Charlie Wilson On Prince: ‘Sooner Or Later, The Truth Comes Out’ [VIDEO]
Former Gap Band icon turned successful solo act Charlie Wilson knows a little something about addiction. He battled it for years and is, today, drug-free. He spoke briefly on the speculation that Prince may have succumbed to prescription drug addiction in the last years of his life, possibly due to hip and ankle problems.
Though nothing has surfaced yet to prove or disprove any abuse and Prince was well-know for his almost monastic lifestyle in recent years, Wilson says that eventually the truth will come out. As a former addict, he says that today, he won’t take any drug at all, no matter what.
He told an audience during a session of “Sybil’s Book Club” on The Fantastic Voyage 2016 that he really declined during his addiction.
“I was the worst drunk, nappy-headed addict you’ve ever seen. I was the worst kind,” Wilson said in support of his memoir I Am Charlie Wilson. “I took any and everything and there is nothing I’ve ever done. As I’m sitting here, my back is killing me but I’m not going to take any Oxycodone. I’m not going to be up there stumbling and faking and saying I’m going to be right back. I gotta perform.”
Wilson says that he’s fortunate that he was able to do what Rick James, who he says was a good friend, couldn’t do. James ultimately succumbed to addiction after years of heavy drug abuse. Wilson said that James once cried in his presence. Here’s what he had to say about James’s struggles and their friendship.
On Rick James:
On why he wrote a book:
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1. Which side are you on?
2. Crooner Jon B. and Keisean of SoHum Wellness
3. Tom Joyner and Claudia Jordan enjoyed All Black Everything night
4. Too Short, Ronnie DeVoe, Glenn Lewis, Claudia Jordan, Ralph Tresvant and Rodney Perry
5. Warm it up, Kane!
6. Ronnie DeVoe rocks the night.
7. Some people know how to do White Night right.
8. Claudia Jordan and a FV guest pose it up.
9. Ralph Tresvant still got it!
10. Sybil's Breakfast of Champions -Watermelon, anyone?
11. This is what a grown folks turn up looks like.
12. Who's having fun on the TJMS - Rodney Perry and Claudia Jordan are!
13. DJ Quik performs
14. Greek Party on board.
15. Tom and Leon buddy up.
16. Scarface, his wife Erica and Dres From Black Sheep
17. Sherri Shepherd and Claudia Jordan
18. Claudia Jordan soaks in a little sun.
19. The AKA's pose for a group cruise pic.
20. Did you see Jay's Hat on the cruise?
21. Nothing more gorgeous than the view from the Fantastic Voyage.
22. New Edition rocks on All Black Night
23. The featured artist on the Fantastic Voyage created some beautiful Prince artwork.
24. These lovely ladies make the cruise EVERY year!
25. And here they are again with singer Tony Terry
26. Roland Martin takes a flick with Claudia Jordan.
27. Good Times' Ber'nadette Stanis and Roland are all smiles for the camera.
28. Damon Williams and his Juanita looking good.
29. Kym Whitley says she was "stalking" Diana Ross in this photo
30. Hi Claudia Jordan
31. A cruiser headed to White Night
32. The Five Heartbeats reunion
33. Jacque Reid snaps a photo of the beautiful view in Anguilla
34. Patti Labelle takes the stage
35. The Omegas representing on the boat
36. 112 after their performance
37. Tom during Mardi Gras night
38. Chris Paul and Huggy Lowdown as Milli Vanilli
39. Sherri Shepherd and Sybil Wilkes as Patti Labelle and Tina Turner
40. Jazmine Sullivan at the Bad Boys concert
41. Celebrity host Jawn Murray and Dr. Bobby Jones snap a selfie while in St. Maarteen
42. A cruiser takes a picture before heading to Denim and Diamonds night.
43. A cruiser sipping Coconut Water in St. Thomas
44. Damon Williams and his wife Juanita share a cute moment
45. Robert Townsend, Charlie Wilson and Leon
46. Comedian Rodney Perry and a fan
47. Big Red and a fan take a selfie
48. Leandria Johnson and her friend Rob
49. DJ Touchtone
50. Brian Courtney Wilson and Scarface
51. Jazmine Sulivan
52. Jacque Reid and celebrity hairstylist Derek J
53. Celebrity host Jawn Murray and Radio One Founder Cathy Hughes in St. Thomas
54. Claudia Jordan, her beau and Kym Whitley at the comedy show
55. Author Jay Barnett and comedian Tony Roberts
56. Tom and Brian Courtney Wilson
57. Author Jay Barnett and Big Red
58. Roland Martin, Jazmine Sullivan, Tamela Mann and Brian Courtney Wilson
59.
