In 2007 Britney Spears, a former
Disney child star who landed a role in The Mickey Mouse Club House, went to a
beauty salon and shaved her head in a very publicised meltdown. When asked why
she decided to do it she replied “I don’t want anyone touching me. I’m tired of
everybody touching me, “Four days later she attacked a paparazzo’s car with an
umbrella. She was soon put into psychiatric hold. (Britney Spears, 2017)
Miley Cyrus, who began her
career acting as Hannah Montana, a character young girls from around the world
looked up to, soon received a lot of flak for the hypersexualise image she
adopted in her late teens. (Ungerman,2017)
Demi Lovato, who starred in
Disney’s Camp Rock got into trouble after she punched a backup dancer on one of
her tours. She has been struggling with bulimia and addiction, and has been in
and out of rehab for years. (Canning, 2010)
There appears to be a definite
trend of former Disney child celebrities having very troubled lives as they
grow up. This has been generally dubbed ‘The Disney Curse’. It is obvious
however, that this is a problem many children who grow up in the limelight
face, and isn’t just a problem associated with the Disney family of celebrities
specifically.
Why are child celebrities disproportionately
affected by mental health issues? There are many possible reasons, and this
blog post aims to explain some of them.
The first possible reason that
comes to mind is that they reach extraordinary fame very early in their lives. They
are photographed everywhere they go, peers of their age cheer when they walk onto
stage, their social media handles are always blowing up. People want to see the
sort of clothes they wear, they want to know the music they listen to, they even
want to know what cereal they eat. Fame turns into a way of self-validation for
full grown adults, so one can only imagine how important this recognition becomes
for developing children. As these children grow into adolescence, and the T.V.
shows they used to be a part of finally come to an end, they are hit with the
sudden reality that people are no longer infatuated with them. For many the
source of external validation slips away and they struggle with their
self-esteem, and social relationships.
The fame a child star receives leads
to a lack of privacy. The stress that teenagers feel due to the major life
changes they are faced with is simply amplified by the lack of privacy. Fights
between celebrity friends, dating and breakups of celebrity couples, snide
comments on social media are all on full display. A teenager’s personal life under
constant public scrutiny is difficult to bear. One would have to deal with all the
problems that naturally comes from growing into a young adult, but would also
have to deal with people’s comments and opinions on everything going on in
their lives. For a child growing up in the public spotlight, the general stress
from being a teenager and navigating new relationships is compounded with the stress
of everyone looking at their every move.
These children grow up in
television and film sets. They are thrust into a more adult world, and have
easier and earlier access to alcohol and drugs than most children their age. Some
of them may start using substances before they are mature enough to understand
the implications of it’s use. There are cases of teenage celebrities being checked
into rehab for addictions, and spend entire lives struggling against relapse.
But perhaps the biggest reason
for worse mental health among child celebrities is the sheer pressure put on
them at too young an age. Child stars are faced with the pressure of keeping
entire shows running on their performance as an artist. The situation is made
more grave with the extensive merchandising that occurs; hundreds of school bags,
accessories, toys with their characters names and faces on it. They work
unrealistic hours, they spend their childhood going on tours, shooting for the
next television episode and waving at fans. The way they portray themselves in
the media is extremely important, and this is where Disney plays a big part.
Disney tries to maintain a wholesome, squeaky clean image of itself. Child
stars are required to act in a manner that befits Disney’s standards. Stringent
rules create a natural desire to rebel. As the children grow older, there is this
desire to leave behind what they consider a child-like image of themselves, and
grow and show the public that they are adults now, to be taken seriously.
Again, this happens with all teenagers as they grow up, but the image that the
public has of them makes teenage celebrities feel the need to assert their
adulthood further.
Most of the reasons that have
been proposed are just theories, and nothing more. Research into this matter is
of utmost importance, because problems like this may not just be limited to merely
Disney stars, or child celebrities in general. All children in the public eye
could be affected by these problems- young international sports players could be
affected, children who enter dance competitions, kids who represent their countries
in academic Olympiads. It is our duty to ensure that we allow them to reach
their potential, without leaving them to fend for themselves under the pressure
it creates.
References:
Canning, A., & Patinkin, F. (2010, November 03). Demi
Lovato Leaves Jonas Bros. Tour to Get Treatment for 'Emotional and Physical
Issues'. Retrieved from
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/actress-singer-demi-lovato-treatment-emotional-physical-issues/story?id=12038895
See How Far Britney Spears Has Come in 10 Years. (2017,
December 07). Retrieved December 1, 2018, from
https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/britney-spears-shaved-her-head-10-years-ago-relive-her-comeback-w467019/
Ungerman, A. (2017, May 13). Miley Cyrus' Transformation
Timeline: From Disney Star to Infamous Twerker to Fresh-Faced 'Malibu'.
Retrieved from
https://www.etonline.com/features/217322_miley_cyrus_transformation_timeline
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