Poppy Bilderbeck
Warning: This article contains discussion of drug addiction which some readers may find distressing.
Steve-O has spoken out about turning down an interview opportunity on Bill Maher's podcast.
The Jackass star has been sober from drugs for 16 years and took to social media last week to celebrate the milestone.
However, while his fans and followers have supported him along the way, not everyone has been quite as understanding of Steve-O's - full name Stephen Gilchrist Glover - addiction issues.
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Steve-O quickly rose to fame in the early noughties for his iconic performances and daring stunts in Jackass, but as well as gaining fans and followers, his time in the spotlight also saw him become dependent on drugs.
Thankfully, on 9 March 2008, Jackass co-star Johnny Knoxville staged an intervention and Steve-O then ended up making his way through the 12-step programme and has since gone on to be drug-free for 16 years.
The 49-year-old posted a before and after upload on his Instagram to mark the occasion noting how 'grateful' he is for his recovery. Just prior to celebrating his 16th year of sobriety, Steve-O took to his podcast - Wild Ride! - to talk in more detail about being 'a clean and sober guy' and how 'very important' it is for him to maintain his sobriety.
He continued: "I am about to be sweet 16. Really, there’s nothing I value more than my sobriety. There’s nothing more that I protect than my recovery."
Steve-O explained he's even turned down interview opportunities to make sure he stays on the right path of sobriety, such as when the Bill Maher podcast Club Random reached out.
Maher can be seen in various episodes of Club Random smoking what appears to be marijuana and has confirmed to The Charlotte Observer he gets high for the podcast, noting he 'can't imagine doing it without it' and thinks pot makes him 'more creative' and his 'mind works faster'.
When Maher's podcast allegedly reached out, Steve-O said he would 'happily go on there', but only if 'out of respect for [his] sobriety' Maher could 'refrain from smoking pot'.
The Jackass star has previously spoken out about avoiding the smell of marijuana on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, saying: "When I smell marijuana I find it kind of upsetting. I don't like breathing it into my lungs and what's worse, I love the way it smells."
Alas, Steve-O alleges Maher 'said no' to his request for him not to smoke weed in front of him.
He resolved: "Mike Tyson’s podcast is called Hotboxin. Be real! All of these prolific potheads, I’ve been on their shows and it wasn’t so important to them to blow marijuana smoke in my face, but for Bill Maher it was a dealbreaker."
UNILAD has contacted Bill Maher's representatives for comment.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can call American Addiction Centers on (313) 209-9137 24/7, or contact them through their website.