Posted 3 minutes agoSubscribe to Screen Time NewsletterCaret Down19 Celebrities Who've Opened Up About Their Experiences As Child Stars"I've had so much pain, so much anguish, and so much abuse in my life that most people probably would be dead."by Jenna GuillaumeBuzzFeed ContributorFacebookPinterestLinkHot Topicđ„ Full coverage and conversation on Disney It's no secret that child stars often become quite troubled, and in recent years the trauma and problematic treatment many have experienced within Hollywood has become more and more apparent - especially because the stars themselves are opening up. Here are some well-known celebrities who have shared their experiences of child stardom... (Content warning: contains mentions of child abuse, mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, and eating disorders.) 1. Demi Lovato Bob D'amico / Getty Images, Cindy Ord / Getty Images Demi's first professional gig was in Barney & Friends at age 10, but she really rose to fame with Disney Channel, especially the Camp Rock franchise. They have been open about their struggles, including dealing with editing disorders, self-harm, and addiction. Demi stated in their documentary Child Star: "Why am I living my dream and doing what I love and have these opportunities in front of me, but I'm so fucking unhappy? I would always feel so gross about myself. I knew that being on Disney Channel, I was in a coveted position that millions of people would trade me in a heartbeat and I felt like I was taking it for granted. But really, I was just a teenager that was struggling." 2. Alyson Stoner Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images, Phillip Faraone / Getty Images Alyson Stoner had a prolific career as a child star, ranging from starring in the Cheaper by the Dozen and Step Up movies to dancing in music videos for Missy Elliot, Outkast and more. They've been vocal about the way that working in the entertainment industry from a young age caused them to develop severe anxiety and eating disorders."I think I was kind of disassociated throughout the whole journey. On the outside, you look like everything's OK, and years later, you can't remember a thing," Alyson said in Child Star. BuzzFeed TrendingHot TopicObsessed with all things Disney? Join our fan community where you'll find hot topic discussions, quizzes, movie news, and more!See our Disney Discussions 3. Raven-SymonĂ© Al Pereira / Getty Images, Phillip Faraone / Getty Images Raven-SymonĂ© started acting as a toddler, famously appearing in The Cosby Show and Hangin' With Mr Cooper before getting her own Disney show That's So Raven. She has said that her career had an impact on her family dynamics, her sense of identity, and her mental health."They didn't care about our mental health. They did not. They sent us out and kept sending us out...if you said no, well, somebody else is going to take your job," she recently told Teen Vogue. 4. Keke Palmer Vince Bucci / Getty Images, Michael Buckner / Getty Images Keke Palmer's first movie role was Barbershop 2: Back in Business when she was 11 years old, and she went on to star in Akeelah and the Bee, Madea's Family Reunion, True Jackson, VP and more. She's spoken out about the extreme pressure she felt at a young age."I hated my parents for a long time. There was so much pressure to rise to the occasion for my community, for my parents, for my siblings, for their sacrifices. They weren't saying it, but that was the reality. Because I'm the one that we all came here for." 5. Jojo Siwa Todd Williamson / Getty Images, Paul Archuleta / Getty Images While Jojo Siwa, who rose to fame on Dance Moms and then as a brand unto herself as a kids' entertainer, has said that while she didn't experience some of the worst aspects of child stardom, she did feel pressure as the breadwinner of her family and also wound up in some terrible work situations. "I got fucked over as a kid and taken advantage of ... in a business way," she said in 2024.
She also shared how much her treatment and position in the industry changed after she came out as queer. 6. Jennette McCurdy Mike Fanous / Getty Images, Taylor Hill / Getty Images Jennette McCurdy started acting when she was 8 years old, and became particularly well-known as a Nickelodeon star on iCarly and its spin-off, Sam & Cat. In her bestselling memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette opened up about the abuse she experienced from her mother and "The Creator" - a higher-up in the industry. Jennette said her family and work life led to her developing eating disorders and other health struggles. "I do hope that if there are parents that are considering putting their kids in acting, I hope if they read the book...they don't," she told BuzzFeed when her memoir was released. 7. Drake Bell Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, Medios Y Media / Getty Images Drake Bell was a Nickelodeon star most known for The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. In the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, Drake said he had been sexually assaulted by hi