'His kids or the drugs': Former agent's disturbing Ben Cousins claims
Ben Cousins’ former agent Ricky Nixon says he has ‘disowned’ the former AFL star, saying he continues to put his drug habit ahead of his young family.
Ahead of a tell-all interview with the former West Coast Eagles and Richmond star on Channel 7 on Sunday night, Nixon claimed Cousins knocked back offers for previous interviews “because the money would have been passed to his children instead of feeding his drug habit”.
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In his own interview with The Australian, Nixon said he loved Cousins, but that the former star was at a ‘crossroads’ between his young family and his drug problems.
“I love Ben. Now he is coming out and he is doing a big interview and I don’t agree with that, I had a deal for him that would have supported his kids at the moment,” Nixon said.
“Ben – and I am trying to say this nicely – I love him, but he is at the crossroads. He has got to make a decision on what is the most important (thing), his kids or the other (drugs). And the moment, the other is more important.
“I guess three weeks ago I made a decision. And it happened to me. People disown you. True friends are going to tell you the truth so I have told him in no uncertain terms: 'you decide. Is it going to be that or your kids…and mate I am going.”
Cousins’ concerning response to ‘simple’ question
In Ben Cousins: Coming Clean, the former West Coast and Richmond player opened up about his troubled past.
But one response to a question from interviewer Basil Zempilas left onlookers concerned.
“We’ve been with you for about five days now filming this documentary, can you tell us categorically Ben, have you used drugs in this time?,” Zempilas asks.
Cousins: “No, um… no but it’s something that umm…”
Zempilas: “But it’s a pretty simple question Ben - have you used drugs, yes or no, in the five days that we’ve been together?”
Cousins: “No, no… but you know I umm… no.”
Discussing the Channel 7 interview on Thursday, entertainment reporter Peter Ford said Cousins was paid but insisted the money would not go to Cousins straight away.
“There was payment involved, but the payment has gone to Ben’s lawyer and it will be drip fed to him for his living expenses moving forward,” Ford said.
“So the last thing you want to do when you’re dealing with an addict is give them a whole bunch of cash. That is not what is happening.”
Cousins’ sad fall from grace
The Brownlow Medal winner and six-time All Australian played 238 games for West Coast before he was axed in 2007 after he was arrested on drug-related charges.
Cousins was banned by the AFL for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute soon after he was dumped by the Eagles.
He went on to play 32 games in two years at Richmond before retiring at the age of 32 at the end of the 2010 season.
Cousins' life spun out of control in retirement, his issues with drug dependency resulting in him spending time in jail, where he watched West Coast's 2018 grand final win over Collingwood.
with AAP
