Joe Wicks opens up on father’s heroin addiction in emotional interview

Joe Wicks has opened up on his father’s drug addiction, revealing he launched himself into a fitness career after promising his dad’s battles wouldn’t also be his destiny.

The 33-year-old spoke of his upbringing in an emotional interview with Russell Brand for his Under The Skin podcast, and after previously saying things got ‘intense’ it’s clear Joe tackled some tricky subjects from his past.

Revealing The Body Coach used exercise as a means to ‘manage my feelings’ as he and his older brother Nikki, 36, dealt with their father Gary’s addiction, Joe said witnessing his dad’s troubles meant he had no interest in drugs.

He said: ‘We weren’t smoking weed, we were training, exercising and playing sport.

‘Along the line, I decided that wasn’t going to be my destiny – that wasn’t going to be my path.’

While he said his mother, Raquela, taught him right from wrong, the fitness entrepreneur – who has two children of his own with wife Rosie Jones, Indie, one, and son Marley, three months – insists he’s got a great relationship with his father now and has never judged him for his past actions.

He continued: ‘Now, when my dad’s going through a low period, I’m texting him and ringing him and asking how he is – I’m not judging him for being an addict. He’ll always be an addict – he relapses all the time.’

Speaking about his own role as a dad, Joe admitted he’s picked up some traits from his own parents that he’s trying to turn around.

Saying he sometimes grows impatient with his young daughter, Joe added: ‘It’s what I learnt from my dad and my mum. I’m working on it every day. I’m not perfect. You have the ability to choose how you react to a stressful situation.

‘I had a manic, chaotic home life. It wasn’t settled and calm. But I always had love – I always had my mum and dad’s love.’

Joe recalled his mother also instilling the confidence in her son to be whatever he wanted to be, adding their love and support ‘has been powerful’.

‘I don’t look back at the past. I don’t judge my dad and think, “I had a really rough upbringing and it was terrible” – I just love him right now,’ Joe said. ‘I think, “Am I happy right now?” That’s a beautiful thought.’

He added: ‘You can live your day happily and not care about what happened in the past, and who gives a s**t what’s happening tomorrow. Right now, that’s where it’s at.’

Honestly something we can all learn form, let’s be honest.

Last week Joe – who has been owning the past few weeks with his wildly successful PE With Joe YouTube sessions, which have racked up over 20 million views amid the coronavirus lockdown – revealed his chat with Russell.

‘I’ve just had an intense hour-and-a-half therapy session, slash wonderful conversation with Russell Brand for [podcast] Under The Skin on Luminary,’ Joe said on Instagram last Tuesday.

He continued: ‘I loved it man, it was an intense conversation and emotional, I’m just running on pure fumes at the minute.

‘Really lovely conversation, I think there’s a lot of value there.

‘I really opened up about how I’m feeling about this whole experience, about my childhood, about how I’m developing and growing as a man, and trying to improve my brain and open my mind to new things.’

Worried about drugs?

Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email [email protected], message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.

Adfam has local groups for families affected by drugs and alcohol and DrugFam offers phone and email support to people affected by other people’s drug or alcohol misuse.

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