‘He would say he’s just popping out to the shop for milk before buying drugs’: Joe Wicks breaks down as he details his dad’s battle with drug addiction and the effect it had on his upbringing
Joe Wicks has opened up about his father, Gary, and his battle with drug addiction in his recent BBC documentary Joe Wicks: Facing My Childhood.
In the episode, the 36-year-old fitness guru broke down in tears as he detailed the tough reality of being a child witnessing the drug abuse.
He recalled feeling ‘upset, confused and lost’ as his dad would lie about going out to buy drugs – admitting the influence that the battle had on him at the time.
Emotional: Joe Wicks, 36, broke down as he detailed his dad’s battle with drug addiction and the effect it had on his upbringing in his recent BBC documentary Joe Wicks: Facing My Childhood
Gary appeared alongside Joe for the documentary, as he explained his guilt for Joe’s experience.
Talking to his son, Gary shared: ‘I can’t imagine how difficult that was for you, the constant lying and denying of what was going on’
While Joe recalled: ‘I remember you would say you’re just going to the shop for milk and it was like your code word for “I’m going to go and score some gear”
Tough: Joe explained the impact that his dad’s drug addiction had on him as a child, as the pair spoke it through
Joe recalled: ‘I remember you would say you’re just going to the shop for milk and it was like your code word for “I’m going to go and score some gear”
‘You may as well have said that, because I knew when you said “I’m just popping round the shop to get some milk” that you never came back with milk.
‘I just knew that’s what it meant,’ explained a teary Joe.
The body coach had his head in his hands during the emotional chat, as his voice cracked through the emotion.
Struggles: He got teary during the candid film, as he said he was ‘lost’ and ‘confused’
Memories: The body coach had his head in his hands during the emotional chat, as his voice cracked through the emotion
Joe’s mother, who left him with his father for a period of time, also struggled with OCD and mental health battles, and the star has previously touched on his parent’s struggles.
Previously speaking to Radio Times on the documentary, Joe explained: ‘As a young kid, I didn’t realise my parents had mental health issues. I just thought my dad was a drug addict and my mum loved cleaning.
‘But I was aware I had this ability to share my story, and that hopefully it would inspire people.’
Tragic: Joe’s mother, who left him with his father for a period of time, also struggled with OCD and mental health battle
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