Since the VH1 reality show’s 2008 debut, twelve of its alumni have passed away.
Celebrity Rehab was founded by Dr. Drew Pinsky to counter the tabloids’ depiction of addiction, according to a 2009 New York Times article on the set of the show. Pinsky, 65, was first opposed to the concept of receiving treatment on television. Following the premiere of the first season of the show, the addiction medicine expert told PEOPLE about his friend, counselor Bob Forrest, who persuaded him to get treatment: “He said, ‘I am so tired of people talking about rehab who have no idea what they’re talking about.’” They are unaware of the struggles and addictions that celebrities face.
The VH1 series, which ran from 2008 to 2011, featured a number of celebrities addressing their substance misuse problems in the Pasadena Recovery Center in California with Pinsky. Celebrity Rehab featured prominent artists, actresses, sports, TV celebrities, models, and more throughout the course of five seasons. Regretfully, following their performances on the reality show, twelve celebrities have passed away. Let’s examine their lives in more detail and how they openly discussed their difficulties in an effort to assist others.
If substance misuse is a problem for you or someone you know, please call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or visit 988lifeline.org if you or someone you know is thinking about taking their own life.
Dim-witted Shellshock
It’s funny how life tricks us, isn’t it? The frontman of Crazy Town, who was well-known for being insane both on stage and, regrettably, off, died in June 2024 at the age of 49. Shifty went in and out of dangerous circumstances during his career, including comas and DUI accusations. It was heartbreakingly obvious how much cocaine and medications affected him. “If I kept at it, I was going to die,” he once said to PEOPLE. My goal is to remain sober.
Tom Sizemore
On March 3, 2023, Tom Sizemore, the guy whose Golden Globe-nominated performances could have you riveted to the screen, passed away. His struggle with drug usage was more tragic than amusing. Paul, his brother, said, “He was bigger than life.” More than anyone I know, he has impacted my life. I am heartbroken by his passing and will always mourn him.
Frankie Lons
Every child’s worst dread is to watch their own mother battle addiction before giving in to it. Frankie Lons, the mother of Keyshia Cole, had a turbulent life. What a horrible irony it was that she died on her own birthday. The emotional Instagram post from Elite Noel, her daughter, stated it all: “My mother in a body bag on her birthday is the worst anguish I have ever experienced! My heart ached so much.
Kitaen Tawny
At the age of 59, actress and ’80s star Tawny Kitaen passed away quietly at her Newport Beach home. Her children Wynter and Raine verified their grief with a statement, “You gave her life every day,” following her diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. We love and miss her, and we are aware that her legacy will endure forever.
McKibbin, Nikki
Do you recall Nikki McKibbin from the inaugural season of American Idol? She was generous enough to give her organs before she went away at the age of 42 from a brain aneurysm. Craig, her spouse, put it poetically: “Even in the end, she is still giving.” An appropriate homage to a giving person.
Jason Davis
At the age of 35, the voice actor that embodied a character in Disney’s Recess passed away from fentanyl overdose. His mother remembered him as a season 4 participant who “had a true heart of gold with such a zest for life.”
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Chyna
On April 17, 2016, Chyna, a formidable WWE performer, passed away. The mixture of drugs in her system was the accidental offender. Her life served as an example of publicly facing one’s inner problems while clinging to hope.
Mindy McCready
On February 17, 2013, Mindy McCready, a country music vocalist with a beautiful voice, suddenly passed away. She dealt with alcohol and opioid addictions on the show, and her end was clouded in sadness following the suicide of her boyfriend. A terrible domino effect.
Joey Kovar
Joey Kovar, a reality star from The Real World: Hollywood, passed away suddenly at the age of 29. A life that appeared to be headed toward happiness was ended by opioid abuse. With regret, his brother remarked, “He had turned into such a happy person.” I’m still not really clear what transpired.
Rodney King
On June 17, 2012, the civil rights activist passed away at the age of 47. King’s stress from the vicious assault he suffered in 1991 at the hands of LAPD cops drove him to battle substance usage. Alcohol, marijuana, PCP, and cocaine all had a nasty part in his death; he was discovered drowning in his swimming pool.
Jeff Conaway
The well-known face of Grease actor Jeff Conaway concealed personal troubles. On May 27, 2011, the man who lighted up Broadway and little theaters alike passed away. He battled his addictions all the way to the end, but his job and the people in his life gave him comfort.
