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Sean Stewart’s Rehab Journey: Can Rod Save His Troubled Son from Addiction?

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Upon encountering me, Sean Stewart had just stepped out from a vigorous SoulCycle workout, and I could sense his infectious energy. Fresh from his high-end cycling class, he embodied the picture of a successful, young, laid-back gent, right at home in luxury settings like the lavish Beverly Hills Hotel.

In a restaurant under the California sunshine, we’d often meet for breakfast, as the son of renowned pop star, Sir Rod Stewart, enjoyed a friendly rapport with many of the employees there.

2015 found me eager to learn about the upcoming fashion line that Sean was debuting, thanks to the backing of his influential father. The collection, aptly titled “Dirty Weekend,” drew inspiration from a song of the same name on Rod Stewart’s 1978 album, Blondes Have More Fun.

However, even though he embarked on this journey, Sean, now 44 years old, appeared to me like the embodiment of a distressed ‘nepotistic progeny’ – a child adrift who struggled to break free from the towering influence of his incredibly successful parent and carried baggage along with it.

This morning, Sean shared with me that it’s now three years since he stopped drinking, after battling alcohol addiction in the past. With great resolve, he’s focusing on his new venture to change his life’s direction, and I couldn’t help but feel affectionately toward him.

Despite being somewhat quirky, he was warm-hearted and amusing, often making lighthearted remarks and divulging side-splittingly inappropriate anecdotes about his father – who openly acknowledged having slept with numerous women and lost track of the count – assessing his son’s girlfriends.

Sean shared that after performances, Sir Rod would escort him offstage and later on, he would instruct Sean on how to vandalize hotels by placing chickens within them.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, let me share an intriguing anecdote that a friend once recounted to me: ‘During one of Rod’s electrifying performances, girls would remove their tops and fling their bras onto the stage. It was mind-blowingly amazing! I found myself thinking, “My father is the epitome of coolness in this world.”‘

Reflecting on a particular day, I recall feeling a heavy heart upon discovering this week that Sean, a person I deeply respect, has admitted himself into rehabilitation once more, as he grapples with his longstanding struggles against addiction. His devoted family took decisive action, intervening dramatically in an effort to help him regain control over his life.

At the moment, he’s residing at the Cliffside Malibu treatment center in California, which costs $80,000 per month, evidently working on overcoming his personal struggles. It appears his fight against his inner demons is not yet fully resolved.

According to a source, it has been confirmed that Sean is currently seeking treatment for addiction due to his prolonged struggle with substance abuse. The situation became concerning when he appeared to be spiraling out of control again, prompting a family intervention. They are all well-aware of Sean’s sobriety status as they have witnessed both his struggles and recovery.

This will, of course, be heartbreaking for Sir Rod, 80, and his first wife Alana, Sean’s mum.

Among the singer’s eight kids, Sean stands as the third youngest. Additionally, he’s Rod’s firstborn son. Interestingly, his sibling, Kimberly (aged 45), shares the same mother with Alana.

In our Los Angeles meeting, it became evident that Sean deeply cherishes his father. He expressed his feelings by saying: ‘I aspire to get married and start a family immediately. The greatest achievement one could possibly attain is becoming an exceptional father – a lesson I’ve learned from my dad. In my eyes, he is the most remarkable man in the world.’

Sir Rod is father to Sarah, age 61, from his former relationship with Susannah Boffey. Prior to Alana, he had Ruby, 37, with ex-partner Kelly Emberg. He tied the knot with Rachel Hunter in 1990 and together they have Renee, 32, and Liam, 30.

After that, he shifted his focus to Penny Lancaster, the mother of his two teenage sons, Alastair Wallace (19) and Aiden Patrick (14). Regardless of Rod’s substantial wealth estimated at £200million, Sean shared with me that his father made conscious efforts to maintain a sense of normalcy for their large family by urging them to participate in charitable activities.

Similar to Calum Best, who also struggled under the ‘nepo’ label, Sean excelled at soccer up until his late teenage years. However, things took a turn for the worse during this period.

Indeed, one day Sean stands to receive a significant amount from his father’s inheritance. However, upon our encounter, there was an undercurrent of melancholy that appeared to be masked by his playful demeanor. His eyes conveyed a deep sadness, and in a moment of vulnerability, he admitted that this despair had started when he was bullied at school, with the taunt “Stupid Stewart” echoing in his memory.

He mentioned that his careless lifestyle often got him into all sorts of difficulties, even involving the authorities like the police.

Actually, our conversation was rescheduled due to an incident that occurred a few weeks prior. During this time, he was taken into custody at the airport as he was boarding a flight to assist earthquake victims in Haiti alongside sisters Kimberly and Ruby. His actions, which involved him jumping onto a luggage conveyor belt for amusement, led to his arrest.

In 2001, he was accused of assault following an incident where he attacked a young man named Jason Rogland in a bar in Malibu. At that time, Sean was 22 years old. The star of TV’s Superman, Dean Cain, who happened to be nearby with his brother, intervened and held Sean before the authorities arrived. As a result, Sean spent 90 days in jail.

In my conversation, Sean shared his struggles, saying, “I found myself at a crossroads.” He explained that everyone carries wounds and sorrow within, but some individuals choose to inflict self-harm as an outlet. In his case, he turned to alcohol and other vices as a means of coping. His suffering began during his high school years when he was subjected to bullying due to his slight build. He was often teased, physically assaulted, and ridiculed. He referred to himself as a “skinny little kid,” feeling vulnerable and weak. To add to his troubles, he also suffers from OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).

It’s particularly significant considering his recent stint at rehab, Sean took a heartfelt moment to honor his cherished father who played a crucial role in helping him overcome his past struggles.

He expressed: ‘I didn’t experience a drug addiction, and quitting drinking was not challenging for me. At age 30, I recognized that I wanted to transform my life: I sought direction and stopped inflicting pain upon myself. I chose to convert my problems into triumphant tales and force-feed those accomplishments to anyone who had ever questioned me.’

Initially, I excelled at soccer, maintaining a top-tier performance level. However, due to some circumstances, I found myself struggling with direction. Unfortunately, the bullying I experienced took a heavy toll on my self-worth and self-confidence.

I received an abundance of affection and encouragement from my father, mother, and sister Kim. Among them, it was my dad who stood out most; he was consistently empathetic towards my hardships. I’ve managed to overcome my struggles with alcohol and drugs since turning 30, and it’s been more than three years now.

However, it’s evident that sobriety was temporary – as Sean’s clothing line ceased operations due to its inability to generate profits sustainably.

Fortunately, Sean’s eclectic family, whom he likened to “The Brady Bunch on LSD,” continues to offer their support and remains optimistic about his complete recovery following his stay at the rehabilitation center. Significantly, Sir Rod is expected to play a crucial role in his healing process.

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2025-02-27 05:08

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