RTE viewers Tommy Tiernan viewers have hailed comedian Willa White for his "powerful and moving" interview about his journey to recovery after battling drug addiction.
Dublin native White is originally from Ballymun, and he is well-known for his stand-up comedy routines at Whelans' and for also supporting Tommy Tiernan at Vicar Street. In recent years, Willa has worked and starred in 'The Examination' a play which explores mental health and human rights in the prison system.
In 2019, he won Best Performer at the Dublin Fringe Festival for his performance in the gripping play. On Saturday night's Tommy Tiernan show, Willa spoke only about his road to recovery from drug addiction.
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He told Tommy Tiernan on tonight's show: "My addiction stemmed from childhood trauma, my father was abusive to my mother, my sister and to me. Addiction doesn't discriminate, it doesn't care where you're from."
Willa spent time in psychiatric hospitals and spoke candidly about his experience with psychosis. He explained how he attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings with others who wanted to stop using drugs, telling Tommy how seven people he knew died.
Willa would go on to completely turn his life around, getting into comedy and theatre. His recovery also helped him to forgive his father for the past, and they had forged a close relationship when he died in 2016.
Willa told Tommy Tiernan: "My da used to always talk about people who didn't drink and smoke, who had their own house and how they were great people. In some mad twist of fate, I became that person.
"I gave up the cigarettes, I don't drink and I don't use and I got a house. I done all the things I wanted to do, and it's not about material things.
"It's never been about material things, even though I have a thing about trainers. I have about 90 pairs of trainers, I'll probably get into Buddhism or something and get back as a centipede and wear the whole lot of them," joked Willa.
Social media users were quick to praise Willa for his honesty and bravery. One Twitter user wrote: "What a powerful interview Willa White. What a story of redemption."
A second person said: "Wonderful genuine and raw interview about addiction. I hope the days are kinder to that man, to speak so openly takes so much courage. Addiction doesn't discriminate.
A third said: "You could hear a pin drop in the studio. What a journey he's taking us on." Another said: "God I feel so much for him. Fair play to him for turning his life around. I can't imagine how difficult it was."
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