In 2008, 10-year-old me was eagerly sitting in front of the TV ready to watch the new hit movie, Camp Rock. It had everything I wanted: a cool camp, great music, the Jonas Brothers and lastly, Demi Lovato.
At only 16, Demi was becoming the face of not only Disney Channel but of the music business. I looked up to her and dreamed of being a star like her, but as a kid, I only saw the surface of it all. No one thought about the pressures a young teenager would go through when placed at the forefront of fame. No one thought about the struggles she may face with paparazzi following her everywhere. No one thought about the fact that she didn’t live a normal life. She wouldn’t attend a normal high school. She wouldn’t be able to go out with friends without being recognized. She wouldn’t be able to be just like us.
It wasn’t until she became public about her issues that I thought about these kinds of things. As she began to grow up, she shared with everyone that she was struggling with her own image. She received backlash about what she looked like because she wasn’t stick thin. In my mind, I knew her talent was undeniable, so I didn’t think too much into it at first.
Soon after this, it was evident that she was struggling even more. She was somewhat open about her mental illness. It started to make sense. She was young and the pressure must have gotten to her. Shortly after, I remember rumors about her drug use. Still a teenager, there was constant media coverage about her using drugs. She had to go to rehab.
We thought we knew a good amount about Demi Lovato at this point. We didn’t. It wasn’t until her documentary “Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated” was released in 2017 that I really understood her. She explained things that I had never known. As a 19-year-old, I was able to comprehend her issues better than I was able to as a kid.
In the very beginning of her documentary, she says she’s nervous for the interview because the last time she had a long interview, she was on cocaine. My jaw dropped. I knew it was going to be truthful, and I knew it was going to be revealing.
This is where it comes full circle. Demi admits that the first time she tried cocaine was when she was 17. This is the same age when she was filming Camp Rock. It seemed to be an innocent act, but it turned out of control. From a young age she was involved with alcohol, and it only got worse. She surrounded herself with the wrong people, but she eventually spiraled into a person she didn’t want to become. It was like she didn’t even know herself.
The first time she was taken to a facility was when she was 18. She punched one of her backup dancers for exposing her drug use. She was constantly drinking and doing drugs, which took over her life. When she was performing and doing interviews, she was almost never sober.
The people in her life put the pieces together and started to understand that this wasn’t a random downfall. This was an escalation from when she was young; She was out of control.
In this documentary, she reflects on her past and admits to everything that happened to her. She goes on to talk about her current self, in 2017. She was sober at the time. She knew that she needed to change for her loved ones, her fans and most importantly, for herself.
As of March 2018, Demi was 6 years sober. She tweeted on March 15, 2018 “Just officially turned 6 years sober. So grateful for another year of joy, health and happiness. It IS possible.” Everyone was proud of her, and she was proud of herself — rightfully so.
In June 2018, however, things changed. Demi released a song called “Sober,” the main lyric being, “I’m not sober anymore.” In this song, she apologized to people, such as her family and her fans, for not being sober anymore. This was an indication to everyone that she had relapsed, and it was true.
After 6 years of sobriety, Demi Lovato broke the streak. On July 24, these fears were confirmed when she was hospitalized for an overdose.
In the past, I was nervous that people would judge her for her issues. After being 6 years sober and relapsing, I was not disappointed in her — I was worried. After watching her documentary, and keeping up with her life, I could tell that she was trying. She was trying very hard. She wanted to be a role model, and I believe she will still want to be, even after this.
This past March, I saw her in concert and was amazed. Her show didn’t stop at her talent because she also showed what kind of person she is. Talking about the past would be hard for any celebrity with a rocky journey. This concert was before her relapse, but her passion and transparency still makes her a role model for me.
Ever since “Camp Rock,” I’ve thought of Demi Lovato as powerful, passionate and inspiring. After seeing her documentary, I had the utmost respect for her. I still feel the same way after her relapse. I believe her overdose came from a place of suffering. She has been fighting a battle that isn’t over yet. True fans understand this and will continue to stay with her.
Many celebrities aren’t open about their lives. It’s clear that Demi Lovato is selfless and willing to share her story with her fans. She wants to talk about how she isn’t perfect. She wants to inspire her fans and show them that they can get better. She’s human, which is refreshing in a world of seemingly perfect celebrities. For someone who has experienced so much, Demi Lovato knows that everyone is going through a silent battle.
Mental health and addiction are topics that our generation is understanding much better than generations of the past. We understand the importance of being open about it and sharing our stories. Demi Lovato is a model of this. Every time she accomplishes something positive, I can’t help but think, “Wow. She’s a badass.”
Everyone has a story, and Demi’s story is deep. If we understand hers, we know there’s something special about her ability to persevere and be open. She is without a doubt a fighter.
Her documentary can be found here.