The former mayor of Tallahassee, Florida, and Democratic Gubernatorial candidate, Andrew Gillum, has announced he is withdrawing from public life and going into rehab.
The news comes after the LGBTQ ally was found by police in a Miami hotel room last week with a man who appeared to have OD’ed.
Related: Andrew Gillum is embroiled in scandal due to drug overdose of alleged gay escort
Police found Gillum, 40, too inebriated to speak in a room at the Mondrian South Beach in the early hours of Friday morning. They also found three bags suspected to contain crystal meth in the room.
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The man he was with was successfully resuscitated. A third man had called the police, after entering the room and witnessing the second man pass out.
Gillum issued a statement Friday admitting he had been drunk but denying he’d taken any drugs. “I was in Miami last night for a wedding celebration when first responders were called to assist one of my friends. While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines.”
Gillum was not arrested and the incident is not being treated as a criminal matter.
Multiple outlets have since revealed that the 30-year-old man Gillum was found with had a profile on a male escort website. It has now been deleted. The 30-year-old told the Miami New Times on Friday afternoon he had known Gillum as a friend for the past year. He has since not responded to media requests for comment, instead saying he is consulting with an attorney.
Last night, Gillum issued a further statement.
“After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance, and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time.
“This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated.
“I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person.
“I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family. I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future.”
Related: Don’t let Trump fool you. The new face of American politics is young, queer & racially diverse
Gillum served as Mayor of Tallahassee from 2014-2018. He stood to be Governor of Florida in 2018 but lost to Republican opponent Ron DeSantis.
The progressive Democrat was a regular political pundit on CNN and also founded political committee Forward Florida, an organization to motivate voters in Florida to vote out President Trump. He is stepping down from both roles.
Gillum is married with three children. Some political opponents have voiced delight at his downfall, prompting a comment from his wife, R. Jai Gillum, on Facebook.
“I am overwhelmed by the love and support of all those who love me and my family,” she said. “To those who are praying for us and wishing us well, thank you. To those who delight in the misfortune of others, my sincere prayer is that you’re never in a situation to experience the same treatment. I have learned that every time I judge someone else, I reveal an unhealed part of myself.
“In times of great uncertainty, one thing is clear: This too, shall pass.”
youarederanged
Remember when he was being touted as the next Obama? What an LOL. And is someone who hangs out with gays doing meth and binge drinking really an ally of ours? Seems backwards to me.
Cam
It’s always cute when the right wing troll accounts slip up and expose the fact they are’t LGBT. Because, you know, if they were, they wouldn’t talk about “Gays” as “others” the way you do in your post.
Please tell Putin or the RNC to send smarter trolls.
Cam
Two things.
1. People still use the “Going to rehab” thing as an excuse?
2. Unlike Republican closet cases, at least Dem closet cases don’t vote to harm us.
Chrisk
3. He was caught having sex with an actual adult. With Rethugs it’s usually someone under age as well.
rbernard
I am so sad to hear about Andrew Gillum situation and am glad he has taken action to deal with his addictions. He is human with human frailties and I wish him success on his road to sobriety.
Many a strong leader got that way because they stepped in every ditch along their way and learned from it.
Chrisk
So his excuse was that he was just there to help out a friend. Yeah, right. That friend that just happened to be a hot naked rent boy tweaked out of his mind. Sounds like they were having a good time partying away and the dude that they invited over for fun snitched on them.
Oh and anyone who buys the rehab story is a complete moron. That’s just standard issue PR for events such as these. Helps take the blame away.
Jared MacBride
The third guy gave the hooker his credit card to rent the room earlier in the day. Wonder if he knew he was getting a three way?
Donston
His political career is of course done-zo. More than anything, I just hope his wife was aware of his “dalliances”. If not, that’s a lot to take in. And yeah, claiming he’s going to rehab is a partial cover. But if the dude was doing meth then rehab is the thing to do.
Jared MacBride
The prostitute double booked. I hope they all used hand sanitizer.
truthseeker
Left out the part where police found blood and feces stains on the sheets
Smith David
Oh please. His career will be just fine. Trump has slept with many a hoes and he’s thriving. Besides, he’s in good company with all the other corrupt politicians. Next——>
Donston
The dude stepped down from his position. So, clearly his political career won’t be “fine”. And there’s really no comparison to Trump. Trump had years of building power and stature (though none of it was in politics). And he also had a ton of money to back him. This is an up and coming black man in a hetero marriage who was caught in homo situation while doing hard drugs. That’s not really comparable. And I’m pretty sure you’re not an idiot. So, you know the situations are very different. But yes, corruption and megalomania are persistent instincts in many, if not most, politicians.
ricdardc1
Crack is Whack, Motel & Drugs is a Treasure Island Media Movie Pre-release. The Toxic Series. I Hope it Includes all my Faves.
jonasalden
@Donston: good point. It IS different unfortunately.
Bob LaBlah
From the article: ““This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated.”
Just like movie celebrities do, blame anything but hard drugs. The fact that it was meth leads me to believe the hustler/call boy was white.
Rock-N-RollHS
Is it political correctness that QTY fails to mention the gay component. Better Gillum come out and run as a gay or bisexual man; yeah, will be harder for him–a black queer man–than for, say Buttigieg. But the alternative is, well, this. . .
Kangol2
Interesting that no one has mentioned a key line in Andrew Gillum’s letter: “I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles.” He’s letting the cat out of the bag right there. He’s probably been struggling with his sexuality for a while (on other sites people have said he was known to like men back during his time as an undergrad at FAMU, and that he is alleged to have been coupled up with one of his chief lobbyists, Adam Corey).
After losing that 2018 election, by roughly 40,000 votes or so out of millions cast, he got a bit reckless and the façade crumbled. I hope he gets the help he needs, especially if he’s been using meth, and wish him and his family the very best.
And just to underscore, as mayor of Tallahassee, as Florida gubernatorial candidate, and in his post-election work, he has been avowedly pro-LGBTQIA equality.
sonic_source
Ooooooooooooooo!!!!
azjeff17
Why pay for something you can easily get for free?