Serbian singer Sloba Vasić is currently being treated at the psychiatric hospital "Laza Lazarević" following an incident involving alcohol at the VMA awards ceremony. The singer was admitted to the hospital last night for anxiety treatment, which he cannot combine with alcohol. The incident began when Vasić, in an intoxicated state, disembarked from an airplane.
Vasić's situation has caused concern among his colleagues, including fellow singer Sloba Radanović, whom we spoke to at Belgrade airport today. "I've heard about it, but I don't know the other side of the story. We haven't spoken, but I wish him a quick recovery and a speedy release from the hospital. We are people who tend to judge others easily. Whatever happened, he will come out stronger and better. I am not informed about his health condition; we don't socialize much," Radanović told us sincerely.
Radanović also commented on the prevalence of vices in the music industry. "Since the beginning of our careers, alcohol has been present. One needs to be mentally strong and tell oneself they don't want it. I don't consume alcohol or anything else. I may have one drink sometimes. I don't have those problems. Addictions have taken over, and there's a lot of that. I don't believe he got drunk on the plane. He might have been in a hurry after a performance, so he entered the plane for a quick drink. We all have seen such things on planes. No one is a flower. I know colleagues who can't sing without drinking two or three drinks to loosen up."
This is a stark reminder of the dark side of fame and the dangers of substance abuse. It's heartbreaking to see such talented artists struggle with these issues. How can the industry do more to support them?