"So to say that you’re like 'California Sober' or this type of sober is extremely
offensive.”
Vanderpump Rules’ star, Lala Kent is calling out Demi Lovato for their 'California Sober’
recovery approach, as she claims it doesn't exactly constitute as being fully "sober"
— let’s get into it.
Back in March Demi Lovato helped popularize the term "California Sober” after appearing
on several talk shows and podcasts to talk about their recovery from addiction.
As you guys know, Demi had a very close call in July 2018 after suffering an overdose that
left them with permanent brain damage as revealed in their recent YouTube docuseries, Dancing
with the Devil.
In the doc, Demi also explained that being California Sober means, quote, “smoking
weed and drinking in moderation,” and that it’s a middle ground that has helped them
stay away from hard drugs.
They went into detail saying, "Telling myself that I can never have a drink or smoke marijuana,
I feel like that's setting myself up for failure because I am such a black-and-white thinker.
I had it drilled into my head for so many years that one drink was equivalent to a crack
pipe.”
Demi seems to feel so identified with the concept of California Sober that they even
wrote a song about it for their latest album, Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting
Over.
“I’m California Sober, it doesn’t have to mean the growing part is over”
However, Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent, who’s also a recovering addict, doesn’t
appear to agree with Demi’s take on overcoming drug addiction at all.
During a recent conversation on The Velvet Rope podcast, Lala told host David Yontef
that she finds the idea of 'California Sober' QUOTE “extremely offensive.”
"You know there are people out there who have worked their *ss off to never take themselves
out of an alt— you know, take themselves out of reality and never place themselves
in an alter state.
You know, they don’t even — when they have a cold, take DayQuil or Nyquil."
She went on to explain that sober to her means that, quote, “you are not taking yourself
out of reality” and she added that she’s met people who have given up everything to
keep themselves from using again.
Which is why Lala holds that California Sober is not a real thing:
"If you’re drinking or smoking weed, you’re not sober!"
Lala herself has been sober since the end of 2018 following the death of her father,
and she went public with her alcoholism in March 2019 after joining Alcoholics Anonymous.
Demi rationalized the more lax approach to sobriety, likening it to their struggle with
food addiction, as they explained during their latest appearance on Ellen saying, quote:
"I've dealt with so much struggle when it comes to addiction -- whether it's food, whether
it's substances -- and this all-or-nothing state of mind -- like good versus bad foods
-- I can't."
And Demi’s fans came to their defense echoing their words that quote, “recovery isn't
a one-size-fits-all solution”.
This person tweeted, “Good thing it’s Demi’s recovery and not yours @lala_kent.”
And this other fan wrote, “California Sober is literally Demi’s song and story, so you
should have no say in it.”
However, there are also people who agree with Lala’s stance...
Back in April, Backstreet Boy AJ McClean and Dancing with the Stars' Cheryl Burke, both
self-admitted recovering addicts, weighed in on Demi’s California Sober recovery on
their podcast.
"It’s confusing to people that are trying to get sober.
From experience, I do know that there is no gray area when it comes to sobriety, you’re
either sober or you’re not.”
So there you have it, both sides of the argument, some in favor, others offering stern warnings
against it…
And we just hope that Demi has found something that works for them on their way to recovery
and a healthier lifestyle...
And now go ahead and click right over here for another Clevver News video:
Then hop to the comments and let me know all your thoughts on both Lala and Demi’s views
on their different approaches to recovery.
As always, I’m your host Renee Ariel, you can follow me on socials @ReneeAriel and I’ll
see ya next time!