Matt Willis, bassist of the band Busted, has opened up about his struggles with cocaine and alcohol in a new documentary, admitting his addiction nearly destroyed his marriage to TV presenter Emma Willis. The 39-year-old musician said he would leave notes for his wife apologising in case he did not wake up, only to find and discard them in the morning.
Willis described his body feeling like it was giving up, and said he thought about dying 'quite a lot'. In the documentary, Emma Willis is seen tearfully recalling how she kept a diary from 2008 to track her husband's drinking and drug use, fearing he would die. Willis expressed deep shame over his past behaviour, particularly his gaslighting, and said he makes amends by being the sober, thoughtful man he is today.
Willis's addiction began in childhood, when he would overuse his asthma inhaler to alter his state. As a teenager in Molesey, Surrey, he smoked cannabis and drank to excess, often blacking out. After Busted formed in 2000 and achieved success in 2002, he had the money to fuel his cocaine habit, using it to stay awake and party while maintaining a functioning facade.
Willis hopes the documentary will help others facing similar demons. He said he has become 'obsessed' with the science of addiction and wanted to focus on new research and treatment. The film also explores the ripple effect of addiction on loved ones, with Willis noting the stigma that often overlooks the person behind the addiction.
