A videotape made by David Hasselhoff’s daughters shows the recovering alcoholic falling off the wagon, Hasselhoff acknowledged Thursday, but the actor added that he is doing much better since it was made.
The video, which aired Thursday on TV tabloid shows, depicts an apparently inebriated Hasselhoff, clad only in blue jeans, lying on the floor of a room and clumsily eating a hamburger while one of his daughters reproves him about his drinking.
“I am a recovering alcoholic,” Hasselhoff said in a statement issued Thursday. “Despite that I have been going through a painful divorce and I have recently been separated from my children due to my work, I have been successfully dealing with my issue. Unfortunately, one evening I did have a brief relapse, but part of recovery is relapse.
“Because of my honest and positive relationship with my daughters, who were concerned for my well-being, there was a tape made that night to show me what I was like. I have seen the tape. I have learned from it and I am back on my game.”
The tape’s existence was first reported Thursday by TV’s “The Insider,” “Entertainment Tonight” and “Extra,” which quickly posted stills and clips from it on their Web sites.
The TV shows said the tape was made about three months ago by Hasselhoff’s 16-year-old daughter, Taylor-Ann, in his home in Las Vegas, where the former “Baywatch” star has been appearing in a stage version of “The Producers.”
“I thank God for the love and concern from my daughters,” Hasselhoff said in his statement. “The tape was never meant to become public, but got into the hands of individuals who are not worthy of mentioning, who maliciously released the tape for their own self purpose. I hope that someone else will learn from the tape, as I have.”
On the tape, a girl’s voice is heard saying: “Dad, you need to promise me you’re not gonna get alcohol tonight, OK?
“If you get alcohol tonight you’re fired from your show tomorrow,” the girl continues. “And a doctor’s coming over here in the morning to check your alcohol level and if there’s any alcohol in your system you’re gonna be fired from the show. Tomorrow. You hear me? No alcohol.”
“OK,” Hasselhoff replies in a slurred voice.
“Extra” said the tape also includes the girl repeatedly asking Hasselhoff why he continued to “do this” to himself.
“Cause I’m lonely. I have trouble in my life,” he replies.
Hasselhoff, 54, filed for divorce from Pamela Bach last year after 16 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Bach, 43, filed her own divorce papers, also citing irreconcilable differences.
In addition to Taylor-Ann, they have a 14-year-old daughter, Hayley.