60.
61.
62. Jonathan McReynolds
63.
64. Claudia Jordan and a cruiser
65. Claudia Jordan and her beau snap a cute ussie.
66. Sybil Wilkes and Charlie Wilson chat after her book club.
67. Harold Green and his wife Charisma snap a photo
68.
69. Big Daddy Kane snaps a photo with cruisers.
70. Bishop Hezekiah Walker takes the stage.
71. Gospel star Brian Courtney Wilson poses with a fan
72. Roland Martin and his wife Jacquie at Sneaker Formal night
73. Diana Ross shut it down on the first day of the cruise
74. Jaheim surprised the cruisers with an appearance/performers.
75. Harold Melvin's Blue Notes
76. Bobby Jones and Charles Jenkins at the Dennys Gospel Explosion
77. Tamela Mann at the Dennys Gospel Explosion
78. Poet Harold Green during his workshop
79. Shirley Caesar
80. It was packed at the late night old school hip-hop party.
81. Le'Andria Johnson
82. Comedian Tony Roberts
83.
84. Jaheim
85. Stephen Hill and Leon
86.
87. Damon Williams snaps a flick with his wife and friends.
88.
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91. Cruisers snap a photo with Bern Nadette Stanis, Stephen Hill and Dr. Bobby Jones
92. Sonia Jackson Myles
93. Hey, Tom!
94.
95. Mr. Cheeks and a cruiser
96. Patricia Moore repping St. Louis
97. Rapper Scarface and Tom Joyner
17 thoughts on “Charlie Wilson On Prince: ‘Sooner Or Later, The Truth Comes Out’ [VIDEO]”
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I agree with Amber, there is a difference between dependency than a 2 bit crack head like Charlie Wilson, just wanted to get high. He’s just jealous!
Nobody but NOBODY will be able to diminish our love and admiration for Prince!
I am confident the angles in heaven are rejoicing your return home as you all are gathered around God’s throne .
So I’m just figuring out Black America Web is messy. I don’t do messy. There wasn’t one reason what so ever to post this. Just like the LeBron message they went on and on about and the message was fake.
Charlie Wilson, maybe the truth will come out about how you look like you are in your late 40s. You were in the Gap Band when I was a kid and now I am 40s. So how you looking my age?????? You keep getting your face snatched back….. Tight…… so please…hursh up.
JT I agree when artist leave people should get a life because that person has transitioned to the other side. RIP Prince and thank you for all the wonderful music.
It’s not how you die, but how you lived… and people, PRINCE DID LIVE – no matter how this plays out, we lost a icon, legend that in my 43 yrs., will never see again in my lifetime 😦 Thank you for helping me to grow up my sweet Prince, you are so loved!
I agree leave Prince alone
Did people leave MJ alone? What about Whitney or James BRown and many others? NO. Prince is not going to be any different. Sad but true as I have said about all of the rest.
Shouldn’t have been said about ANYBODY … as Prince sung… Damn shut up already…
These ‘celebrities’ always have something to say when someone dies and no longer here to defend themselves. Have two seats Charlie Wilson.
I don’t know why some celebrities or anyone else would try to diminish Prince’s star. He was an iconic artist who did his thing his way and left us a huge gift of his talent and music! I will miss his presence but I will always have his music to remind me of his Royal Badness! R.I.P. Sweet Prince.
NEWSFLASH!! Isn’t this done to every celeb who pass away. First, people build the up in order to tear this down and try to make them live a life with high unrealistic expections, second, when all this pressure or life trying to please the public and they get hurt and die, then everyone realise how much they loved the celeb person; then when they are buried, everyone starts digging and trying to find dirt regardless if it is true or not. Typical. Did you really think Prince was going to get treated any different?
NEWSFLASH!!!! This only occurs with black entertainers….duhhhhhhhhhhh
He wasn’t smoking crack or shooting heroin, he was taking a powerful pain killer for chronic pain! There’s a difference between a crack head and being addicted to prescription meds! Charlie Wilson should know that!
I agree. This was the same with MJ. MJ was took that med for sleep due to his sleep disorder and depended on meds due to his back injury and hair accident. I wish people would learn the difference between “dependacy” and being an addict. Dependacy is to cope with chronic pain whereas addiction is to get high.
I totally agree with you Amber! Charlie is just hating and he hasn’t had a hit since Prince sang Soft and Wet!
Let the church say… AMEN 🙂