CONTENT WARNING: The following article discusses suicide and drug addiction
Chris Cornell‘s widow Vicky Cornell has given her first televised interview since her husband’s death.
The Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman passed away in May last year at the age of 52, with his death being ruled as a suicide.
Mrs Cornell gave her first interview just a month later and said he “he didn’t want to die”, and she’s maintained that same view in a new televised interview with ABC News.
“My husband was the furthest thing from a rock star junkie. He just wasn’t,” she said.
“He was the best husband, the greatest father. I lost my soulmate and the love of my life.”
Mrs Cornell has previously said at the time of his death, Chris was taking a double dose of sleeping drug Ativan. Cornell’s toxicology report also showed multiple prescription drugs in his system at the time of his death.
During the ABC interview she was asked whether addiction led to his decision to take his own life, and she replied, “I don’t think that he could make any decisions because of the level of impairment.”
After a torn shoulder, Chris Cornell, who had struggled with addiction in the past, was prescribed medication to help him sleep, and he later “relapsed”.
Mrs Cornell also spoke about his last show, which he played the night of his death saying, “He was off-pitch, he forgot words, he walked off stage. Chris Cornell doesn’t do those kind of things, he’s not that kind of rockstar.”
Mrs Cornell also said addiction should be considered more widely as a “disease”.
“I was, I feel, guilty of the same thing. You think addiction is a choice. And it’s not…if there was less stigma more people would speak up,” she said.
Watch the full interview below.
If you or anyone you know needs help or information regarding mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
