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Ore Oduba reveals ‘secret and silent’ addiction battle as he reaches 12-month sobriety milestone – days after admitting he’s been targeted by scammers in elaborate online hoax

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Ore Oduba marked the completion of his first year without alcohol by disclosing a hidden struggle with addiction, following closely on the heels of an emotional confession about being tricked in an online fraud scheme.

On Tuesday, the previous winner of Strictly Come Dancing openly shared that his hidden struggle with an ailment could have significantly impacted his life negatively if he hadn’t pursued therapy for help.

39-year-old Oduba acknowledges the significant role played by trauma specialist Annalie Howling, author of the recent self-help book “Unapologetic: Break Free from Shame, Reclaim Your Strength,” in assisting him with overcoming his personal struggles.

Previously, the majority of my existence was consumed by addiction. Feeling ashamed was a constant companion to my addictive actions. This is what he shared with his Instagram audience.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d be thrilled to express that after embarking on a therapeutic journey and acknowledging the reality of my lifelong struggle with addiction, I’ve proudly maintained sobriety for more than a year now. It’s an incredible feeling to celebrate this milestone and share my experience with others who may be facing similar challenges.

If that’s an accurate representation of my situation, it’s worth noting that I’ve been dealing with this issue quietly and privately for many years without a proper diagnosis or treatment. Left unaddressed, it could potentially lead to significant problems in my life over time.

Funny thing, I didn’t catch the rhythm initially when I dived into this mind-blowing read. But once hooked, I couldn’t put it down – I finished it in a single day!

Additionally, as her knowledge centers around shame, nearly everything Annalie spoke about struck a chord within me so profoundly that I was struck by the realization of how far I’ve come in the past year without even realizing it. It’s reassuring not to be able to identify with that older version of myself anymore.

A few days ago, Oduba, aged 39, choked back tears as he confessed to falling victim to a harmful online scam that aimed to take advantage of his affection for motivational speaker Mel Robbins and her popular podcast.

Acknowledging the favorable feedback on his recent post, Oduba added one of the pictures he initially shared with the scammers, unaware they were fraudulent, as an accompaniment.

He wrote that he was astonished by the response to the video he shared over the weekend, detailing his experience of being scammed.

I’ve developed a far more positive connection with that term compared to before, yet it’s fascinating how it manages to reappear in my thoughts.

‘I was embarrassed about getting scammed, but I’ve learned how to handle my doubts. Whenever I have those negative thoughts, I put them in a proverbial trash bag and discard them.’

He mentioned that he has been discussing his struggle with addiction with friends, and as he continues to be more open about it, he finds himself increasingly motivated to speak about it openly in public someday.

At some stage, when I’ve overcome my personal struggles, the most selfless action I can take is to share my experiences. I understand that my story has the potential to offer assistance and inspiration to many others.

On Sunday, Oduba found it hard to hide his feelings as he shared a six-minute video with his Instagram audience, exposing how fraudsters exploited his admiration for Robbins and her motivational book collection.

During a prior episode of Loose Women, the presenter endorsed an American podcaster by stating that the ideas in their upcoming 2024 book, “The Let Them Theory,” significantly impacted his personal life.

Additionally, Oduba, previously known for guiding viewers away from insurance frauds in the BBC’s Claimed and Shamed series, alleges that someone claiming to be Robbins reached out to him after his stint on the daytime discussion program.

He shared the interview he found, tagged it to the Mel Robbins podcast, to ‘Let Me Explain’, to Mel, and everyone who might be interested, after which he received an email from his agent, forwarding a message from the Mel Robbins podcast team.

‘I could have cried – they knew who I was! I got an email from the Mel Robbins podcast team.’ 

In my message, I shared with Mel every detail about the transformative impact she’s had on my life. To give you a sense of who I am, I concluded by saying that it was all due to our connection. I can’t thank you enough for reaching out.

Feeling both ashamed and mortified about the scam, a visibly emotional Oduba shared memories of receiving an invitation to appear on the Robbins’ popular podcast (one of the leading 15 podcasts in the U.S., boasting over 20 million subscribers).

He remarked, “Upon re-reading this, I can clearly recall the emotions it evoked at that moment.” In response, he typed, “Mel, my eyes are brimming with unshed tears. Is this genuine? It seems as though AI might be aiding you in communicating with your numerous fans.

In a heartfelt moment, I couldn’t help but burst into tears on an Avanti West Coast train traveling from Birmingham to London. That’s because Mel wrote back, confirming it was indeed her – Mel Robbins herself. This revelation left me overwhelmed with excitement, believing that my whole life was about to take a transformative turn.

He mentioned casually, ‘I should tell you, I once hosted a program focusing on fraudsters. After seeing so many instances on Watchdog, you’d think I’d had my fill – but here I am, right in the thick of it.’

‘I never thought I’d be the person that would be scammed.’ 

In no time, Oduba figured out that the email originated from a Gmail account, which served as a quick warning sign, and to his dismay, Mel’s name was misspelled with an extra ‘L.’

Following his email to the Robbins PR team through their official site, the presenter’s concerns proved justified as he learned that emails originating from a Gmail account were frequently viewed as potentially harmful.

On Sunday’s Instagram post, Oduba shared that he was lucky to have noticed the scam in time and avoided losing any money.

He admitted, “I feel humiliated; I’m ashamed. I never thought I’d be someone who could fall for a scam, but this incident clearly demonstrates that it can happen to even the most cautious individuals.

With AI assistance, I found myself surprisingly captivated, almost alarmingly so. The convincing nature of it all is downright chilling.

He openly acknowledged that Mel Robbins’ book and podcast significantly assisted him during a particularly challenging time in his life.

Essentially, what I’m trying to convey is that I ignored the emotional signs because I desperately wanted something to be true for me. This led me close to a lot of potential problems. (By the way, while creating this video, I noticed how frequently people tend to do this in their relationships as well.)

‘Listen to your gut, it’s most likely telling you the truth. And don’t get scammed, it’s no fun. 

As a devoted admirer, I remain spellbound by the incredible influence of Mel Robbins, whose swift action continues to inspire me. Fate has smiled upon me, for if not for their timely response, my moment might have passed and it would have been too late.

In its initial week of publication in 2024, Robbins’ “Let Them” theory book sold an impressive 100,000 copies and remained at the top of both The New York Times’ and Sunday Times’ bestseller lists for a whole month following its release.

Notable personalities such as talk show host Oprah Winfrey, among others, have lauded the book, describing it as a ‘powerful resource for individuals aiming to reclaim control and inner tranquility’. Oprah herself refers to it as a ‘life-transforming tool’.

Previously, Robbins shared thoughts on a perspective that suggests allowing people to act as they wish when their behavior doesn’t align with your desires, with his audience on Instagram.

‘I just heard about this thing called the “let them” theory. I freaking love this,’ she said.

‘If your friends don’t plan on taking you out for brunch this weekend, it’s okay to let them make their own decisions. If the person you have feelings for isn’t ready for a commitment, give them space and time. If your children are reluctant to join you for that activity this week, respect their wishes.’

Robbins pointed out that a significant amount of time and effort is squandered by trying to get others to conform to our own assumptions.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to emphasize the significance of practicing self-care when someone close to you isn’t meeting your needs as expected. It’s crucial to prioritize yourself and your wellbeing in such situations, ensuring you maintain emotional balance and resilience.

In my opinion as a lifestyle guide, it’s essential not to push for transformation in others. Instead, embrace their authenticity, as they’re showing you their true selves. Take a step back and observe, then decide on your next move.

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2025-07-22 14:21

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