Warning: This article discusses suicidal tendencies and substance abuse and may be distressing for some readers.
Bam Margera shared a series of troubling, now-deleted videos in which he laments being shut out of the Jackass 4 movie, levelling serious accusations at the production company in a drunken rant in which he sobs hysterically and appears to vomit.
The star of the controversial prank and stunt franchise, who has a long history with substance abuse, claimed Paramount Pictures had forced him to take antidepressants "every single day", and campaigned for a boycott of the latest Jackass film, claiming the team behind it "put him through hell".
A slurring Margera began one of the videos - captured by TMZ - saying: "Who the f**k cares if I'm drunk as hell or not any more."
"Jackass has put me through f**king hell on f**king wheels for a year-and-a-half, keeping me in Pennsylvania, I couldn't leave," he added.
"If anybody cares about me, don't go see their movie," Margera added, pausing frequently to choke back tears while repeating the suggestion fans should send him money to work on his own project.
The 41-year-old complained about being forced to take random urine and breathalyser tests during the production of the film, claiming they were unfair and weren't required of his co-star Steve-O, who has been sober for over a decade. Margera seemed to imply he had been fired for not complying with the rules by failing or missing drug tests.
"Jackass was everything to me," Margera said, breaking down in tears before taking aim at his co-host and the franchise's director.
"F**k you [Johnny] Knoxville, f**k you Jeff [Tremaine], you f**kers never cared about me, man," he said.
At one point in the worrying clip, Margera begins violenting retching and appears to throw up. According to the Daily Mail, he later admitted to sculling a glass of wine and seven beers before filming the video.
In a second upload, Margera discusses having suicidal thoughts as his worried wife Nicki Boyd watches on.
"Jackass does not care about me, understand that ladies and gentlemen," he said.
"It was like my family that won't let me in," he continued, implying that it was ironic that he "wasn't allowed to be on Jackass because he was being a jackass on TMZ".
"Dude, all press is good press is what I thought," he added.
"If everybody loved everybody it would be so boring, you need an asshole, otherwise there is nothing to talk about."
Margera asserted he was in a better place now that he was no longer taking the anti-depressants he claimed Paramount forced him to take, which he said made him "dizzy as f**k", gave him stiff muscles and suicidal tendencies.
"Were they just trying to keep me at bay? What were they doing? Who do they think they are?" he asked.
Margera has had a string of hospitalisations, stints in rehab and arrests in recent years. The fourth Jackass film is set to be released later this year, and marked the first time the original cast had filmed together since the death of their cast member Ryan Dunn, who Margera was close with.
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
