Kerri-Anne Kennerley has spoken for the first time about her complex relationship with cocaine.
The 64-year-old was an open book in an interview on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night, admitting to once having a strong affinity for the illicit substance.
The daytime TV icon said she first experimented with the drug at star-studded New York City parties in the 1970s and liked it: ‘It’s actually really fabulous,’ she said.
‘It’s actually really fabulous’: Kerri-Anne Kennerley has spoken for the first time about her complex relationship with cocaine, which began at wild New York parties in the 70s
‘So you did try cocaine? Several times?’ reporter Angela Cox asked following Kerri-Anne’s ‘fabulous’ comment.
‘Yep, a few times. But I realised it wasn’t for me because it was too good,’ the Good Morning Australia veteran said.
Kerri-Anne then admitted she became weary after she realised how much she enjoyed using it.
An open book: The 64-year-old was candid in an interview on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night, admitting to once having a strong affinity for an illicit substance
But with a burgeoning media career too important to jeopardise, the personality summoned the will-power to kick the habit.
‘You just go, “No.” I’d seen those movies with the heroin-addled people with terrible skin and hair. That was the image of a junkie – and I didn’t want to be a junkie.’
Kerri-Anne’s rise to fame in the 70s was fast and frantic, with her ability to right the ship on her own admirable – a dilemma that many before her have struggled with.
‘It’s too good’: She claimed the drug had such an impact on her, she had no choice but to give it up: ‘I realised it wasn’t for me because it was too good,’ she said
Too much to lose: But with a burgeoning media career too important to jeopardise, the personality summoned the will-power to kick the habit
After experiencing success on local TV, she jetted-off to New York, where she claimed she ‘earned her stripes in partying.’
‘There was a lot of stuff going on, cocaine was pretty rife everywhere,’ she told the program.
‘I always had New York front and centre in my mind… It wasn’t London… You know, you’d hear about people going off backpacking.’
She concluded: ‘I never had any interest in that… I never had any interest in Europe. I wanted to go to New York.’
‘I’m not a junkie’: She said: ‘You just go, “No.” I’d seen those movies with the heroin-addled people with terrible skin and hair’