Celebrity3 min(s) read
Zac Efron was forced to address fan concerns over changing appearance of his face
Zac Efron became the focus of online speculation after fans noticed changes to his face in the Netflix romantic comedy A Family Affair. In the film, Efron plays a famous Hollywood actor who falls for his assistant’s mother, and while the storyline has sparked plenty of reactions, a different kind of conversation has taken over social media.
Viewers have questioned why the actor looks so different compared to his earlier roles in High School Musical or The Greatest Showman. Some asked whether he had undergone cosmetic procedures, while others commented on how stiff or unnatural his facial movements appeared on screen.
But behind the headlines and social chatter lies a much more serious reason for the change in Efron’s appearance - one that nearly cost him his life.
The 2013 fall that caused major injury
According to Efron, the transformation stems from a household accident that took place in 2013. He says he was running through his house in socks when he slipped on a puddle of water and crashed chin-first into the corner of a granite fountain.
The impact knocked him unconscious, and when he came to, he realized something was seriously wrong. His “chin bone was hanging off his face,” he told Men's Health. The injury required his jaw to be wired shut and led to a long recovery period that would eventually alter the way his face looks.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Efron later said: “It was funny. It sucks. I almost died, but we’re good.”
Although he recovered physically, his facial muscles were affected. He explained that he skipped physical therapy while filming Down to Earth with Zac Efron, which led to an unexpected side effect.
The masseter muscles, which are responsible for chewing, began to grow larger to compensate for the weakened jaw muscles that were never properly rehabilitated.
Over time, this caused noticeable changes to the lower half of his face, giving him a more square and pronounced jawline. He also mentioned that he doesn’t follow the social media conversation about his appearance and wasn’t even aware of the viral speculation until his mother brought it up.
Recent health scare in Ibiza adds to concern
The questions surrounding Efron’s health intensified recently when he was hospitalized during a trip to Ibiza. According to The LA Times, two staff members at the villa where he was staying found him in a swimming pool and quickly pulled him out.
Emergency services were called, and he was taken to the hospital as a precaution. He was released the following day. It was later reported that he may have hit the bottom of the pool during a dive and inhaled a large amount of water, which led to temporary lung issues. Fortunately, his team has confirmed that he is “recovering fine” and is now doing well.