Well it looks like after a year of turmoil, drama and public scrutiny, actor Columbus Short is coming clean on his issues and has revealed why he ultimately was let go from the hit show ‘Scandal’. According to USMagazine:
Columbus Short openly addressed his struggles with drug abuse, which he described as his “biggest problem,” in a new interview with Access Hollywood Live.
This past Valentine’s Day, Short was charged with misdemeanor spousal battery, and his wife, Tanee McCall-Short, later filed for divorce. In March, he was arrested on another battery charge after brawling with a fellow patron in a restaurant.
One month later, he confirmed his exit from ABC’s smash drama Scandal. “At this time I must confirm my exit from a show I’ve called home for three years, with what is the most talented ensemble on television today,” Short told Us Weekly in a statement. “I would like to first thank Shonda Rhimes for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast.”
“I’ll be candid: I was struggling with drugs,” Short admitted. “I had a lot on my plate, and you know, I was using unhealthy ways to kind of self-medicate and deal with a lot of heavy duty stuff in my life… I was doing cocaine and drinking a lot, and trying to balance a 16-hour work schedule a day, and a family, and I just lost myself back then.”
He also revealed that the Shonda and the cast were aware of his issue and wanted him to get help and protected his secret
“And if we’re going to be fully transparent, they protected me and they held me down,” he said. “And that was one of the real reasons – they just wanted me to get my stuff together. Sometimes the bottom has to be dropped out for you to really get it. So I moved to Atlanta. I’ve been living there for the last five months, five-and-a-half months, and it’s just been great. It’s been life-changing.”
He also opened up on the chain of events that contributed to his downward spiral including marital issues and the death of a close friend.
“I was going through a lot, going through a lot in my marriage, I had a lot of loss, tragic loss, so it’s tough,” he recalled to Access Hollywood Live. “Last year, one of my best friends died, he killed himself, Lee Thompson Young, and that kind of started a spiral. I found out when I was on set, and it really just, it took my legs out from under me.”
Columbus says he has gotten himself together and wants to get back to work. Despite his character being killed off, he says he would love to return to ‘Scandal’ and also has some advice for those struggling with substance abuse.
“I think when anybody’s dealing with drugs or alcohol, you need to change your environment, period,” he noted. “Persons, places, things, you need to get out of whatever the comfort – it was accessible to me. Come on – I’m on the number one show on television, anything I wanted I could get it, but that’s deadly, you know what I mean? So it was about, how do I change my life?”
“I’m really ready to get back to work. As far as Shonda’s shows, I would love nothing more to go back to ‘Scandal.’ It’s my family.”
Would you be here for the return of Harrison to ‘Scandal’? We’re sure they can bring Harrison back from the dead, we never officially saw his body right!?
