Jackie 'O' Henderson is under fire after it was revealed she secretly took a drug and alcohol addiction test at Betty Ford's clinic in November 2022.
The radio star, 49, made the shocking admission during a tearful conversation with her co-host. Kyle Sandilands on his KIIS FM radio show on Thursday morning.
At the height of her addiction, Jackie reported taking up to 12 Stilnox sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte pills a day, often with alcohol.
As Jackie bravely shared her story, explaining her battle with addiction and why she took a long break from The Kyle and Jackie O Show, not all listeners were sympathetic.
Many criticized the radio personality for using an offshore facility favored by the rich and famous while thousands of Australians struggle to pay for local rehabilitation services.
Known for treating Hollywood stars such as Keith Urban, Robert Downey Jr. and the Lindsay Loganpetty Ford Clinic charges between $45,000 and $90,000 AUD for a one-month stay, depending on the program.
While the clinic offers comprehensive care to addicts, the price tag left many listeners feeling disconnected from Jackie's story.
Social media was quickly inundated with backlash, with fans criticizing the star for flaunting her privilege.
Jackie 'O' Henderson came under fire in November 2022 following revelations that she had been secretly tested at Betty Ford's clinic for drug and alcohol addiction. The photo is Thursday.
“Desperate for ratings in Melbourne”. We don't care about Jackie. You are rich and you have all the resources in your hands. “You're not one of us,” said one listener.
Others chimed in with similar sentiments: “Encouraging people to stop using drugs is all well and good, but not many people can afford rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic.”
Another wrote: 'Grow up on your $20 million annual salary. Who cares about her? She has money to get help, what about the thousands of people who can't? There seems to be a “look at me” attitude.
Known for treating Hollywood stars such as Keith Urban, Robert Downey Jr. and Lindsay Lohan, the hospital charges between $30,000 and $60,000 USD for a one-month stay, depending on the program.
Jackie's emotional confession had its fans.
'Why so many enemies! Congratulations, Jackie, for having the courage and honesty to tell us about your battle with addiction. I hope your story saves some lives,” wrote one fan.
'I cried my eyes out this morning… how brave. What a trip! You are a true inspiration to many,” another wrote on Instagram.
A second added: 'These problems, when she describes them in detail, do not discriminate between rich and poor. See Andrew O'Keefe. Liam Payne. It never ends well, which is why it's important to seek help.'
Jackie admitted that she had been advised not to cut down on pills before coming to the clinic, meaning she was still using them on the day she flew to the United States.
At the height of her addiction, Jackie revealed she took up to 12 Stilnox sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte pills a day, often with alcohol. Pictured with his daughter Kitty before leaving the country at the Australian Business Radio Awards 2022.
When Jackie took a break from the show in 2022, Kyle Sandilands told those who asked him to step down to “focus on his health” after contracting Covid-19.
However, behind the scenes, the beloved radio host struggled with an out-of-control drug addiction.
Jackie admits that she is ashamed of her secret, is afraid of public judgment, and decides to seek help after hitting rock bottom.
Jackie said she began struggling after splitting from British photographer Lee Henderson in 2018.
She revealed that she asked her daughter Kitty, 13, for permission to share her story publicly and praised her for treating her with “kindness.”
“I couldn't be more proud of my daughter, the way she did it was non-judgmental, kind and supportive,” Jackie said.
Jackie said she wanted to speak publicly about her battle with drugs to reduce the “stigma” surrounding drug addiction and “normalize” it.
The host bravely apologized to listeners for not disclosing her health problems sooner and revealed that in a few weeks she will be two years sober.
'I want to apologize to our listeners and everyone in my life. […] “First I have to focus on that area, on that recovery,” he said.
