‘Below Deck’ Crew Member Celebrates 4 Years of Sobriety
Emile Kotze from Below Deck shared that he recently celebrated “4 years of abstaining from substances in recovery.”
“I have not picked up a mind or mood altering substance since 29 July 2016,” Kotze shared on Instagram. “The one photo in the reel of me not flexing is of my grandparents who have reunited in heaven who have been a cornerstone throughout my life 🙏. I have made it this far and can smile just for today 2020 has made me strong 😁.”
Kotze shared in September that he was in recovery. “My name is Emile, I’m an addict/alcoholic in recovery,” he posted to Facebook. “In honor of Recovery Month: I have not picked up a mind or mood altering substance since 29 July 2016 Let’s share our hope, that those who suffer can recover. #WEDORECOVER #RecoveryRocks Copy and paste with your date to show it can be done.”
Emile Kotze marked 3 years of sobriety last year
Kotze also marked three years of sobriety last year. “3 years of sobriety Part 3 of the adventure series (paused momentarily): 🙏 Aloha
to a new life opening up a new chapter finding a way to face life, still having my vice’s learning to face the consequences of my bad and good decisions…,” he shared on Instagram.
“I have people in my life who love me value me and believe in me even when I don’t when I let myself down and them…Watch this space as the adventure continues and has as cliche as it is only just begun another round of 12 steps ahead and mountains of fun… Thank you all for this blessed life and have a good one.”
Kotze had only one moment on the show where he appeared to be drunk. He took Raquel “Rocky” Dakota on a date and ended up getting too inebriated. “At those times I was not thinking,” he told Real Mr. Houswife. “I was trying to be humoring in those attempts. Also, I was under the influence of alcohol. I should have been more respectful and mannered.”
Other ‘Below Deck’ cast members celebrate sobriety
João Franco from Below Deck Mediterranean also announced that he is sober. He shared in a series of Instagram posts that he was pursuing a life without substances, namely alcohol.
“I’ll tell you what… A hangover,” he shared on Instagram about the defining moment. “One that’s lasted 3 days! Demons… Alcohol. I’ve decided I hate this feeling! I seriously hate it! I should be the happiest I have ever been and yet I feel insecure, questioning my purpose, or more so, what I’m doing with my time that is important and how much of my time on this earth I am spending on unimportant things.”
Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Med also celebrates decades of sobriety. She revealed to Showbiz Cheat Sheet that she struggled in her teens and early twenties with alcohol. “I was a mess,” she said. “By the grace of God, I’m alive. No matter how much money you have, it’s not going to save your life if you are an addict or an alcoholic. And I was a major addict and alcoholic.”
