Comedian Artie Lange has claimed his nose which has been damaged by years of cocaine abuse is a ‘disaster’ but he ‘can still breathe and will be ok’.
The 51-year-old, who is best known for his appearances on the Howard Stern show, tweeted several pictures of himself with what looks like a collapsed septum from years of snorting cocaine and heroin.
Earlier this week a judge him jail time even though he tested positive for cocaine and amphetamine.
In June, Lange was sentenced to four years probation after he pleaded guilty to heroin possession during a traffic stop in 2017.
Comedian Artie Lange jokes about his nose which has been damaged from years of substance abuse saying: ‘I can be one NOSE-Y m**********a!’
He tweeted a series of images of himself appearing to show a collapsed septum
His nose appeared normal in February 2017 (right) compared to his most recent appearance on Friday
Despite the positive test Friday in Newark, the judge ordered Lange’s attorney to apply to have his client admitted to drug court.
If Lange is denied acceptance into drug court, he could end up in jail.
In true comedic style, Artie made light of his appearance in one tweet, saying: ‘As any ex girlfriend will tell u. I can be one NOSE-Y m***a f***a!
After his court appearance he tweeted: ‘My nose is a disaster. But I can still breathe. I will be ok’.
In another tweet he alluded he said: ‘Cmon guys It’s Artie. Come give me a hug. I f***d up again.
‘But I’m a f**k up. It’s what we do. But I’m never gonna give up. Don’t u give up on me’. U fans. Ur all I got. And I’m lucky. Ur the best. Now get over here! Hug me Gnite. 143. PeAce. Out’.
Chronic use of cocaine can caused the septum – the wall of cartilage and bone that separates your two nostrils – to become misaligned.
The Hoboken resident was ordered to serve four years’ probation in June after he pleaded guilty to heroin possession stemming from a 2017 traffic stop.
The 51-year-old is a cast member in the HBO series Crashing.
He also performed on the Fox sketch comedy series Mad TV and spent nearly a decade as a co-host on The Howard Stern Show.
He claimed in a series of tweets after the court appearance that he is off heroin and hopes to beat cocaine.
Artie Lange will continue to do comedy gigs with one scheduled for New Years Eve in New Jersey Crown Plaza Hotel
The comedian and author has been open about his drug issues and in 2010 was hospitalized with an eight month stay in a psychiatric ward after attempting to commit suicide
He said he had gone 41 days without it. Lange said he had used cocaine 10 days ago but it remained in his body longer than he thought possible.
In another tweet he said: ‘Pray for me. So no lies. I have 10 days clean. I am not stupid. I know I got help from ppl who came to court w me who did so cause of my celebrity.
‘And from an amazing Lawyer Frank Arleo who I can afford. Others aren’t as lucky. My charity fund is still a go. I won’t abandon u-‘.
‘I have work to do. I feel now I can also stop Cocaine. But that’s arrogance and addiction. I’m accepting help.
‘If I fail now I will go to jail. Jail is not for addicts. But I’d be giving them no choice. When I use illegal drugs I have to score them. That’s breaking the law-‘.
Lange’s lawyer, Frank Arleo, said the comedian tested positive for cocaine, amphetamine, benzodiazepines and Suboxone.
In true comedic style Artie made light of his appearance in
Lange, who lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, tweeted last week that he wrote ‘new s**t in rehab’ and is heading back on the road.
He said he was picked up from rehab by his friend and fellow comedian ‘The Reverend’ Bob Levy. They performed together on December 2.
Prosecutors argued that if Lange tested positive for cocaine, he would have had to have used it sometime within the last two days.
‘I wouldn’t be arrogant enough to come in here after using cocaine for two days,’ Lange told the judge.
‘It’s in my system and it shouldn’t be.’
In the ’90s, Artie starred in the comedy sketch series MADtv but left after being arrested for alleged cocaine abuse.
According to NY.com, Lange has had to have surgery on his nose due to years of snorting cocaine and heroin.
They reported that in one incident he accidentally snorted glass when trying to suck up smashed OxyContin tablets, which left him with no septum and a lot of ribbing from his followers about his appearance.
Answering speculation that he was abusing drugs again, Lange tweeted on December 3 that he had been given a shot of Sublocade, a medication that blocks opioid receptors, meaning he wouldn’t be able to get high on opioids for a month.
The comedian and author has been open about his drug issues and in 2010 was hospitalized with an eight month stay in a psychiatric ward after attempting to commit suicide.
In 2013 he released his second book titled Crash and Burn about his ‘descent into drug addiction, life-threatening depression, and ultimately, his recovery’.
After his arrest in Hoboken last year, the unabashed comic took to Twitter to address his fans, saying he was ‘doing great’ and has ‘never wanted to live more.’
He added: ‘I wish I could tell u how my story ends. I hope it’s being old & smiling cuz of unique memories. But I’m such a flawed person guys. Tryin!’