Mike Starr
To wrap up this solemn homage, on March 8, 2011, Alice in Chains’ Mike Starr overdosed on prescription drugs. Friends, family, and fans came together for an open memorial service in Seattle to honor a life that inspires people via music.
During Our Flight Woman Constantly Insulted the Aircraft Personnel and Passengers – She Ran Out of Plane in Tears
A mean stranger on a flight had everyone on edge, from her fellow passengers to the flight attendants! She kept ruffling feathers, mistreating people, and taking liberties as she wished! However, little did she know that she was going to leave the plane in tears!
An upset woman wearing headset while screaming on a flight | Source: Freepik
Hi all, Miranda here. I have a story to share with you about a stranger who misbehaved on a flight thinking she could get away with it. But me and my fellow passengers put her in her place!
See, I’ve been traveling quite a lot lately, but my most recent flight has to have been the craziest! I generally tend to book rows six or seven when I can because they aren’t too expensive. The other thing I like about the rows is that they’re close enough to the front to make them convenient.
A woman on a phone seated next to a man on a plane | Source: Freepik
Today, while walking through the congested aisles of the plane, I settled into what I believed was my assigned seat, 7D. On my way out, I was in 7F, and in my mind, I believed 7D was my return seat.
Mistakes happen, especially when you’re a frequent flyer like me who can’t seem to keep track of seat assignments. It was a minor hiccup — or so I thought until she arrived.
An annoyed-looking woman holding luggage | Source: Freepik
As the woman approached to claim my row, she believed she had the aisle seat. Without noticing that I was in the wrong row, I told her, “No, that’s my seat,” and politely stood up to let her in.
However, I eventually realized when the row became congested that I had misread my ticket. But the correction was met with unexpected vehemence.
“YOU ARE THAT STUPID THAT YOU CHOSE the wrong seat!” she screamed, her face contorted with irritation.
I scrambled to retrieve my bag, attempting to calm the brewing storm. But my sincere apologies fell on deaf ears. “People like YOU should not be allowed on flights!” she ranted.
A woman holding a phone while seated on a plane | Source: Pexels
Not wanting to worsen the situation, I said nothing as I scurried to my correct row. Little did I know that her bad behavior was about to get worse!
Her temper was a fuse, lit and unstoppable! Within less than ten minutes of peace, after we ascended, her barrage began. She yelled at a flight attendant, “This meal is atrocious! How dare you serve this?” over food SHE CHOSE HERSELF before hurling the plastic tray like a frisbee!
It wasn’t just the objects she threw; words, sharp and cutting, followed each action. Each utterance and behavior was more shocking than the last! No one was safe as she attacked, dissed, and threw tantrums at flight attendants and other passengers alike!
A plate of food on a flight | Source: Unsplash
A nearby passenger tried to intervene, “Hey, calm down, lady. There’s no need to treat people like that,” only to receive a splash of water and a tirade. “You think you can ignore ME? I’ll show you what happens!” she shrieked, punctuating her rage with kicks to his seat.
Literally, everyone on the flight hated this woman’s guts!
The cabin was aghast, whispers swirling like a storm. “Can you believe her?” “Somebody should do something!” The tension was palpable, a collective breath held in anticipation of her next outburst.
A flight attendant walking on a plane | Source: Pexels
As the flight drew on, the guy in front of me, the one who got soaked, passed me a note. He’d quietly hatched a plan and was trying to get the other passengers on board. My face lit up with a smirk as I read the note that said:
“Read and pass it on when she gets up to go to the exit, upon landing we’ll get up and see her off shouting…”
The rest of the note instructed us to shout, “Passenger 7D, you are unbearable. Learn to behave, not like a Neanderthal!” I won’t lie, I giggled a bit as I read the note!
A woman reading a note | Source: Pexels
At that moment, I knew the rude woman wasn’t going to get away with her messy ways as I passed the note on! Words and notes between the rest of the passengers passed along in hurried whispers.
We were united by circumstance, an impromptu alliance formed at 30,000 feet! The excitement among us was so palpable. I wondered, “Does this woman notice that something’s happening around her?”
But she remained oblivious, too focused on being mean to see the obvious.
Flight attendants dealing with passengers | Source: Unsplash
Our conspiratorial spirits lifted as the wheels touched down! The woman quickly stood, presumably to make a swift exit without being deterred by the rest of us. But just before leaving someone got up in front of her, obstructing her way.
This stopped us from our plan as she was now amid another hysteria. Suddenly, an unexpected hero turned up to save us all! The main pilot had made his way towards her and unknown to her, he was standing right behind her.
