Celebrities Who Have Overcome Porn Addiction

5 Celebrities Who Have Overcome An Addiction To Porn

During 2020, Pornhub, a leading adult entertainment platform, received 3.2 billion visits per month. Another leading adult site, X Videos, received 3.4 billion per month. The accessibility of porn can lead to unhealthy habits and even an addiction. A person may have a pornography addiction if their life is negatively impacted by their desire to look at porn. This compulsion interferes with daily life, relationships, work, and their ability to function. Those with a porn addiction are unable to stop watching, even if they want to. Although the medical definition of porn addiction is often debated by scientists, negative effects are relatively common. Even celebrities have opened up about their struggles with watching porn. 

Signs Of Porn Addiction

The main indication that a porn addiction is present is when it becomes the most important thing in a person’s life. Day to day life gets interrupted by the compulsion to watch pornography. Other signs of a porn addiction include: 

• Neglecting personal care.
• Losing interest in other activities and social interactions.
• Damaging relationships.
• Ignoring responsibilities.
• Negative effects to school work or job. 
• Watching pornography in inappropriate places (like school or work).
• Sex life becomes unfulfilling. 
• Continuing to watch porn despite feeling frustrated or ashamed.
• Can’t stop watching although not as enjoyable as once was. 
• Looking at or watching porn routinely for over 6 months.

The Addiction Debate

Not all medical professionals and scientists agree that heavy porn use is considered an addiction in the medical definition of the word. Different organizations and associations have opposing views on the subject. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed compulsive sexual behavior as a mental health disorder. This addition was defined as repetitive sexual behavior that becomes the central focus of an individual’s life causing them to neglect their health, personal care, and care for interests, activities, and responsibilities. 

Studies have shown that problematic porn use can trigger certain responses in the brain. These responses occur in the areas that are associated with reward and memory. Researchers believe that this is similar to the brain activity that is seen with drug or alcohol addiction. Despite the support shown in this study, excessive porn use is not recognized by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The American Psychiatric Association does not believe that developing a dependence to porn creates the same long-lasting effects on the brain as a substance use disorder (SUD) does. 

Celebrities Who Have Spoken On Their Porn Addictions

It may seem that the lives’ of celebrities are very different from the average person. While this can be true in some aspects, they have struggles like everyone else. In fact, many celebrities experience substance abuse at some point in their career as a result of social pressure, criticism, and accessibility. 

Celebrities are also just as vulnerable to porn addiction. In recent years, several celebrities have opened up about overcoming their addiction to porn despite the stigma associated. This has been especially true after Brooklyn 99 actor, Terry Crews, revealed in 2015 that he had attended rehab for his porn use. Here are 5 other celebrities who overcome an addiction to porn. 

Andra Day

In a 2021 interview with InStyle, actress Andra Day spoke about her struggles with porn addiction. The 36-year-old celebrity discussed her portrayal of Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Day stated that she intentionally wanted to exclude sexuality from her performance of the influential singer. 

I didn’t want any element of sexualization. I had to come out of something in my own life: dealing with porn addiction and sex addiction. I’m being very, very candid with you because I’m not the only one.

Day went on to say that she is much healthier now that she is on the outside of her addiction. 

Kanye West

Rapper, producer, fashion designer, and celebrity Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021, shared his experience with porn addiction with Apple Music 1’s The Zane Lowe Show. In this 2019 interview, West told the story of how his interest in Playboy Magazine at age 5 grew into a “full blown addiction.” 

My dad had a Playboy left out at age 5 and it affected almost every choice I made for the rest of my life. From age 5 until now, having to kick the habit.

Kanye credits his faith with helping him to overcome his various addictions including porn addiction. 

Russell Brand

On his comedy web series, Russell Brand discussed the negative impact watching porn can have. Brand has been open about his struggles with his past struggles of substance abuse and sex addiction. In this 2015 collaboration with Fight The New Drug, an anti-pornography nonprofit, Brand spoke on how he has had to work towards not watching porn and its overall influence on him. 

It’s affected my ability to relate to women, to relate to myself, my own sexuality, my own spirituality.

Brand went on to point out the impact pornography has had on our society. He believes that porn has warped attitudes towards sex, deviating it from its true purpose as an expression of love and means of procreation. 

Jada Pinkett Smith

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith and daughter Willow had an open conversation about porn on her Facebook Watch series, Red Table Talk. This discussion began with Willow, who was 18 years old at the time, sharing her porn preferences. Pinkett Smith then revealed her own past unhealthy relationship with watching porn when she was trying to practice abstinence. 

It was actually like feeling an emptiness, at least you think it is, but it’s actually not. And actually, reading some of the effects of pornography, like the idea that it really gives you false expectations, as far as sexual interactions.

During this conversation, Willow said she doesn’t think it has a negative effect on her because she has an open line of communication with Pinkett Smith and her father, Will Smith.

Lamar Odom

Former NBA player Lamar Odom sought treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in 2015 after an overdose. While this stay in rehab was successful for this celebrity’s substance use disorder, his addiction to porn continued. In 2019, he stated that he had given up watching porn to work towards a healthier lifestyle. His fiancé, at the time, had noticed that his addiction to porn was getting in the way of their relationship and helped him by downloading an app that blocked all porn from his phone. 

I think that’s what drugs and porn did- took me away from being present. You always want to be present with your loved ones.

In an interview with Kevin Hart, Odom said that his addiction will never truly go away and that it’s something he has to work on every day.

Get Help For Porn Addiction Today

Porn addiction can be incredibly difficult to live with. The debate surrounding the “legitimacy” of porn addiction, along with the stigma attached to compulsive sexual behaviors, can be enough to keep many people from seeking treatment. Fortunately, there are treatment professionals who are well versed in porn addiction and other behavioral health issues that are here to help. If you need help with porn addiction and want to learn more about your online therapy options, click here.