Matt Willis reveals how Scientologists tried turn him against wife Emma by claiming she was a 'negative force' in his life after he turned to controversial Church during his addiction battle

Matt Willis has revealed how the Church of Scientology tried to break up his marriage to wife Emma, after he briefly joined the group during his substance abuse battle.

The Busted star, 42, has been candid about his struggles with drugs and alcohol and how his TV presenter wife, 49, was instrumental in his journey to sobriety.

In the latest episode of his podcast, On The Mend, Matt explained how he turned to Scientology during his addiction, in the hopes of finding 'anything to make my life make sense'.

However, he described how the Church attempted to turn him against Emma, telling him that she was a 'negative force' in his life.

He recalled: 'At the time I was lost. I was trying to find anything I could to hold on to, to make my life make sense. To make me make sense in the world. 

'I couldn't work out how I was supposed to live a normal life without drink and drugs. And I was looking for something. I was actively searching.'

Matt told how he was approached by a Scientologist on Oxford Street, and persuaded to visit the Church the following day.

'I rocked up at this big building. And on the top of it, it said Church of Scientology,' he said. 'I was like, "what's this? Pretty sure Tom Cruise has something to do with this".'

He explained that he paid to do several courses and read books on the group, but gradually began to feel like they were encouraging him to leave Emma.

He reflected: 'I got through this other course and everything everything was pointing to some kind of like negative influence in my life that was draining me like some person. 

'And I was asking questions, "who is that?" They’re like, "Only you know that." I was like, "I don’t know what you’re talking about, man. The problem is me. Like really, I’m making all these problems happen. There’s no one else that’s, you know? 

'And it was it was a really weird thing. They were like "it's probably the closest person to you". Slowly but surely, I was like, "I think you’re talking about my wife".'

Matt said that after he had this realisation he began to view the group differently, and said he felt the Church was trying to isolate him and separate him from his family and friends so that he would only rely on them.

'They didn't want me to have any kind of outside connections. They wanted me to just be connected to this,' he recalled. 

'And so it took me about maybe two weeks to go, "No, mate. This is b******s." Also I never got any answers. I paid for these things, did all the courses and got nothing.'

The singer reflected: 'I’m really glad I got out when I did.'

Scientologists are encouraged to 'disconnect' from a so-called 'suppressive person', or SPs, because they are considered a barrier to spiritual growth.

They believe that humans are immortal beings with an infinite number of past lives, some of which could be in extraterrestrial cultures.

A number of A-list stars have dedicated themselves to the Church of Scientology over the years, including most famously, Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Elisabeth Moss.

In a statement to The Sun regarding Matt's comments, a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology said: 'A fundamental principle of the Scientology religion and its applications is the improvement of communication and relationships with others. 

'Scientology is a practical religion that includes study and application of principles, to benefit yourself and increase your ability to help others. The Church’s social betterment programmes reach into society to tackle some of the main causes of societal problems and ruin, such as illiteracy, drug abuse, moral decay, criminality and natural disasters.'

Now sober for several years, Matt released his moving BBC documentary, Fighting Addiction in 2023, which won praise for its unflinching look at his relapse and recovery and the impact of his addiction on his family.

He detailed how he struggled to stay sober for most of his adult life after being launched to fame at just 19 years old in Busted. 

He entered rehab three times before he turned 25 - including just one month before he married Emma in 2008, after she issued him with an ultimatum about his substance abuse.

But he relapsed once more in 2017 while on the Busted reunion tour when his youngest daughter Trixie was just ten months old. 

Speaking to previously about his addiction, he admitted: 'Addicts are very good at hiding everything. I’m yet to meet a stupid addict. They’re conniving and manipulative.

'It’s not rock ‘n’ roll. It wasn’t glamorous, it was really sad.'

In his early 20s, the singer said couldn't get to lunchtime without drugs or alcohol and that during his 2017 relapse, he was 'doing six grams [of cocaine] on my own every day and not coming home until three in the morning'.

Speaking on his podcast in October, Matt discussed the process of making amends as part of his recovery, saying that the person who he owes the most to is Emma.

He's previously shared some of the harsh realities from his addiction and the toll it took on his relationship with his wife, candidly admitting he would 'gaslight' Emma into thinking she was crazy during the height of his drug abuse.

During heavy binges, he revealed he even left notes saying he was 'sorry' to her when he was convinced he wouldn't wake up the next day.

'When you do step work, you write down all the bad things you've done and go and make amends,' he explained. 'The one person I need to make amends to the most is Emma. My wife saw me at my darkest and stuck by me.

'What I think people would be surprised about is I didn't make a straightforward amends with her. I didn't go and say, "I'm sorry", because I don't know what I would say. 

'I don't know if there's enough words to do it justice and I didn't want to not do it justice.'

He continued: 'I was always like, when I feel like I'm in a good enough place, I'll do it. And when I feel like I'm ready, and I feel like she'll really appreciate it, I will do it. 

'As time went on, I was like, actually, I think I'm doing it without having to go and say it. It's not because I'm wimping out... I think instead what I do is choose to be the man I am today for her.

'And I choose to turn up and I choose to keep promises that I give her. So I actually think I'm making amends to her every day.'

Matt admitted that discussing his addiction with their children - Isabelle, 16, Ace, 13, and Trixie, nine - has been among the hardest parts of his recovery.

'At some point, they're like, "Why don't you have a drink? Nanny does, Mummy does occasionally," he said. 

'When do you tell a kid you're an alcoholic? What do you say to that? It's kind of a weird thing for a kid to hear.'

He added: 'I've done it differently every time, but I think I've let them understand why I don't and why, if I did, it wouldn't be the same person that's speaking to you now. 

'Something happens to me when I take a drink or I do drugs, I change... everything that's important in my life goes away. And the only thing that's important is that.

'I don't want to be that guy ever again, especially for you, because I love you and I want to be the best version that I can for you.'

For confidential help and support with drugs, talk to FRANK on 0300 123 6600.

For issues relating to alcohol, contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 0800 9177 650.