Freddy Brazier has spoken candidly about his strained relationship with his grandmother, Jackiey Budden, admitting it has been 'tough' mentally. The 21-year-old, who is the son of the late Jade Goody and Jeff Brazier, previously claimed his nan got him 'hooked on weed', a situation that left his father 'livid'.
Mental health struggles and accountability
In a new interview on The Terry Stone Connection podcast, Freddy said he believes many of his mental health problems stem from his nan's influence, and that he would not have faced the same struggles without her. However, he stopped short of blaming her, stating: 'No one is to blame other than myself.'
He explained: 'I was always going to be troubled and go down the wrong path. The only real similarity with my nan is our heads. I think our heads and what goes on in our heads and the overthinking and the bad stuff. The more mental health stuff I think I'm similar to nan than in that way.'
Comparisons to his late mother
Freddy also addressed the difficulty of being compared to his mother, Jade Goody. When Jackiey likens the pair, he said he is never sure whether to laugh or cry. He added: 'But my mum was put through a lot and I think in the last 10 years where I've spent most time with my nan, as much as I tell myself it has been lovely and I love her and I do love her and I'd do anything for her, it's been tough and mentally I don't think I would be where I am now.'
He continued: 'But then accountability I smoked before I really got into it with her and I could have continued with that group, then I don't know where I would have ended up. So no one's to blame other than myself. I feel like I was always going to be troubled and be the brother that goes down the wrong path.'
Family feud and past tensions
Freddy's relationship with Jackiey has been a source of tension for years. His father, Jeff Brazier, previously launched a legal bid to keep his youngest son away from her, fearing the influence she could have on his children. A source told the Mirror at the time: 'Drugs are not something Jeff wants the boys around and he's not happy with the whole situation.'
Jeff has had a long-standing feud with Jade's mum. He previously said that during his sons' childhoods, Jackiey would spoil them with 'unsuitable' gifts, once buying Freddy a hamster without checking with him, and supplied the boys with mobile phones during a visit. In 2012, he said: 'I just wish we could work together a little better.'
In the same interview, Freddy also confessed that while filming Celebrity Race Across The World, he used the allocated budget to buy drugs during filming in Brazil. He admitted he was not in 'the right place for it' during filming with his dad. Freddy and Jeff finished in third place, behind Scott Mills and his husband Sam Vaughan.
Freddy expressed optimism about his future, saying: 'I'm happy to see him [Bobby] doing well and smashing life and I know that I'll be there soon. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself.'
