Bam Margera has revealed that he was secretly battling bulimia at the height of his fame as he starred in Jackass and Viva La Bam in the early 2000s.
The 37-year-old pro-skateboarder opened up about his eating disorder and his battles with alcohol in an episode of Viceland’s Epicly Later’d.
His parents April and Phil Margera also offered insight into his bulimia, saying to all started when the MTV star started partying with rock stars like HIM’s Ville Valo.
Bam Margera, 37, has revealed that he was secretly battling bulimia at the height of his fame as he starred in Jackass and Viva La Bam in the early 2000s
‘He always wanted to have this very slim, slim look and a lot of it kind of happened when he became good friends with Ville Valo,’ April said.
The pro-skateboarder said Valo introduced him to day drinking – a habit that he says quickly spun out of control.
‘I remember when me and Ville Valo were out in London and he woke up at noon, opened up the mini bar and cracked open a beer. That was the first time I was introduced to day drinking,’ Bam said.
‘I didn’t start officially drinking until maybe 24 or 25. Then the rock star life and drinking spun out of control.’
Bam’s mother said that while Valo was the ‘loveliest man ever’, he only drank and rarely ever ate.
Margera rose to fame after appearing in MTV’s Jackass crew (above) in the early 2000s
The 37-year-old pro-skateboarder (above in 2014) said his eating disorder and battle with alcohol started when he began partying with rock stars
‘I think Bam started sipping on a beer or sipping on a something because he liked the way he looked,’ she said.
From there, his drinking quickly morphed into bulimia.
‘We would go out to dinner and then (Bam) would immediately excuse himself and go to the bathroom,’ April said.
‘I said, “Are you throwing up?” He says, “Yeah, yeah, sometimes I throw up and that way I’m not gonna get fat”.’
Bam eventually kicked the habit and is sober today. He lives in Spain with his wife Nicole Boyd. The couple are expecting their first child.
His mother said it still hurts when she hears people insult her son by commenting on the way he looks.
‘It really hurts me when people make comments like, “You look like you gained some weight there”. “Hey, wow, Bam… you’re looking like your dad”,’ April said.
‘I don’t respond, but I feel like saying, “He was drinking alcohol and he was bulimic and that’s why he was thin”.’
Bam eventually kicked the habit and is sober today. He lives in Spain with his wife Nicole Boyd. The couple are expecting their first child. They are pictured above in 2014