “If I had one pint, [I’d have] an overwhelming feeling that I had to get another drink, and before you know it, you’re banging on the bar thinking, ‘How the hell am I here again?’.
“I’ve got like 80 missed calls on my phone. I’m blacking out. I don’t know where I am. Walking round London trying to get coke at bloody two in the morning.
He confessed to lying because his addiction seemed easier than his regular life: “Then the lies started happening because I started wanting that life more than my normal life, because that life was easier than my normal life.
His days were often reduced to drinking, blackouts, and attempting to conceal the aftermath: “I’d go to a pub at like 4pm… at half past nine I’d wake up and I’m like sitting in a beer garden by myself in the dark with a pint next to me and I’ve wet myself. And I’m like, what the hell has happened to me for the last five hours? This was happening on a daily [basis].”
The turning point occurred two years ago on Bonfire Night when his family visited Leeds Castle for fireworks. He was overwhelmed by the desire to return home and drink: “In my head, I’m thinking: hurry up and get home so I can drink,” he said.
“I left the house at like two in the morning and come back half an hour later not knowing where I’ve been.”
That night, he revealed, something shifted. “A voice said, ‘You haven’t got to do this anymore. You don’t want to do this anymore. Just get help’.”
My wife kicking me out has never stopped me drinking, drink-driving’s never stopped me drinking, losing money – nothing ever stopped me drinking, but a voice in my head did. “From that moment, I knew I needed to get proper help.”
He attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting the following week and has remained sober since that day. “I went to that meeting on a Wednesday. I haven’t had a drink since,” he declared.
The addiction, he confessed, had been exacerbated by sudden wealth, partying and ego. “I was let loose – gambling, casinos, five grand here and there. I’m getting another 50 grand at the end of the month, so f** it, I’ve got this brand deal coming in,” he admitted. “I reckon I’ve done like 400 grand being stupid.”
“I lived a life of pure carnage. I don’t really know what I’ve done for 10 years – I don’t really remember my wedding.”
He credits faith and honesty for transforming his family life. He emphasised that speaking out publicly is about demonstrating that addiction isn’t a sign of weakness and recovery is achievable.
“To look back now and see my defective character… I’m so thankful to have the kids still in my life, my wife still in my life,” he expressed. “I hope someone gets something from it – that’s all.”
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