'Golden voice' homeless man leaves rehab

• Tweet

Ted Williams' "Golden Voice"

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The homeless Ohio man whose "golden voice" video became an Internet sensation says he's left a Texas rehab facility because he was unhappy with his treatment.

Ted Williams voluntarily checked himself out of the Origins Recovery Center in South Padre Island, the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported Wednesday.

Williams, 53, had spent less than two weeks there after a three-episode appearance on the syndicated talk show "Dr. Phil."

A family friend said Williams plans to pursue similar help through an outpatient center at some point.

"He wants recovery," said the friend, who asked to remain anonymous. "That's the only thing that's going to help him."

The friend said Williams was disturbed by the sight of cameras when he arrived at the center, a medication regimen so heavy that "when he wasn't in (therapy) class, he was asleep" and requests to give on-air interviews with show host Phil McGraw.

"Where's the confidentiality?" the friend said. "They exploited him."

"The decision to remain in treatment is Ted's to make," McGraw said in a statement Monday. "We certainly hope that he continues his commitment to sobriety, and we will continue to help and support him in any way that we can. We wish him well."