Being a teenager going through puberty and hormonal changes are difficult enough, not to mention carrying the burden as a breadwinner under the glare of Hollywood’s blinding spotlight.
Demi Lovato recently spoke with fellow former child star Drew Barrymore about how their childhood stardom affected their family dynamics. Barrymore, who starred in the film Firestarter when she was just a little child, suffered a strained relationship with her parents due to her situation.
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“I noticed that when I came into the spotlight at a young age, and then was the breadwinner…there wasn’t a manual for my parents to read and it say, ‘Here’s what to do to raise a child star,'” Lovato candidly shared on the 4D With Demi Lovato podcast.
“They didn’t get that,” the former Disney star continued. “So when they would try to ground me at 17, I would say, ‘I pay the bills.’ And I cringe now when I think about that attitude. But when the world is putting you on a pedestal, you kind of think that you could do no wrong. As I’ve gotten older, I see my parents just as big kids themselves.”
Barrymore added,
“I don’t think it’s the world and the pedestal. I think it’s the parent-child dynamic that gets completely reversed.” She also said, “And no wonder you won’t take an order from an authority figure who’s no longer an authority figure because you’ve now reduced them down with finances and responsibilities.”
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Speaking about her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Jaid Barrymore, she explained,
“I didn’t know I was angry at my mom. I didn’t know I resented her,” the award-winning actress shared. “I also then felt so much guilt as if my inability to make a relationship with this woman work was literally the most cruel and (messed up) thing I’d ever done in my life.”
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We’re glad to see that both women were able to come out of their difficult childhood and are finally in a better place after various addictions and rehab stints.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, reach out to The Wave Clinic at +60 32 727 1799.
*Cover image via Demi Lovato / Instagram @drewbarrymore
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