Montel Williams Opens Up About MS, Opioid Addiction, and Finding New Strength

Montel Williams is opening up about his battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), the chronic pain that came with it, and his struggle with opioid addiction after a devastating warning from his doctor. The well-known talk show host shared his story in a heartfelt interview, revealing how a blunt diagnosis in 1999 forever changed his life.

Williams recounted the moment his doctor told him, "You know the type of MS you're in, when it hits people of your race, it normally is really very debilitating." The physician didn’t sugarcoat it, warning Williams he might be in a wheelchair within five years and urging him to "get your sh** together." That’s a prescription for a reality check if I’ve ever heard one.

Back then, the common belief was that MS mostly struck White people of European descent—something Williams admits he thought too, until reality hit home. Now, updated research recognizes that MS does affect the Black community, and often more aggressively.

Williams first noticed something was wrong after a flight, when searing pain shot through his legs and feet. He described the sensation as having a fire poker pressed into his heel and shin—24/7. In hindsight, he realized he’d missed earlier symptoms dating back to his Naval Academy days.

MS is a chronic autoimmune disorder that attacks the central nervous system, with no known cure. Doctors urged Williams to slow down and take a break from his high-octane TV career, warning him that the stress could make things worse. That advice didn’t quite stick, though—Williams kept working, but the pain only grew.

To cope, he turned to prescription opioids, using his fame to get his hands on pills like Vicodin, Percocet, and more. "Any one of the sets, I took," Williams said. For about six months, he admits he was addicted—downing handfuls of pills throughout the day, even using a morphine drip at one point. It took a strong intervention from another doctor to finally break the cycle.

Williams said, "The more I took, the less they worked," highlighting the grim reality that opioids were never meant for long-term use. When he finally kicked the pills, Williams found healthier ways to manage his MS. He credits a vegan diet and CBD for helping with inflammation and pain, but says the biggest change was learning to mentally "put it in a box" and cope psychologically.

As Williams got emotional, he explained, "While we have to talk about it, it comes back." His story is a raw reminder that even celebrities aren’t immune to pain—physical or otherwise—and sometimes, the toughest battles happen off-camera.