'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".

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AJ McLean is feeling his very best since he started his recent sobriety
AJ McLean is feeling his very best since he started his recent sobriety

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."