Whoopi Goldberg, the renowned Hollywood actress, has spoken candidly about her past struggles with drug addiction and bereavement.
In her new memoir, ‘Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me’, she shares how the loss of her mother, Emma Johnson, and her elder brother, Clyde, left her emotionally depleted.
She claimed she couldn’t adequately grieve because “my work schedule would not allow for it”.
Goldberg also admitted to using cocaine during her early years in show business.
She said she could regulate her cocaine consumption. However, her dependence worsened, resulting in hallucinations and a terrifying episode in which she was unable to leave her bed for the whole day.
“I was invited to parties where I was greeted at the door with a bowl of Quaaludes from which I could pick what I wanted. Lines of cocaine were laid across tables and bathroom counters for the taking,” she wrote.
“So I did not move out of bed for twenty-four hours. That kind of sh*t does not end pretty. There is only so long a person can hold their bladder.”
The actress revealed that the turning point came when a housekeeper caught her using cocaine in a high-end hotel room.
She said seeing her reflection with drugs scattered around was a stark wake-up call to quit for her life.
“I knew I would have to change out my friends and turn down invitations but I could do that. I did not want to die,” she added.
Whoopi Goldberg is a powerhouse in the entertainment industry.
Her career launched on stage in 1983 with her one-woman show, ‘The Spook Show’.
Over the years, she has amassed numerous accolades, including Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.