Artie Lange Secretly Reimburses Promoter After Bailing On Show Amid Drug Drama

Artie Lange has had to cancel shows during his life-and-death battle against drug addiction, but his struggles haven't stopped him from doing the right thing, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned.

According to promoter Ricky Melton, Lange, 51, made sure he was fully reimbursed after the troubled comedian abruptly canceled his appearance at the Goodyear Theater in Akron, Ohio, in October 2017 for what he claimed at the time was a blood sugar issue that prevented him from traveling.

"We pre-sold about 700 tickets, approximately $40k worth," Melton explained to RadarOnline.com. "He told us to go ahead with the show without him, which we did, and he would take care of everything."

Fans, said the promoter, got a refund and were treated to a free two-hour set featuring other stars.

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"And me, promoter of the show, got every expense paid back to me," revealed Melton. "After Lange canceled the show, he not only instantly paid back the deposit that I gave him, but he requested an invoice of all of my expenses. A few weeks or so later I got a check in the mail for an amount that covered all of the opening comics fees, hotel room, theater rental, advertising costs, even our food backstage."

"I just thought it was really cool of him to not only pay back what he was required to, but to make sure I ended up not losing a dime," continued Melton. "I know he has his demons, but he seems like a really good guy deep down, so I root for him!"

As RadarOnline.com reported, Lange was arrested in New Jersey for heroin possession in May 2017 and that December, just months after Melton's show, he wound up in the Essex County Jail after he failed to appear in court to face charges, for which he later pleaded guilty.

Lange is currently behind bars again after he tested positive for cocaine and heroin on January 30.

The following day, Lange's Twitter account claimed he was "not arrested and sent to jail."

"They are holding him for a few days to sober up before transferring him to a long term treatment facility, Artie needs us to be with him, not against him," the tweet read.

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