Jelly Roll has revealed that his struggles with food addiction are intertwined with the same all-or-nothing mindset that fueled his past substance abuse. The country music star admitted to stress eating, noting that "the addict in me came out" after several days of overconsumption, a pattern he is navigating as he goes through a divorce from Bunnie Xo.
In a YouTube video shared on July 10, Jelly Roll explained that a single indulgence can quickly escalate into a binge. He described an instance where he ate a dairy-free skillet cookie, an item he typically avoids. "I don't eat nothing like that. I'm like a drug addict. You can't eat that, because if I eat one, I eat two. I eat four," he said. This led to further overeating later that night, resulting in consuming an estimated 2,000 extra calories.
This experience highlights the challenge of moderation for Jelly Roll, who previously weighed over 500 pounds and has since undergone a significant transformation, losing 275 pounds. He stated that moderation is not an option for him, as he cannot have just one burger or even a few strawberries without consuming the entire quantity. "Either we're smoking all day, we're drinking all night, we're doing cocaine," he said, drawing a parallel between his past addictions and his current relationship with food. "That's how it's working for me."
He realized that the same mentality that drove his substance abuse now shapes his approach to food. This understanding has altered how he approaches cheat meals, which he said can easily devolve into a "five-day food bender."
Jelly Roll also emphasized that obesity often stems from deeper mental and emotional issues. "People don't get it," he stated. "You don't become the size you became without having a mental health issue."
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo (Katy Johnson) on May 18, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple married in August 2016. Bunnie Xo became a stepmother to Jelly Roll's daughter, Bailee, and son, Noah.