Ben Roethlisberger admits to previous porn, alcohol addiction

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger opened up about his battles with addiction to pornography and alcohol during the ManUp Pittsburgh conference on Saturday.

Roethlisberger spoke for about 15 minutes with former Steeler Tunch Ilkin – one of the program hosts – during the virtual event about a variety of topics, including some demons that he has faced over the years off the field.

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“I’ve fallen as short as anybody,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been addicted to pornography, which makes me then not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be. You have to dedicate yourself and understand that you can get out of it because of the grace of God.”

Twice accused of sexual misconduct a decade ago — he was never charged in either case — Roethlisberger, 38, said it was his marriage to Ashley Harlan in 2011 that brought religion back into his life, our partners at TribLIVE reported. The Roethlisbergers are parents to three children.

Porn star Stormy Daniels wrote in her book about an encounter with Roethlisberger, who was introduced to her by Donald Trump at a Lake Tahoe resort in 2006. Daniels said she was “terrified” of Roethlisberger, claiming he tried to kiss her after being escorted by the quarterback back to her hotel room.

Roethlisberger said he lost his way when he left home to attend college at Miami (Ohio).

“It wasn’t like I stopped believing,” he said, “but you’re not sharpening your skills. I’m still praying here and there, but I wasn’t as strong of a Christian in college as I wish I would have been.”

Roethlisberger said he wasn’t equipped to handle the fame and fortune that came with being a first-round draft pick and a quarterback who played in three Super Bowls, winning two, before he turned 30.

“I never got back to where I wanted to be or how I was raised,” he said.

ManUp Pittsburgh is a collaboration between Urban Impact and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who spoke at the conference along with former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and former Steelers lineman Craig Wolfley.

Read more about Roethlisberger’s conversation at TribLIVE.

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