Demi Lovato is looking back on a difficult chapter from her childhood - including a so-called suicide petition that she was at the center of.
It's no secret that Demi has faced a series of personal challenges - during her years as a child star and beyond.
The 32-year-old started her career at a very young age, appearing on shows like Barney & Friends and later as a Disney Channel star in Camp Rock and Sonny with a Chance.
Growing up in the spotlight brought intense scrutiny, high expectations, and a lack of privacy, which took a toll on her mental and emotional well-being.
She was also severely bullied at school, which had a huge impact on her self-esteem.
The actress and singer has reflected on her early experiences in a new documentary.
In her directorial debut, Child Star, the former Disney star, along with other celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Raven-Symoné, and Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson, share their experiences of growing up in the public eye.
Check out the trailer for Child Star:In the documentary's trailer, released on September 5, Demi opens up about a heartbreaking incident she faced at school.
“The popular girls signed a suicide petition,” she revealed. “Saying that I should kill myself.”
The 'Heart Attack' singer discusses the challenges of growing up on camera with her fellow former child stars.
“There definitely is not a manual on how to navigate this industry at such a young age,” Demi says in the trailer, which was released on September 17, reflecting on her own mistakes.
“I wouldn’t end up where I am had I not made all the choices leading up to this point. But, it came at a price.”
Elsewhere in the trailer, Demi and Drew talk about their struggles with drugs, with Demi asking Drew how old she was when she first tried “substances,” to which Drew responds, “10.”
This isn’t the first time the Sonny with a Chance alum has spoken about the challenges of growing up in the spotlight.
“I think I’d passed the threshold of what I could withstand emotionally and physically," Demi told The Hollywood Reporter last month. “I didn’t realize that child stardom could be traumatic—and it isn’t traumatic for everyone, but for me, it was.”
The Camp Rock alum, who is currently engaged to musician Jordan “Jutes” Lutes, has previously stated that she wouldn’t want her children to follow in her footsteps.
When asked how she would respond if her future children expressed interest in performing, she was firm. “I’d say, ‘Let’s study music theory and prepare you for the day you turn 18, because it’s not happening before that,’” she said.
“‘Not because I don’t believe in you or love you or want you to be happy, but because I want you to have a childhood, the childhood that I didn’t have.’”
Even now, Demi acknowledges she has regrets about her career choices.
“Sometimes I think it’s time for me to move on,” she said about her ongoing involvement in the entertainment industry. “But I’m in this weird position in my career because I still rely on music for my income.”
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