Demi Lovato shared deep and personal insights on her mental health journey, gender presentation, and recovery from an eating disorder in a candid interview.
- October 4, 2024
AceShowbiz - Demi Lovato engaged in a heartfelt and revealing conversation with "You" actor Penn Badgley on the newest episode of "Podcrushed". Lovato provided an update on her ongoing battle with bulimia and body image issues, highlighting her journey toward body acceptance.
"I have a treatment team that I work with that helps me stay in recovery, and I've been in recovery from bulimia for five, going on six, years now," the 32-year-old singer and actress stated.
Emphasizing the difference between body positivity and body acceptance, Lovato shared, "I'm trying to learn body acceptance rather than body positivity, because body positivity feels like, 'I can't even reach that yet.' I have a nutritionist and a therapist that specializes in eating disorders."
Cooking meals at home has become an empowering act for Lovato, who admits it feels like "the biggest 'F*** you" to her eating disorder. She noted, "The main thing that I'm working on is just body acceptance, and looking in the mirror and being like, 'This body is strong … This body saved my life and fought for my life when I overdosed. This body is a miracle.' "
Lovato's interview aired just a few weeks after the September 17 premiere of her "Child Star" Hulu documentary, where she delves deeper into her struggles and talks with fellow celebrities like Christina Ricci, Drew Barrymore, and Jojo Siwa about their experiences with child fame. Lovato also released a companion single for the film titled "You'll Be OK, Kid," showcasing her resilience and message of hope.
During the "Podcrushed" interview, Badgley and Lovato shared a poignant moment as they performed "Anyone" from Lovato's 2021 album "Dancing With the Devil". Badgley began the emotional ballad, giving way to Lovato's powerful vocals.
In addition to discussing her recovery, Lovato opened up about her gender presentation, "I came out as nonbinary [in 2021]. I really shed that image of that hyper-feminine pop star that I had been for so many years. I cut all my hair off and it was really freeing for me."
She elaborated, "I feel masculine and feminine. I have both energies in me. At that point in my life, I really shunned the feminine energy in me, and now I'm able to embrace both."
