Andrew Gillum Opens Up For The First Time About Police Finding Him Passed Out In A South Beach Hotel: ‘So Much Of My Recovery Has Been About Trying To Get Over The Shame’

Former Democratic candidate for Florida governor #AndrewGillum is opening up about the life-altering night that he was caught passed out in a South Beach hotel.

Back in March, Gillum made national headlines after police found him in a hotel room with another man, completely passed out, and suspected of being drunk and high off drugs. For the first time, Gillum is sharing his story with journalist and talk show host #TamronHall. In a preview of the interview that is set to air on Disney/ABC, Hall asks Gillum what he’d want to say to his supporters who want to know why he was in that predicament.

“I would say, the reason why I went to that room is probably no different than how anybody might communicate with someone that they are in a friendship, relationship, whatever, with, ummmmm,” he said. “I understand very well what people assumed about that,” he continued. “When that photo came out, I didn’t recognize the person on the floor. That was not anything more than a person being at their most vulnerable state. Unconscious, having given no consent, and someone decided to use a moment where I was literally laying in my own vomit.”

He added that he has cried “every day” since that night. He even admitted to considering no longer living.  “So much of my recovery has been about trying to get over shame. The shame is not that I did that, but I am bad.” The photos of Gillum circulated through the internet. Images showed stained-covered sheets and floors in the hotel room, along with pill bottles and liquor sprinkled around the room. The photos had been leaked to a British tabloid with other photos showing Gillum passed out naked on the floor.

Following the life-changing incident, Gillum stepped away from the spotlight and took up rehab for alcoholism and treatment for depression. He said he was triggered by losing the gubernatorial race by less than half a percentage point, according to Tallahassee.com. He started tweeting about political topics again in late July.

Gillum’s interview will air on Monday at 2 p.m. during “The Tamron Hall” on nine Florida television stations, including Fox 49 in Tallahassee.