Wayne Lineker, the Ibiza club owner and founder of O Beach, has revealed he secretly entered rehab earlier this year and is now two months clean. In an Instagram post from the O Beach opening party in Dubai, the 63-year-old said he has begun living with a normal functioning brain and is sober for the first time in years. He described waking up feeling refreshed and eager to start the day, and said he looked forward to experiencing events without alcohol and with a clear mind.
He said the program addressed alcohol addiction and other mind-altering substances and noted he is 72 days clean. He added that the decision to go into rehab has been a transformative experience and that he hopes others can draw encouragement from his journey.
Wayne's revelation comes after years of a highly publicized feud with his brother Gary Lineker, the long-time BBC football host. The two finally put aside their differences when they were photographed embracing at Wayne's daughter's wedding in Mallorca in August, a moment that marked a thaw after nearly two decades of family tension.
Gary Lineker, 64, built a career as a media pundit and host of Match Of The Day before leaving that role in May. Wayne, meanwhile, built a nightlife empire around O Beach Club in Ibiza. The rift has roots in Wayne's clashes with Gary's ex-wife Danielle Bux, and it extended across weddings and family events for years. The brothers were last seen together publicly at Gary's son Harry's wedding in Ibiza in June, signaling a possible turning point in their relationship.
Since the Mallorca reunion, Wayne has signaled that sobriety could be part of a broader life reset for both brothers. He told The Sun's Straight to the Comments! podcast that the conflict remains but that sobriety might change the dynamic and that he will always support his brother. 'I will always be his number one fan,' he suggested in reflecting on the complicated history, even as the path to full reconciliation continues to unfold.
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