Christopher Cella, a producer for The Matt Gaetz Show on One American News Network and former Social Media Coordinator for The Daily Caller, has had his share of struggles with opioids. The former staffer for Congressman Matt Gaetz, joined Tucker Carlson for an episode of his Tucker Carlson Show, discussing how he slipped into addiction in high school and found it extremely hard to escape.
Like so many other Americans, Chris Cella fell out of the middle class and became an opioid addict. Here’s how he came back.
(0:00) Introduction
(1:11) Cella’s Opioid Addiction
(9:01) Gateway Drugs Are a Real Concern
(14:04) How Cella Went From Weed to Heroin
(21:57) Burning… pic.twitter.com/7lzMWm8qjx— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) May 2, 2025
Carlson shared Cella’s story, explaining how, as an insecure high school student, he tried drugs, which led him to become a needle-dependent heroin addict. Carlson described how Cella eventually attacked members of the Mexican Mafia with pepper spray, narrowly escaping death.
As first reported on by the Daily Caller following the show’s broadcast.
“That suggests to me that what we have is a supply problem, not a demand problem, like you’re in. You probably would have been happy with Bud Light or Coors Light or whatever,” Carlson said.
“Yeah, no, the desire for it,” Cella responded. “That’s what Mexico says. It’s like if you people didn’t want it so badly.”
“Exactly. I thought, you know, that makes sense. I mean, it’s kind of like one of those lines you hear. They’re like, yeah, that sounds right. Then you think of your own life and then you think of the people you know who got tragically fucked up or killed by drugs. Of course, I know a lot of them,” Carlson said.
Carlson made the argument that what we are really facing with the opioid epidemic sweeping across America is less a problem of demand and more a problem of supply.
Cella, speaking with The Gateway Pundit, said that his faith in Jesus Christ, prayer, and focus on scripture eventually helped him escape the hellscape of addiction for good. Vish Burra, the booker and scriptwriter on The Matt Gaetz show, where Cella works as a producer, weighed in on his colleague’s journey.
“I’m glad Tucker got to speak with someone who’s been a reliable colleague and critical resource in many projects we’ve worked together on. Chris Cella’s story of redemption and resilience reminds me of my own and it should serve as an inspiration to anyone who desires to rise above the circumstances set upon them to create their own destiny,” Burra told TGP.
Former Congressman Matt Gaetz echoed Burra’s praise of Cella, highlighting the important role God has played in his producer’s road to recovery and sobriety.
“Chris Cella has been an immense asset to my staff in the United States Congress at first, and then as a producer for The Matt Gaetz Show. I truly believe the adversity he has faced and overcome have given him the tools to be a true leader. Through God’s grace Chris conquered the unimaginable,” concluded Gaetz.
You can watch the full interview below, where Carlson also discusses how his stance on drug policy and the effects of addiction on the American people have changed over the years.
The post Journalist Opens Up To Tucker Carlson About Opioid Epidemic, Addiction Struggle appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.