Matt Willis Issues Public Apology Over Secret Vaping Habit
Busted musician Matt Willis has publicly apologised after confessing to hiding a "terrible" secret from his children. The 42-year-old star, married to BBC Radio 2 presenter Emma Willis, admitted to being "massively addicted" to vaping despite repeatedly telling his kids that the habit is "stupid".
A Hidden Habit and Family Hypocrisy
Willis, who shares three children - Isabelle, Ace, and Trixie - with his wife Emma, revealed the extent of his nicotine dependency during an episode of his podcast, On the Mend. The musician, who has previously been open about his battles with alcohol and drug addiction, described feeling deeply hypocritical for secretly vaping while discouraging his children from doing the same.
"I've been very adamant to them that vaping is stupid and I'm secretly doing it," Willis confessed. "Like, it's so hypocritical. Everything about it is wrong. I don't want my kids doing it."
The Struggle to Quit and Professional Consequences
Despite seeking help from neuroscientist TJ Power to overcome his addiction, Willis struggled to maintain his resolve. After discarding his vapes and snus (powdered tobacco pouches) in a determined effort to quit, he quickly relapsed when he spotted vapes backstage at a Busted concert.
The musician explained that a traffic incident on his way to the gig left him furious, and upon arriving at the venue, he discovered that Busted kept vapes on their rider. "I found myself grabbing the vape and slipping back into old habits," he admitted.
This relapse led to a crucial realisation about the potential professional consequences of his addiction. During a vocal call for his role in Cabaret, Willis recognised that his vaping habit could jeopardise his ability to sustain his performance commitments.
A Lifelong Addiction and Current Resolution
Willis traced his nicotine dependency back to his teenage years, revealing he has smoked since age 13 or 14. "I like it, I really like nicotine, I'm massively addicted to it, like hugely addicted to it," he explained during a podcast Q&A session.
Despite his struggles, Willis has now switched to snus and vowed not to return to vaping. "So, I don't plan on vaping again. I don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to have that in my life. It's embarrassing. It's terrible for you," he stated.
The musician offered a heartfelt apology to neuroscientist TJ Power for failing to follow through with their quitting plan. "I'm really sorry, TJ. Just, I let you down and I didn't follow through," Willis said, revealing that he would typically carry three vapes with him at all times as a precaution.
Professional Advice and Future Commitments
During their discussion, Power advised Willis that discarding "fresh" vaping products represents a more empowering act of control than disposing of used ones. "There's something very empowering about binning fresh product because it's really taking control," the scientist explained.
Meanwhile, Matt and Emma Willis are set to return to television screens in Celebrity Sabotage, airing on ITV One. The episode features Joel Dommett, Judi Love, Sam Thompson, and GK Barry participating in a faux love-themed programme where they deceive unsuspecting individuals.
Willis's candid confession highlights the ongoing challenges of addiction, even for those who have overcome previous substance abuse issues, and underscores the difficult balance between personal struggles and parental responsibility.
