Elton John said this week that his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on Zoom have been a "lifesaver" during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I’m a recovering alcoholic so I have an AA meeting from this house every Sunday," the "Rocket Man" singer said on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new podcast, Archewell Audio. "I connect with my friends who I’ve known for about 30 years in the program, and that’s great.
"If it hadn’t have been for Zoom, I don’t know what we would’ve done. It’s been a lifesaver."
John said he was in the middle of a concert tour when the pandemic started and he was forced to return home to Britain.
"It was very strange because we were going full pelt," he said, "and then all of a sudden we ground to a halt."
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY RELEASE FIRST PODCAST EPISODE FEATURING SON ARCHIE
John said he’s at higher risk for the virus because he’s older and he has an underlying condition.
"I’m 73 years old and I’m a semi-diabetic so I’m in a risky area there," he explained.
He added that while he sees his husband and children every day, he relies on phone calls and Zoom to stay in touch with extended family.
ELTON JOHN CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF SOBRIETY, SAYS HE'D 'BE DEAD' IF HE DIDN'T SEEK HELP
John celebrated 30 years of sobriety last summer, writing on Instagram in July: "Reflecting on the most magical day having celebrated my 30th Sobriety Birthday."
He added, "If I hadn’t finally taken the big step of asking for help 30 years ago, I’d be dead."
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The podcast also included celebrities like James Corden, Deepak Chopra and José Andrés.
spinblackcircles on December 31st, 2020 at 18:31 UTC »
A friend of mine that was an addict but sober and in AA/NA off a cocaine and alcohol addiction got laid off from his job in March cause of covid. At the time he was doing so well I was so proud of him. But AA meetings were all canceled too and I guess he just didn’t want to do zoom, I’m not sure why.
He started smoking weed again in late March I guess cause of boredom or depression. I’m not blaming weed at all he just has the type of personality where he is either totally sober or he goes balls to the wall on whatever he can get his hands on so I knew him smoking was not a good sign. By may he was dead from an opiate overdose. He was 21 years old and I miss him every day.
This addiction shit is for real and some people absolutely need AA meetings and fellowship to stay sober.
octokit on December 31st, 2020 at 15:46 UTC »
I attended a few of the Zoom meetings after my dad died this year and I was struggling to put down the bottle. They were a huge help. 46 days alcohol-free here.
Edit: Here is a directory of online AA meetings. https://aa-intergroup.org/oiaa/meetings/
acatsbreakfast on December 31st, 2020 at 15:00 UTC »
Can you imagine if you called into an AA Zoom meeting and Elton John was on the other end?