AJ McLean Opens Up About Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption
Hey everyone, I wanted to take a moment to talk about something that really hit me on a personal level — a powerful story from someone we’ve all grown up watching, one of the original members of the Backstreet Boys, AJ McLean. Recently, AJ sat down for an emotional and brutally honest interview where he opened up about his battle with addiction, his journey through relapse and recovery, and why he knows, deep down, that he doesn’t have another relapse left in him.
Now, we’ve all seen the fame, the lights, the success — but what most people don’t realize is that behind the stage persona of AJ, there was a man named Alexander James, struggling with demons he hid for years. He described himself at one point as a "chronic relapser." It wasn’t full-blown benders, but more like one-night slips that spiraled into guilt and shame. And yet, each time, he somehow dodged consequences — no DUIs, no jail, no overdose — despite knowing how close he came. He admitted that one of the last times he used drugs, there was likely fentanyl involved. Think about that. It could’ve ended right there. But it didn’t. He’s still here, and he's using that reality as fuel for real, lasting change.
AJ is now close to celebrating four years sober, and his message is clear — staying in the moment, doing the work daily, and connecting with others in recovery is what keeps him grounded. He says it’s not about arrogance, but about a new kind of confidence. The kind that comes from within, from doing the inner work. And it’s powerful to hear someone so publicly known admit he once struggled with such a deep lack of self-esteem that he and his best friend jokingly called it “piece-of-s---ism.”
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But what makes AJ’s story even more inspiring is his desire to be honest with his kids — two daughters who are getting older, growing up in a world of social media and headlines. He wants them to know the truth from him, not from the internet. That kind of vulnerability, that kind of responsibility, is something a lot of people can learn from.
And here’s what’s beautiful — AJ doesn’t see the Backstreet Boys as his entire identity anymore. Sure, he’s grateful — and he’s still performing, working on music, and even co-hosting the Netflix show “Building The Band.” But he now sees AJ as a character he plays. The real man is Alexander James. That separation, that growth — that’s everything.
He also shared a touching reflection on Liam Payne, his late co-star on the Netflix series, who sadly passed away in 2024. The connection between them, the shared experiences, the parallels — AJ said it reminded him just how fragile and important this path to recovery really is.
So when AJ says, “I don’t have another relapse in me,” he’s not saying it casually. He’s saying it with the full weight of experience behind it. And maybe that’s what makes this story matter so much. It’s not just a celebrity confession. It’s a reminder that recovery is possible — but only if you're willing to be honest, to show up every day, and to finally believe that you're worth saving.
To AJ, and to everyone out there fighting similar battles — respect. Keep going.
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