Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson has addressed concerns over his health after a recent photo of him sparked concern.
Last week, social media users were quick to make comments on the actor’s dishevelled appearance after he was pictured leaving a bakery in north London weeks after he pleaded guilty to crack cocaine possession.
But the 46-year-old has reassured his fans that he is OK, explaining that he was merely sick with the flu.
Taking to Instagram Stories, he shared a selfie of himself on the set of forthcoming series The Gray House in London’s Soho on Tuesday.
He wrote: “Back to business and back on set today. Thank you for all your love and concern to everyone. I was and have been absolutely flattened by the flu. #nofilter.”
Anderson added in a separate Instagram post: “I also want to take time to thank each and every one of you all over the world for all the messages of love and support, I see you and appreciate it humbly and sincerely.
“Always remember nobody cares about the truth when the lie is way more entertaining than the truth. I am back don’t you worry about that.”
In January, Anderson was fined £1,345 after he was caught with several substances in a Hampstead pub on Boxing Day 2023.
Mail Online reported police were called after a pub manager discovered what he believed were crack cocaine fumes coming from the disabled toilet after Anderson had been in there.
According to the outlet, Anderson was then brought to a police station were authorities found crack cocaine, amphetamines, diazepam, and pregabalin in his possession.
The BBC star pleaded guilty to possessing class A crack cocaine, class B amphetamines and two class C prescription substances.
However, Anderson’s lawyer is believed to have told the court that the British actor had not been smoking crack cocaine, and reportedly said: “You will recognise the defendant from a very intense part that he has played in a recent television programme.
“He is often recognised and does his best to please fans of the show by slipping into character.
“He was recognised that Boxing Day and tried to play up for these people – and because of the lifestyle he leads, people often give him inducements.”
Anderson played Arthur Shelby, the older brother of Cillian Murphy’s Thomas Shelby, in Peaky Blinders, which came to an end in April 2022.
