'LYING IN MY OWN VOMIT'
DEMOCRAT star Andrew Gillum detailed his alcohol abuse spiral after losing the Florida governor’s race and opened up about his "pornstar" companion’s reported meth overdose.
Former gubernatorial candidate Gillum, 40, discussed his recent struggle, which saw him unable to recognize himself in a post-binge photo.
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In an interview set to air on Monday, Gillum and his wife, R. Jai Gillum, exclusively spoke to journalist about the career-shattering image.
“When that photo came out, I didn’t recognize the person on the floor,” Gillum said in the preview clip on .
“That was not anything more than a person being at their most vulnerable state, unconscious, having given no consent.
"And someone decided to use a moment where I was literally lying in my own vomit.”
The one-time star narrowly lost the 2018 Florida governor’s race two years ago.
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Back in March, the politician was found inebriated inside a Beach hotel room with two other men – and one of them had allegedly overdosed on crystal meth.
Gillum was found vomiting in the bathroom of Mondrian South Beach.
Meanwhile, one of the other men had to be treated for a suspected drug overdose.
In the hotel room, cops found three bags crystal meth on the bed and floor, which Gillum's denied ever taking.
In April, the Miami Beach Police Department released pictures of , a box for a party light disco ball, spilled white pills on the carpet and a vial of a drug often used for erectile dysfunction.
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At the time, Gillum released a statement explaining that he was at a wedding celebration "when first responders were called to assist one of my friends. "
"While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines," he said, according to .
Travis Dyson, who was one of the men in the raided hotel room told the Miami Times he "personally was not celebrating a wedding."
"I don’t know if [Gillum] was in town for a wedding," Dyson said.
"He did not mention that.”
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While it was initially reported that Dyson was a friend of Gillum’s, it was later revealed that the man called himself a “” and had a profile on the website RentMen.Com, .
On his RentMen profile, he reportedly advertised a range of services as a male escort.
A third man, Aldo Mejias, reportedly called police after he entered the hotel room around 11pm and saw Dyson collapse on the bed and throw up.
Mejias, who told cops he gave Dyson CPR and called 911, also alleged to police that Gillum was “under the influence of an unknown substance” in the hotel room.
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The man said that while he was , Gillum was in the bathroom throwing up.
This week, Gillum told Hall that he understood "very well what people assume" about him being in that hotel room and cried "every day" after the news broke.
“I would say the reason why I went to that room is probably no different than how anybody might communicate with someone that they are in a friendship, relationship, whatever, with," Gillum said, during that aired on Thursday.
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The father of three and former mayor of Tallahassee was forced to withdraw from politics and enter rehab in the wake of the scandal.
reported that the leaked photo showed Gillum unconscious and naked – but authorities never confirmed it was him.
“I’m still here by the grace of God,” Gillum said during the GMA interview. “So much of my own recovery has been about trying to get over shame.”
Police bodycam footage shows response to wild party that sent Dem Andrew Gillum to rehab
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