Evan Dando’s Wife Confirms He Has a Tiny Desk Episode That Won’t Be Aired

Evan Dando Hospitalized Amid Mental Health Struggles

Evan Dando, lead singer of The Lemonheads, has been hospitalized in Brazil for mental health issues following an incident in which he allegedly sent unsolicited sexual videos to a fan. His wife, Antonia Teixeira, indicated that Dando’s challenges began earlier this year during a trip to the U.S. for a taping of NPR’s Tiny Desk, which Teixeira stated will not be aired.

In a phone interview with Billboard on February 13, the same day Dando’s representative confirmed his hospitalization, Teixeira revealed that her husband had been battling heavy drinking and prescription drug abuse throughout their five-year relationship. She explained that Dando’s difficulties intensified a few weeks prior to his hospital admission. The couple had traveled from their home in São Paulo to New York City for an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 20, then proceeded to Washington, D.C. to film the Tiny Desk episode.

Teixeira reported that Dando’s conduct became increasingly erratic during this trip, raising her concerns. She recalled, “That day, he was totally out of his mind. So out of his mind, that the Tiny Desk won’t be aired.”

When contacted, NPR declined to comment on the situation regarding the allegedly scrapped episode, and Dando’s representative also offered no statement.

Upon returning to Brazil, Dando’s unpredictable behavior persisted, according to Teixeira. She recounted a specific incident where Dando ingested large quantities of Adderall, THC, and mushrooms, subsequently exchanging explicit videos with multiple women on X. Alarmed by these actions, Teixeira took him to the treatment facility where he is currently undergoing care, issuing him an ultimatum: if he does not complete his treatment, estimated to last at least 30 days, she plans to file for divorce.

Teixeira expressed her anger, stating, “You can’t imagine how mad I was when I saw that he was sending messages to girls. I’m very mad, because he betrayed me.” She suggested that Dando may have accidentally sent the unsolicited video, noting, “From what I’m looking at now, it wasn’t … he doesn’t remember what he did. He was in a mental meltdown.” She mentioned that he felt “very embarrassed” upon learning about his actions.

Teixeira characterized her husband’s relapse as “self-sabotage,” especially given that he had successfully recorded a new album and was set to embark on a tour this summer, which has since been canceled. Last year, Dando released Love Chant, The Lemonheads’ first full-length album in 19 years, and published a memoir titled Rumors of My Demise, in which he detailed his struggles with substance abuse, including heroin and cocaine.

While Dando reportedly refrained from using hard drugs following a rehab stint in late 2021, he admitted to The New York Times last year that he was still consuming alcohol and over-the-counter substances. Teixeira disclosed her feelings of responsibility over the years to monitor his substance use, often keeping prescription drugs locked away from him.

Currently, Teixeira views Dando’s hospitalization as an opportunity for him to take personal responsibility for his substance use. “If he’s really, really committed, he can do it,” she said regarding his treatment plan.

She added, “I feel like this is a second phase of his healing, you know? It’s him actually taking into his own hands, his responsibilities, the consequences, and not blaming other people and just trying to be better because he wants to be better himself … I’m very hopeful that things will get better.”