Former TV and radio presenter Al Porter has broken his silence on life out of the public eye admitting that he contemplated suicide at his lowest ebb.
The comedian, who stood down from his Today FM role in 2017 amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour, made the stark revelation in a series of late night tweets.
He was responding to a negative comment on Twitter which suggested that because the film the Joker is “about a man who goes crazy after society rejects him” it was “the Al Porter show”.
Dubliner Al, 26, responded: “Does quietly, respectfully going about your life count as “crazy”?
“Sometimes it would seem, at 26, I’m not even entitled to privately address my shortcomings and make myself the best person I can be.
“I’ve taken time to listen and be as honest and decent as I can be. What’s the point?”
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He continued: “Despite nonsense comments like this, I’ll continue to learn, evolve, challenge my imperfections and channel my virtues.
“Otherwise what’s the point? I’m 26. My life isn’t over surely? Being the best person you can be is a lifelong pursuit.
“It’s not crazy to be young and grow. It’s life.”
The social media thread received hundreds of likes with one follower enthusing: “You’ll be back. 100% ignore the anonymous trolls...”
Al, who was axed from the hit TV3 show Blind Date within hours of his departure from Today FM, continued to spill his heart out online, confessing he’d thought about ending his life.
He wrote: “Thank you to those who have privately & publicly contacted me over the last year & a half. I am not a victim of anything, to be clear.
“I am someone who needed to learn, listen and change. But times have been inconceivably dark. Sometimes it’s like my life is over before it began.”
He added: “But “cancelled” or not, I cannot end my life. And though I’ve considered permanent solutions to temporary darkness, I know there is a future.
“One where I can prove good people can make mistakes and still be good people. I have so much to contribute. And I will. Never stop trying x”.
In January the comedian was left sickened by reports that he had died by suicide. He shared a screenshot of a fake story claiming he had been found dead at his Dublin home.
He made a brief return to the stage in a Dublin bar last year in a rare public appearance since being embroiled in controversy over sexual misconduct allegations.
At the time Pink Tie Productions, of which he is a co-founder, issued a statement noting that he had not been charged or contacted by Gardai and is “entitled to a private life”.
