EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW as WHOOPI GOLDBERG has taken Liberace’s troubled former lover SCOTT THORSON under her wing.
The 57-year-old “View” co-host reached out to Thorson following his latest stint behind bars. He landed in Nevada’s Washoe County jail after a random drug test turned up positive for meth – a violation of his probation on previous burglary and fraud charges.
“Whoopi is helping me stay sober with some tough love,” said Thorson, whose book, “Behind the Candelabra,” was the basis for the hit HBO film starring Michael Douglas.
Thorson says he was clean and sober while living at the famous Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel as a guest of owner Dennis Hof. But as The ENQUIRER recently reported, a judge ordered Thorson to move to Reno, where he lived in an extended-stay hotel in a dicey, drug-infested neighborhood.
“Unfortunately, I caved and used meth and got caught,” admitted Thorson, who was diagnosed with anal cancer last year.
Incredibly, the judge reviewing Thorson’s case decided to give him one more chance, and that’s when Whoopi stepped in.
The two had met in June when Thorson appeared on “The View” to do promotional work for “Candelabra.” And in a recent 20-minute phone call, Whoopi – who struggled with drug and alcohol addiction early in her career – gave Thorson a tongue-lashing.
Thorson said: “She told me, ‘You have to take responsibility and grow up. You’re 54 years old. You’re back on top. You’re going to lose it all.’ ”
Whoopi also suggested that Thorson start attending a 12-step rehab program – and that’s what he’s doing, he says.
“I now have Whoopi Goldberg and (Bunny Ranch owner) Dennis Hof as sober coaches,” Thorson added. “If I wind up back in prison, I’ll only have myself to blame.”
