No judgments, but when we were little girls, we had a huge crush on David Hasselhoff in TV series Baywatch. His smoldering look and hunk-like posture were everything we wanted to see day and night.
And yes, it is no surprise the former teen icon set a Guinness World Record as the most-watched man on television. His appearance on Baywatch wasn't the only successful one as the actor starred in such A-list movies as The Young and the Restless, Knight Rider, Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, and many more.
While people admired his acting skills, David Hasselhoff has been going through hard times — he has been suffering from alcoholism.
According to his ex-wife Pamela Bach, the Baywatch star has been an alcohol addict for most of his adultery. In a candid interview with Daily Mail, she revealed she knew about his issues and tried to cover it up for the sake of his career and family.
Bach said she dropped her former husband off at the Betty Ford Centre in Palm Spring back in 2002 and then, she received a phone call from David, claiming he was drunk and was dying.
I chartered a private plane and flew from LA to Palm Springs. I got into a taxi and went to every hospital until I found him.
It turned out he drank all the mini-bar in a hotel after he checked out from the rehab.
Bach admits it was increasingly difficult to handle Hasselhoff when he was intoxicated, but she put up with his drinking because she was so in love with him, though he "loved the bottle more" than her.
David's ex-wife also said one heartbreaking phrase: "He has a disease, just like cancer." She alleged that it is hard to get rid of severe addiction, just like it is challenging to cure cancer.
If you know anyone who might be an addict or you are certain about somebody's battling it, here are some tips on how to help them:
1. Focus on building trust.
2. Be honest.
3. Respect privacy.
4. Encourage to seek professional help.
5. Never threaten or criticize.
6. Do not expect immediate change.
Any form of addiction is a mental health issue. Nobody should be judged for it, but it is of importance to encourage a person to treat it by all means.
The material in this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a certified specialist.