Kerry Katona has claimed she was “told to say she was on drugs” to explain her slurred speech after her famous 2008 This Morning interview – but it was really due to her bipolar.
The former Atomic Kitten star said she was advised not to speak about her mental health condition as people would not “understand” it.
The 40-year-old singer made headlines back in 2008 when she appeared on ITV’s This Morning slurring her words.
Many viewers at the time thought Kerry was drunk, but she has explained her slurred speech was actually due to the medication she was on for her bipolar disorder.
(Image: kerrykatona7/Instagram)
The TV star took to Instagram Live to open up about her condition, saying: “Let them know you’ve done drugs or they won’t understand [my Bipolar disorder]. I didn’t know what they meant by that.
“Then I got diagnosed in 2005 and in 2008, that’s when I did the This Morning interview and I slurred my words due to my bipolar medication.
“I realised if I was on This Morning slurring my words and I was in a wheelchair with four degree burns all over my face slurring, people would be ‘aww bless her’.
(Image: ITV)
“But because you can’t visually see anything wrong because it’s in here, people didn’t understand it.
“I’m glad that my story has helped others to not feel alone which I’m really happy about. I don’t have to explain anything but I’m letting people know how hard mental health is.”
In 2018, Kerry went back onto the This Morning sofa and spoke about the famous 2008 interview to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
She said: “I am not ashamed or embarrassed to give myself a pat on the back.
“I think I’ve done really well to overcome it [her past demons].
“There are things where I cringe, and feel embarrassed about but I’m here to talk about not feeling embarrassed or ashamed and to reach out and talk to people.”
The star previously spoke out about her drug abuse, and confessed that she wanted to end her life and was “lost”.
(Image: Internet Unknown)
Getting personal, she admitted: “I would take that much cocaine that I would pass out and have a fit hoping that I wouldn’t wake up again. At that time, it was not long after being on here doing that infamous interview we did together, and ashamed and embarrassed.
“I was lost and didn’t know who I was as a person and I didn’t know how to make it alright. So the only way I thought was the easiest way and the best way for my children and for everybody else was if I ended my life.”
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We previously reported that Kerry had to go into hospital in April this year after she had an allergic reaction which left her eyes swollen.
The reality TV star went on to win I’m a Celebrity in 2004, and she’s also appeared on Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Big Brother.
Kerry is now a mum-of-five and is moving up north to Cheshire in the summer – and she’s declared she wants to star in her own reality TV show.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
