Vicky Cornell, the widow of late Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell, talks about the rock star's battle with addiction nine months after his suicide.
On May 18 last year, the beloved singer-songwriter took his own life inside his hotel room in Detroit where he was scheduled to perform.
The Love Of Her Life
"My husband was the furthest thing from a rock star junkie. He just wasn't," Vicky said in an interview with ABC News. "He was the best husband, the greatest father. I lost my soulmate and the love of my life."
This is Vicky's first television interview since their family tragedy.
Vicky, a publicist, married Chris in 2004 in Paris. They had two children: Toni (13) and Christopher (12).
There Were Signs
Officials ruled the "Black Hole Sun" singer's death as suicide. They also ruled out the possibility that his medication might have played a part in his death.
However, Vicky insists that Chris's suicide was out of character. She argued that her husband loved his life and would never take his own life.
Chris, at the time, was taking the anti-anxiety drug Ativan.
Vicky says that Chris might have taken an extra pill on the night of his death, and it might have impaired his judgment.
"He wanted to be there for his family, for his children. He loved his life. He would never have ever left this world," Vicky stated "I don't think that he could make any decisions because of the level of impairment."
Vicky also talked about the stigma around addiction, which she said that people still do not recognize as a disease.
"People think that addiction is like, 'Oh, you were an addict,'" she stated. "You think addiction is a choice. And it's not."
She also revealed that she has been hard on herself since he passed away. She has been blaming herself for not seeing the warning signs.
Chris battled drug addiction for years before his suicide. He was admitted to rehab for OxyContin addiction, but he also said in a previous interview that he had been sober since 2002.
Talinda Bennington, wife of Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, reiterated what Vicky said about addiction as a disease. In a tweet, Talinda said that people should educate themselves about addiction and linked the website of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
Chester died a few months after his friend, Chris. He died of suicide by hanging on July 20 last year.
TOMORROW ON @GMA: Vicky Cornell, widow of late singer Chris Cornell, sits down with @RobinRoberts. She's opening up on his battle with addiction, which she believes played a part in his suicide: https://t.co/fhh6ZyehL0 pic.twitter.com/JurCmw6bC3 — Good Morning America (@GMA) February 20, 2018
