Actor Hasselhoff says he is battling alcoholism
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor David Hasselhoff admitted on Thursday that he had struggled to overcome alcoholism after a videotape emerged showing him drunk.
The videotape, believed taken by his 16-year-old daughter Taylor Ann three months ago, was aired online and on several entertainment TV channels on Thursday. It showed Hasselhoff dressed in blue jeans and no shirt lying on the floor struggling to eat a hamburger.
A young female voice on the video is urging him not to drink, warning him that he could lose his role in a stage show of "The Producers" in Las Vegas if he didn't sober up.
In a statement on Thursday published on various entertainment web sites including Entertainment Tonight, the former "Baywatch" star acknowledged he was a recovering alcoholic but did have a brief relapse.
"Despite that I have been going through a painful divorce and I have recently been separated from my children due to my work, I have been successfully dealing with my issue," he said in the statement.
"Unfortunately, one evening I did have a brief relapse, but part of recovery is relapse."
Hasselhoff, 54, said his two daughters from his 16-year marriage to actress Pamela Bach were concerned for him and a tape was made one night to show what he was like drunk.
"I have seen the tape. I have learned from it and I am back on my game," he said.
"The tape was never meant to become public, but got into the hands of individuals who are not worthy of mentioning, who maliciously released the tape for their own self purpose. I hope that someone else will learn from the tape, as I have."
Hasselhoff filed for divorce from Bach in January last year citing irreconcilable differences.
As well as Taylor Ann, they have a 14-year-old daughter, Hayley.
Hasselhoff has had a long struggle with alcohol problems. Last July, he was denied access to a flight at London's Heathrow Airport with witnesses telling British tabloid newspapers that he was drunk. His representative explained it as illness.
Reuters
