‘Scandal’ Actor, Columbus Short Reveals Cocaine Abuse Caused Breakdown
Former Scandal supporting actor Columbus Short revealed that his bad behavior was the reason why Shonda Rhimes kicked his character off the show.
“I was struggling with drugs,” Short told Access Hollywood on Wednesday. Short revealed that his bad behavior included domestic abuse claims from his now ex-wife Tuere Short. “I had a lot on my plate, and you know, I was using unhealthy ways to kind of self-medicate and deal with a lot of heavy duty stuff in my life.”
Read more: 7th Heaven’s Stephen Collins Fired from ‘Scandal’
Columbus Short was one of Scandal’s original stars and he played Gladiator Harrison Wright on Kerry Washington’s political thriller. He exited the series in April following his arrest in March for allegedly knocking a man out during a fight at a Los Angeles restaurant. Short is currently facing four years in prison if convicted.
In addition, Columbus Short was hit with a restraining order by his former wife after she claimed he threatened to kill her during a fight. She later filed for divorce is and is seeking custody of their 2-year-old daughter. On February 14, he was also charged with misdemeanor spousal battery, and on March 5, a judge ordered him to keep away from his wife.
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“I was doing cocaine and drinking a lot, and trying to balance a 16-hour work schedule a day, and a family, and I just lost myself back then.”
Columbus Short revealed that his fellow co-stars knew about his substance abuse and they did what they could to help him. “They protected me, and they held me down,” he said. “And that was one of the real reasons — they just wanted me to get my stuff together. Sometimes the bottom has to be dropped out for you to really get it. So I moved to Atlanta. I’ve been living there for the last five months, five-and-a-half months, and it’s just been great. It’s been life changing.”
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Columbus Short said that his friend’s death, actor Lee Thompson Young (Rizzoli & Isles) caused him to go into a depression. “I was going through a lot, going through a lot in my marriage, I had a lot of loss, tragic loss, so it’s tough,” he said. “Last year, one of my best friends died, he killed himself, Lee Thompson Young, and that kind of started a spiral. I found out when I was on set, and it really just, it took my legs out from under me.”
Read more: Columbus Short Exits ABC’s ‘Scandal’
Harrison was killed off in the season four premiere and Short said he’s ready to go back to work. “I’m really ready to get back to work,” he said. “As far as Shonda’s shows, I would love nothing more to go back to Scandal. It’s my family.”
Do you miss Columbus Short on Scandal? Do you think Short deserved to be kicked off the Scandal? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!
