It was never just a TV show. For anyone who grew up watching Viva La Bam or the original Jackass run on MTV, the bond between Brandon Novak and Bam Margera felt like the ultimate "us against the world" pact. They weren't just co-stars; they were childhood friends from West Chester, Pennsylvania, who skated the same curbs and shared the same chaotic DNA.
But walk into 2026, and the landscape looks jarringly different.
One man is building a recovery empire, opening sober living houses, and giving keynote speeches at the DEA. The other has spent years in a public, heartbreaking tug-of-war with his own demons, family, and former collaborators.
Honestly, the story of Brandon Novak and Bam Margera isn't just about fame. It’s a case study in what happens when one person outgrows the "party" while the other is still trapped in the basement.
The "Dreamseller" vs. the Castle
To understand why they aren't skating together today, you've gotta look at where they started. Novak was the prodigy. He was the first skater ever signed to Tony Hawk’s Powell Peralta team at age 14. Then, heroin happened.
By the time Viva La Bam was a global hit, Novak was often homeless between filming. Bam was the provider, the guy who gave Novak a platform and, quite literally, a roof over his head at "Castle Bam." But it was a toxic ecosystem. You've got a millionaire enabling a junkie because the chaos made for great television.
Novak eventually hit a wall that didn't break. After 13 attempts at rehab—rehabs his mother sold three houses to pay for—something finally clicked on May 25, 2015.
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Why the distance grew
When Novak got sober, the dynamic shifted. Sobriety isn't just about quitting a substance; it’s about changing your "people, places, and things."
Bam didn't change.
As Bam’s struggles intensified following the death of Ryan Dunn in 2011, Novak found himself in an impossible position. How do you stay sober while your best friend is spiraling in a house you used to get high in? You basically can't. Novak had to choose his life over the lifestyle that made them famous.
What Really Happened with the Fallout?
People always ask: "Are they still friends?" The answer is complicated. It’s "yes," but with massive boundaries.
There was a public flare-up a few years back. Bam went on social media rants, accusing Novak of abandoning him or being "too good" for the old crew. He even brought up old debts, like the time Novak allegedly wrecked Bam’s Mercedes years ago during a relapse.
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But from Novak’s perspective, it wasn't about the car or the money. It was about survival.
Novak's House, the sober living facility Brandon founded in Delaware, became his new focus. He realized he couldn't "save" Bam. In the world of recovery, there’s a saying: You can’t get someone sober, but you can be there when they’re ready. ## Bam Margera in 2026: The Current State of Play
As of January 2026, things are looking... cautiously optimistic for Bam. After the "wrongful termination" lawsuit against Johnny Knoxville and Paramount over Jackass Forever was settled, Bam seems to have found a bit more level ground.
- Jackass 5 Negotiations: There’s real talk about Bam returning for a fifth Jackass movie scheduled for later this year. The current deal involves using old archival footage, though there’s a sliver of hope for new (safe) stunts.
- Personal Stability: Bam married Dannii Marie in 2024, and by most accounts, she has been a stabilizing force. He recently told Steve-O on a podcast that he’s "never felt better," though fans remain protective and wary given his history of "faking" wellness for the cameras.
- The Novak Factor: They aren't "hanging out" every day. Novak is busy running seven recovery houses and a new outpatient facility in New Jersey. He has basically become a corporate professional in the healthcare space.
The distance between them isn't out of malice. It’s out of necessity. Novak is an "extremist" in his sobriety now. He knows that one night back at the Castle could undo a decade of work.
The Harsh Reality of E-E-A-T in Recovery
If you’re looking for a "happily ever after" where they both go back to jumping off roofs, you’re missing the point. Experts in addiction, like those Novak works with at his centers, will tell you that the "Jackass" lifestyle is fundamentally incompatible with long-term recovery for some people.
The tragedy of Brandon Novak and Bam Margera is that their friendship was forged in a fire that eventually consumed one of them and refined the other.
Novak is now a Certified Intervention Professional. He literally gets paid to fly across the country and tell families how to stop enabling their loved ones. He can't go back to being the "crazy sidekick." It would invalidate everything he’s built since 2015.
Actionable Takeaways: What We Can Learn
If you’re following this saga because you or someone you know is struggling, there are real-world lessons here that go beyond celebrity gossip.
- Boundaries aren't betrayal. Novak distancing himself from Bam wasn't him "turning his back." It was him putting on his own oxygen mask first.
- Success looks different after 40. For Novak, success is 70 beds in a sober living facility. For Bam, success is slowly regaining the trust of his family and his son, Phoenix Wolf.
- The "13th Time" Rule. Novak didn't get it right until his 13th rehab. If you’re on attempt number three or four, the story of these two proves that the timeline doesn't matter as much as the eventual "click."
The bond between Brandon Novak and Bam Margera will always exist. You can't erase twenty years of history. But the 2026 version of their friendship is quiet, distanced, and respectful.
It’s less about the stunts and more about the silence. And for anyone who wants to see them both grow old, that silence is actually a very good thing.
Next Steps for Recovery Resources:
If you're looking for help, Novak actually keeps his business line public (610-314-6747) for interventions. Alternatively, looking into structured sober living like the "Novak's House" model provides the accountability that high-octane environments like the skate world often lack.