Although celebrities have major highs and also severe lows, they usually have a few common traits that allow them to reach a level of greatness, which we can all learn from. With that said, let’s take a look at the details of what really happened on the night that Diana Ross’ reportedly hidden addiction became exposed to the world.
Diana’s Rehab Stints
Behind the sequined gowns and the glamour, the iconic Diana Ross was said to be suffering from alcohol addiction and according to some reports, possibly pain pill addiction as well. After her five children reportedly ‘asked her to seek help,’ Diana checked into rehab several times in 2002.
At that time, her publicist, Phil Symes, revealed “Diana Ross voluntarily entered Promises (drug and alcohol rehab facility) to clear up some personal issues before she starts on a summer tour in both the U.S. and abroad. She wanted to be in great shape because she is someone who feels a sense of responsibility to her family and to her fans.” Promises is a five-star rehabilitation drug and alcohol rehab facility that cost $20,000 per month in 2002. Three weeks later, Diana reportedly checked herself out and continued a tour she was on at the time.
By August 2002, Diana checked herself back into Promises rehab facility for another shot at sobriety.
Unfortunately, months later Diana reportedly had a relapse when she was arrested for an “Extreme DUI” in December 2002.
Details Of Ross’ 2002 DUI Arrest
We have viewed the December 30, 2002 police report for Diana’s DUI arrest, which stated she performed “poorly” on her sobriety test, after Tuscon, AZ police received calls from witnesses that a woman was driving up the wrong side of the road and “swerving her vehicle.”
The 2002 Tuscon Police Department’s report says Ross was spotted walking up to a Blockbuster Video door at approximately 12:36 a.m. (after Blockbuster was closed), upon exiting her angled parked car on N. Sabino Canyon Rd. in Tuscon, AZ. The report states the officer approached Diana and noticed she was “intoxicated,”and that she told the officer she hadn’t been drinking and was instead just lost in the area, needing directions. The report also noted Diana fell down during the walking/standing portion of the sobriety test and failed the alphabet and counting parts of the test.
When asked to write down the ABC’s, Diana wrote: “A B C C D E F G H J K L L M O P Q R S S T U V W X Y Z”
When asked to write numbers one through thirty, Diana’s written response was: “1 2 3 4 5 6 3 8 9 9 0 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 31 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30″
The report also stated Diana’s eyes were “very bloodshot and watery”; her speech was “slurred” as she talked to the arresting officer; and when asked to walk in a straight line and take 15 steps, she only took 9. The officer also noted that he could smell an “intoxicant” on Diana’s breathe and that she “swayed” side to side as he spoke with her.
By February 2004, Diana Ross was court ordered to serve 48 hours in jail for her Dec. 2002 DUI.
Celebs Are Human, Too
After reading all of the details in Ms. Ross’ report, we could imagine how much she and her family had probably gone through behind the scenes, as a result of her apparent addiction back then.
The reported reason for Diana Ross’ addiction were said to have been sparked by her 14-year marriage ending with Norwegian shipping tycoon, Arne Naess, Jr. (now deceased) a few years prior, in 2000.
Fast forward to today and the 77 years young Diana Ross appears to be standing strong, like the true warrior she is.
Many celebs have suffered addictions for various reasons, but it always boils down to one fact- that celebrities are simply human beings, just like the rest of us, who sometimes have internal struggles to fight. Their fame causes their mistakes to be magnified a million times more than us regular folks, so their falls are a lot harder. But it’s their ability to overcome such steep falls that make them great, and that’s something many of us can learn from.
We salute those, like Diana Ross, who have overcome their battle with addiction and continue to push everyday to be stronger representations of themselves than they were the day before.
