Jessica Simpson is about to release her memoir Open Book, and it’s brimming with shock revelations about abuse and addiction.
In the new book, Simpson opens up about being sexually abused by a family friend’s daughter and self-medicating “with alcohol and stimulants.”
Simpson made the decision to get sober in 2017 after “hitting rock bottom.”
“I was killing myself with all the drinking and pills,” she wrote. “When I finally said I needed help, it was like I was that little girl that found her calling again in life.”
Listen to the GOAT team unpack Simpson’s memoir in the latest ep of It’s Been A Big Day For… below:
It’s so refreshing to see Jessica Simpson be so open and honest about her struggles, but sadly, it’s all too familiar.
Many of the child stars we grew up watching on Disney and Nickelodeon have gone on to experience serious mental health issues and struggle with addiction later in life.
In 2018, Camp Rock child star and singer Demi Lovato relapsed after six years of sobriety, was hospitalised for an opioid overdose and entered a rehab facility shortly after. High School Musical star Zac Efron sought treatment in 2013 after struggling with alcoholism and substance abuse.
It was a similar story in the years prior for former child stars including Britney Spears, Aaron Carter and Nickelodeon’s Amanda Bynes.
Even Justin Bieber, who was discovered at just 13 years old, has opened up about his heavy drug use. Last year, in a lengthy Instagram post, Bieber wrote, “I went from a 13-year-old from a small town to being praised left and right by the world, with millions saying how much they loved me and how great I was.”
He said that by the time he was 18 he had “no skills in the real world, with millions of dollars and access to whatever I wanted.”
“I started doing pretty heavy drugs at 19 and abused all my relationships. I became resentful, disrespectful to women, and angry,” he said, explaining that it took him “years to bounce back from all these terrible decisions, fix broken relationships, and change relationship habits.”
Unfortunately, many of the child stars we looked up to as kids have experienced serious struggles in their lives – however, it’s not all bad. Because of the bravery of these celebrities, and their ability to speak out about their experiences, the next generation of young stars are able to be just as truthful, seek help and use their platforms to remind the world that we are all humans – no one is perfect.
If you, or anyone you know is experiencing struggles with addiction of abuse, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT for support.
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