An upset woman standing with her luggage | Source: Freepik
Speaking loudly to get her immediate attention, he says, “I apologize for all the inconvenience you’ve suffered on this flight.” Thinking she was going to get away with all the abuse she’d exposed us to, some of us wanted to speak up.
But the pilot held his hand up. A smile flashed across the woman’s face for a moment. “For the inconvenience, you will be given a discount on your next flight with our airlines.” At this moment the hysterical woman speaks, saying:
“Yes, and I also want to be transferred to business class and get my money back for this flight.”
A rude woman pointing at someone | Source: Freepik
But the next moment she turns pale when he says “Woman, did you think I was addressing you? Noooo, I was talking to other passengers.” Facing her directly he added, “But something else awaits you.”
He continued, “Upon arrival, airport security is already waiting for you. Someone told them that you managed to bring dangerous objects onto the plane.” The shock on her face mimicked the expressions we all had!
A shocked woman | Source: Getty Images
“And if you don’t apologize RIGHT NOW, I will make sure that you are blacklisted as a passenger and you will no longer be able to fly!” he insisted to our delight!
Looking back at the people she was sitting with on the plane, including the flight attendants, it was obvious she was torn. Her face, once twisted in anger, crumpled under the weight of the reprimand.
A pilot standing in front of a flight attendant | Source: Freepik
At that moment, it became clear that she was human like the rest of us and could feel pain as well!
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she said softly, “I am sorry for how I behaved during the flight and I promise to do better in future.” Looking up at the pilot, he flicked his head in the direction of the exit, as to say, “Apology sufficient, you may leave.”
The woman rushed towards the exit. Each step hastened until she was running out!
A woman’s mascara running as she cries | Source: Getty Images
As silence fell and we collected ourselves, there was a surreal moment of reflection. The ordeal had transformed us, passengers bound by an unwelcome drama into a united group determined to get revenge.
We exchanged looks of disbelief and relief; the shared adversity had morphed into an unlikely bond. The collective was finally free from our tormentor! Seeing the glee on the faces of the flight attendants and the other passengers the woman had harassed, we couldn’t help but give a collective shout!
People clapped their hands at our victory, and it felt like justice was served that day!
A pilot shaking hands with a passenger | Source: Pexels
As we got off the plane, each person either shook the pilot’s hand or gave him a warm hug!
Waiting for my baggage I realized that the flight exemplified the highs and lows of human nature. It was a reminder of the thin line between order and chaos. In the crowded confines of a plane, we navigated more than just the skies by traversing the complex landscape of societal norms.
I felt proud to be a human being that day, and what started as a bad flight, ended off on a high note (pun intended)!
A happy woman seated at the airport | Source: Pexels
Well, that nasty woman seems to have gotten exactly what she deserves! In the following story, another rude woman gets put in her place when she tries bullying a young boy on the subway. Read on for all the delicious drama and the link to the story has more thrilling tales inside!
Sassy Mom Picks on Teen in Subway – The Boy’s Mother Put the Stranger in Her Place!
Let’s dive into the drama that unfolded one unusually warm spring afternoon. So, Sabrina was just chilling on her daily subway commute, navigating the sweet spot of crowdedness—enough people to feel the city vibe, but still some breathing room.
A woman sitting on the subway | Source: Pexels
Now, picture this: At the back of the subway car, there’s this kid, around 11 or 12, totally zoned out into his phone. He’s sitting in one of those priority seats meant for the elderly or those with disabilities.
Enter stage right, a woman bursts through the subway doors, towing a little kid in tow, and spots the boy in the seat. Her glare could’ve melted steel, but the boy? Oblivious, still glued to his screen.
A woman holding a child about to board the subway | Source: Pexels
Cue the confrontation. The woman strides up, launching into a tirade about the boy taking up a reserved seat when he seems perfectly fit. The subway audience is all ears, almost siding with her, until—plot twist—the boy’s mom steps in.
Calm yet fierce, she hints at an impending regret for the accuser. The boy then reveals his prosthetic limb, silencing the car in one swift motion. The angry woman, now embarrassed, beats a hasty retreat at the next stop.
A boy using his phone while seated | Source: Pexels
This unexpected subway saga leaves everyone, including Sabrina, musing on how quick we are to judge without knowing the full story. It’s a reminder that behind every scene in the bustling backdrop of city life, there’s often more than meets the eye. How’s that for a slice of daily drama?
An embarrassed woman on the subway | Source: Freepik
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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