Singer, actress, reality star, and designer Jessica Simpson is adding a new title to her long list — author. The star’s first memoir, Open Book , is set to be released in February, and Jessica has been getting real about her most intimate struggles in life.
In an excerpt of the book obtained by People, Jessica reveals that she initially set out to write a motivational book.
While she did end up writing a memoir, she initially set out to write a self-help guide to “living your best life.”
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But at the time, she felt like writing something like that would be disingenuous.
“I didn’t feel comfortable talking about myself in a way that wasn’t honest,” Jessica said , and eventually opted to write the true story of her life.
In preparation for the book’s release, Jessica has revealed that she has struggled with alcohol addiction almost her entire life.
“I had started a spiral and I couldn’t catch up with myself…and that was with alcohol,” she told Today . “Every day I would say it, ‘I’ll stop soon. I’ll cut back.’”
Her revelation that she needed to stop drinking happened on Halloween of 2017.
Speaking to People , Jessica admitted that “It was 7:30 in the morning and I’d already had a drink,” and that she continued drinking while her costume was being applied to the point that she “zoned out.”
Her husband then asked her if she wanted to help the children get in their costumes.
“I was terrified of letting them see me in that shape,” Jessica said. “I am ashamed to say that I don’t know who got them into their costumes that night.”
She then revealed that after that day, she spoke to her friends and made a declaration.
“I need to stop,” Jessica told her friends. “Something’s got to stop. And if it’s alcohol that’s doing this and making things worse, then I quit.”
Now, Jessica has admitted that her infamous ‘bizarre’ appearance on The Ellen Show in May 2017 was due to her being drunk at the time.
“I can’t even watch the interview,” she said of the segment where she was slurring her words, remembering facts, and speaking about topics strangely, often prompting an exasperated look from Ellen at the cameras.
“It was a weak moment for me and I wasn’t in the right place.”
Fans have often speculated on Jessica’s sobriety or state of mind during the interview, with one fan tweeting , “The woman can barely put together a coherent sentence,” and another adding “I was embarrassed 4 her. Painful 2 watch.”
“I was killing myself with all the drinking and pills,” Jessica has shared.
“Quitting was the easy part. I was mad at that bottle. At how it allowed me to stay complacent and numb,” she said.
“When I finally said I needed help, it was like I was that little girl that found her calling again in life,” she said.
“I found direction and that was to walk straight ahead with no fear.”
“Honesty is hard but it’s the most rewarding thing we have.”
“And getting to the other side of fear is beautiful. It’s been a long hard deep emotional journey,” she wrote, “one that I’ve come through the other side with pure happiness and fulfillment and acceptance of myself.”
“I’ve used my pain and turned it into something that can be beautiful and hopefully inspiring to people.”
It’s great to hear that Jessica is in a better place, and it’s refreshing to see a celebrity be so honest about their struggles!
