Terry Crews Says Porn Addiction Nearly Ruined His Life
The actor and former NFL star made the confession on Facebook.
— -- Television fans know Terry Crews as Sgt. Terry Jeffords on the hit show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” but today the former NFL star-turned-actor has the Internet abuzz with his candid confession about a personal struggle.
“For years, years, years my dirty little secret was that I was addicted to pornography,” Crews said in a series of three videos, titled “Dirty Little Secret,” he posted on Facebook.
In the videos – which have racked up more than three million views – Crews, a married father of five, says porn “messed up” his life.
“It really, really messed up my life in a lot of ways,” Crews said. “It was my secret. Nobody knew and that allowed it to grow.”
Crew says in the videos that he began watching porn at age 12 and turned to it when he was sad, depressed and lonely.
“Every time you look at pornography is a desire for intimacy,” Crews said. “You are trying to fight your feelings of being alone.”
Clinical psychologist Karen Stewart told ABC News that many Americans are addicted to porn.
“You’d be surprised how many people think it’s an innocent behavior until they become addicted to it and they try to stop,” said Stewart, who does not treat Crews. “Nine out of 10 college-age males and over a third of college-age females are looking at pornography on a regular basis.”
“It’s fascinating this many people are using pornography for fun,” she added.
Crews says he has beaten the addiction and is hoping to help others.
“I've been free of this thing probably going on six seven years now, thank goodness,” Crews says. “But now it's become my battle to help other people who are going through the same thing.”
At least one Facebook commenter praised Crews for his honesty.
"God bless you Terry!" the user wrote. "I'm 100 percent sure that you're breaking many obstacles in so many minds!"
Crews’ wife Rebecca is standing by her husband’s side and Crews said they worked hard to salvage their marriage.
Last week Rebecca captioned a photo of herself with Crews on Instagram, “Love my boo!!!!!!”