Post: Ricki Lake Says She’s Tried Ayahuasca, Despite Formerly Being Scared of Drugs: ‘I Was Such a Nancy Reagan Disciple’

The former talk show host opened up about her ex-husband’s death and how he changed her in many ways — including inspiring her to try ayahuasca Michael Kovac/Getty Ricki Lake speaks onstage during End Well 2024 on November 22, 2024 in Los Angeles Ricki Lake is opening up about her ex-husband Christian Evans — and how he changed her in many ways before his death in 2017.

"He was super magical, and he was madly in love with me and I with him," Lake, 56, told author and death doula Alua Arthur at the End Well ’s annual symposium on Nov. 22, End Well 2024: Common Ground.

"We met during a medical journey," she continued. "Ayahuasca, to be fully transparent." Lake said that prior to meeting Evans, she was adamantly opposed to mind-bending substances.

"I was such a Nancy Reagan disciple when I did my talk show, I was like, ‘Just say no!’ to everything, like, ew, there was judgment, fear. I was so closed-minded. And Christian, he cracked me open. Like, me, doing ayahuasca in northern California? What? Are you kidding?" David Livingston/Getty Actress Ricki Lake (R) and husband Christian Evans attend the 2012 Outfest opening night gala screening of Related: Ricki Lake Shares Tribute to Late Ex-Husband Christian Evans on 5th Anniversary of His Death

Lake, who was the featured speaker at the end-of-life symposium, went on to talk about how Evans’ life and death changed her in other ways — especially opening her up to the world of bipolar disorders . Evans committed suicide at age 45 amid his battle with bipolar disorder.

"I didn’t understand what bipolar disorder meant at first," Lake said. "I know he suffered from depression and had a lot of pain. We were together four years before he had his first psychotic break. It was almost more shocking seeing him turn into another person than his ultimate death," she says.

She added that she did her best to help him.

"I went to great lengths to save him; I did everything I could in my power to bring him to the doctor to get him help, and […]

Ricki Lake Says She’s Tried Ayahuasca, Despite Formerly Being Scared of Drugs: ‘I Was Such a Nancy Reagan Disciple’