'My life has flipped in a positive way...': Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean in better place since recent sobriety
Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean is sticking his recent sobriety "out all the way" as it has "flipped in a positive way".
AJ McLean has vowed to maintain his sobriety "all the way".
The Backstreet Boys singer opened up in 2020 about his 20-year addiction to drugs and alcohol, but then relapsed the following year and now he is in "the best head space [he's] ever been in [his] life" after conquering his demons once more and is confident he can stay sober this time.
He told People magazine: "Towards the end of the DNA tour, I got sober again for the last time.
"I'm sticking this one out all the way. It's a daily thing. But I have finally done what has been suggested amongst the sober community, and my life has flipped in a positive way."
The I Want It That Way hitmaker goes to the gym "six days a week," eats "clean" and maintains a "healthy balance between family and work", and gained valuable insight into his struggles two years ago.
He explained: "I took a little trip down to Scottsdale, Arizona, two summers ago for a little departure for myself for mental health.
"I'm a huge advocate for the mental health community, and I wanted to go dig a little deeper into my own existence and really get to the root of why I did the things I did to hurt myself and the ones I loved."
One thing which 47-year-old AJ - who has son Elliot, 12, and daughter Lyric, eight, with ex-wife Rochelle McLean - has found particularly helpful is to separate his showbiz persona from his real self.
He explained: : "I've discovered new verbiage, such as boundaries, never really had those. Now I have those, which is a blessing. AJ is a member of a group.
"He is a persona, but he doesn't define me as an individual. Alexander James is who I am."
The Building the Band presenter, who believes he was suffering "piece of s***ism" and had "zero self-esteem", doesn't care if people like him or not anymore.
He said: "And now I'm still learning, still growing, but if you don't like me, that's your loss, because I'm a really good person. I really got to bring that to this show as well. I got to be my true self."
And the Everybody performer said working on Building the Band has brough him further happiness.
AJ said: "Honestly, it brought me so much joy to be a part of this, and I am beyond flattered and honoured to be a part of the Netflix family now."
