While being a celebrity may look great on the outside – red carpet nights out, travelling the world and the fame and fortune that comes with it – many celebrities have voiced their thoughts and opinions or publicly shown the issues of being famous. We look at three celebrities who have struggled with fame.
1. Robert Downey Jr.
Making his acting debut aged just five, Robert Downey Jr. has had a turbulent career in the spotlight, struggling with drug abuse. It was from 1996 to 2001 that his drug-related problems escalated, and he was arrested and visited rehab – subsequently being fired from his role on the TV show Ally McBeal. However, in 2003, Downey Jr. became clean and sober and started to relaunch his career. It was in 2008 when he got his big break landing the lead in the hit Marvel film Iron Man – he has gone on to play the character in the Marvel Avengers franchise.
2. Demi Lovato
The former Disney Channel star has made no secret of her struggles with fame and battle with substance abuse. In 2009, at the age of 17 – and working for Disney at the time – “a couple friends” introduced her to cocaine. At 18, she revealed that she was also suffering from an eating disorder and self-harm. Lovato was then diagnosed with bipolar disorder and despite being on a programme to help combat her addictions, she admits to “sneaking cocaine”. After celebrating six years of sobriety, she relapsed and in 2018, was hospitalised for an apparent overdose. Demi sought help and looked to focus on the road to recovery and in 2020 returned to the stage to perform a new song at the Grammys and sing the American National Anthem at the Super Bowl.
3. Ben Affleck
Starting his acting career on a mini-series, he spent most of his teen years acting in TV shows before getting his big break with Good Will Hunting; together with his friend and fellow actor Matt Damon. Shortly after this, at 24, he stopped drinking alcohol. However, in 2001, news broke that he had entered a rehab facility for alcoholism. In 2017, the former Batman actor was seen out with a sober coach, and since then has battled with getting sober. He opened up in 2019 about his addiction and discussed his time in alcohol rehab.
Ben Affleck’s struggled with fame and making mistakes in the public eye. As reported in The Guardian, he explained: “I ran into getting famous and it totally spun me around and I flailed around for a few years. When you’re a young man in your 20s, part of that is making mistakes and learning from them. I just made those in front of everybody, rather than privately.”
There are challenges and battles to be fought every day by people from all walks of life. But by seeking the right help from the right people, with alcohol rehab and therapy available, it can help combat addiction and lead to the right path.
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