Bai Ling Is Not Freaky But Is Friends with Lionel Richie

Photo: The Howard Stern Show

Bai Ling stopped by to promote her new single, “Rehab,” and role on the most recent season of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab.”

The Chinese-American actress told Howard being on the reality show could be difficult. “Most of the time, I’m kind of scared. Because they have the power,” she said.

Things got so bad she wound up escaping to the roof in one episode. “I need to breathe,” she recounted. “I needed to find my own space.”

Bai said she was now sober but still a free spirit. “I think, as a female, that we need to celebrate our sensuality,” she told Howard, adding that she’s “so happy now” while living sober.

Asked if her free spirit was also, as rumored, prone to free love, Bai shrugged. “Nature gave me a sensuality,” she said. “I’m not freaky, I’m passionate. I’m beautiful … I think [making] love is such a beautiful thing.”

Lionel Richie Is Just Her ‘Good Friend’

One of Bai’s biggest post-rehab supporters was R&B legend Lionel Richie. “We’re good friends,” she said.

Asked what separated her new single from the Amy Winehouse song of the same name, Bai replied: “I think the message is a little different. She doesn’t want to go to rehab.”

Howard then danced to the song with her, at Bai’s request, but sat back into his chair less than a minute later. “I’m exhausted! I’m getting old,” he joked.