Jack Vidge's heartbreaking message to his mother after his addiction relapse led to his seventh stint in rehab
Troubled former Australia's Got Talent star Jack Vidgen has shared a heartbreaking 'belated' Mother's Day message to his mum Rachel Hayton.
The 28-year-old, who announced last week he was once again battling addiction in a rehab centre after a recent relapse, shared the sweet post to his followers on Saturday.
He included a selfie, in which his adoring mother can be seen embracing him on a park bench.
Jack said it was a 'late' Mother's Day post, explaining he didn't get to see his mum for the big day earlier this month.
He also confessed that when the picture was taken his mother had travelled to see him and asked him to get him professional help for his addiction battle, but he refused.
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'I took this pic of mum and I on the 16th April, last month. It was right in the middle of my relapse,' he continued.
'She'd driven from down from the coast, where she lives, in hopes we would have coffee and that I would come back with her and maybe check in to rehab.
'I saw how much it broke her heart as I told her I had no plans of getting sober and that I wouldn't be coming back with her.
'I know that being the person with the addiction is hard, but being a family member, I think especially a parent of someone who goes through addiction, would be so painful and would leave you feeling helpless.
'Mum, you are an absolute angel and warrior. You've been through so much yourself and you've loved and supported me through this battle with such compassion yet also giving me tough love when I've needed it.
'You're an incredible woman and are so loved by so many, I hope you know that.'
He signed off the message 'Bestest mum in the whole wide world' and added two kisses.
It comes after Jack took to his social media last week with a tearful message to share the sad news that he had returned to a rehabilitation centre for the seventh time.
Jack explained he recently suffered a relapse and was once again fighting addiction.
'Hi, this is not the video I was hoping to make five months down the track after [not] posting anything on Instagram,' Jack said.
Choking back sobs, Jack detailed his recent experience.
'I relapsed, that was two months ago,' he said.
'Just like that - i feel like I've let a lot of people down and I wasn't going to talk about it again, because half of me is like "Oh shut up Jack, no one wants to hear it."
Jack also revealed he made a police 'report' over an unspecified matter that has led him to 'feeling scared'.
'But I just feel like I need to tell someone that I have a situation coming up in a couple of months...' he continued.
'I just feel think I'm just really scared. I've been really scared for so many years.'
He signed off by telling followers he was not 'doing okay' but he would be 'okay'.
Jack, who has often taken to social media over the years to share his addiction troubles, also posted a lengthy caption for the video.
'I made a police report five years ago and it's just been lingering like this dark cloud over my life for so long and I just want it to be over and I think I just wanted to do a reach out,' he said.
'If you're a victim you understand. If you're a victim through addiction you'd understand even more.
'It's just been really hard and i don't know I just want to talk about it because I want to talk about it with people but they don't get it.
'Anyway the point of this video was just to check in and say hello and just let you know that i'm not doing okay but I will be doing okay.'
Elsewhere in the post Jack said: 'I'm scared for the future. As I mentioned I have a situation coming up in the next couple months that's been lingering for the last 5 years. Something that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. I've been so terrified but it's time I step into my strength and my truth.
'As a victim of sexual abuse I will get through this. Alive.
'I love you all. Jack x.'
The performer rose to fame after winning the fifth season of Australia's Got Talent in 2011.
After bowing out of the spotlight for a few years, he returned to prominence in 2019 as a contestant on The Voice.
He made it all the way to the semi-finals before being eliminated.
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