ABC/Donna SvennevikMost insta-celebrities wait until after their 15 minutes is up before heading to rehab. Ted Williams is going before his clock had the chance to even start ticking.
The former homeless man-turned-overnight success story, who has been open about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction, is taking the first step toward putting his past behind him by agreeing to enter into treatment.
And you'll never guess who helped him make that decision...
It's zeitgeist capitalist extraordinaire Dr. Phil McGraw!
His two-part special with Ted this week snowballed into a three-fer after Williams and his adult daughter were picked up by police for causing a disturbance at their hotel. Naturally, Phil squeezed another episode (airing tomorrow) out of the mishap. During the show, according to a Dr. Phil rep, the 53-year-old admitted that despite declaring his sobriety while making the media rounds, his problem is very much an ongoing one.
"If Ted is ever going to get better, he's got to be honest with himself and admit he's addicted to drugs and alcohol," McGraw said. "I've told him it's not going to be easy and it's going to take a lot of hard work. It might be a long journey for him, but this is a big step in the right direction."
His family seems to think so, too.
Larry Kirtley, the current husband of Williams' ex-wife, Patricia, confirmed to E! News that the golden-voiced YouTube star made the decision to go to rehab after speaking (on camera, of course) with Dr. Phil.
"I'm happy that he is," Larry said.
"The information was pretty accurately mentioned on the Dr. Phil Show," he added, noting that Ted's daily drinking was one of the points of contention discussed during the sitdown.
There's no word yet where or when Williams will begin seeking treatment, though according to the Dr. Phil Show, it will be at a private facility. If such a thing exists. Though we have to think if it exists Lindsay Lohan would've found it by now.
—Reporting by Whitney English