Behind the diamonds and custom designer dresses trailing down red carpets, lies a vulnerable world of celebrities struggling with the pressures of fame. This is especially present in teen and child celebrities, who commonly struggle with substance abuse after their premature peak in fame.
Previous Disney stars; Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, have all spoken publicly of their struggles with mental health and substance abuse since outgrowing their Disney childhood fandom. Miley Cyrus especially fell victim to hardship from the press, as concerned parents and shrewd individuals projected their concerns of the singer’s private life publicly. This was true in many instances, including when she first left Disney Channel as a young adult, and when she underwent a very public divorce. I recall my own parents’ disapproval of the celebrities’ influence when Selena Gomez’s time in rehab made headlines, and Miley Cyrus released Wrecking Ball (Cyrus, 2013). Demi Lovato nearly died of a drug overdose in 2018, which she later spoke in detail of in her documentary Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil (Lovato, 2021). Britney Spears is another example of a child Disney star who made headlines as a teenager, but then received detrimental backlash from the press beginning at only 18 years old. Her recent novel; The Woman in Me, exemplifies the horrors of her past and present, and just how much fame degraded her life (Spears, 2023). Not only are young celebrities ridiculed and held to an unattainable standard of perfectionism while in the spotlight, but there is no compassion or insight considered for the reality of their lives behind the scenes. Subsequently, it is not uncommon for celebrities to self-medicate these stressors and unimaginable expectations with substance abuse. This becomes all the more concerning when celebrities lives’ are put at risk. Former One Direction band member; Liam Payne, shines light on this concern with his recent passing in October 2024.
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC; taken March 6 2025. With nearly a 20,000 capacity, singers; Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and the band One Direction all previously played this venue as teenagers and/or young adults. (Gessner, 2025)
I remember when One Direction first became a radio sensation. I, being in elementary school at the time, thought of the band members as these mature, idolized people who must have it all. I remember my friends attending their concerts in Downtown Vancouver; hearing of the band playing Rogers Arena and BC Place Stadium. As a young fan of the band myself, I could only imagine that these teenage boys (who, being 10 at the time, I found quite old) must have perfect lives with no problems. Similarly, I also remember idolizing Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus as a child; envying their riches and beauty, and believing they lived perfect lives. I then remember the backlash these celebrities received publicly, and how they were held accountable for the negative influences of the average teenager. This disapproval was strongly enforced by thousands of concerned parents, and the public’s general judgments and backlash. Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus were both in their early 20s when their reputations were jeopardized, and Liam Payne was only 21 when One Direction broke up (Peplow, 2024). Meaning, Liam Payne had already reached the highest point in his career by age 21.
BC Place Stadium; capacity just under 55,000, taken March 6, 2025. One Direction toured here in 2015, when the band members were just 20 – 23 years old. (Gessner, 2025)
This is the pattern with teenage celebrities. They’re placed on a pedestal by their (typically younger) fanbase, and then expected to relish in the fame; continuing on into adulthood with the consistently met standard of perfection. They’re also exploited, and manipulated by the paparazzi and the press. Yet, they’re still expected to maintain healthy and sustainable lifestyles, even when their fandom begins to fall off. Instead of being met with compassion and understanding, these famous young adults are scrutinized with projections of hatred and neglect. These patterns with child stars are far from few, and thus pose the question: Are we, collectively, not to blame for the pressures placed on celebrities at such a vulnerable period in their lives?
Location of PNE Amphitheatre, Vancouver, BC; taken March 6, 2025. Location of Liam Payne’s final concert in Vancouver, only holding about 10,000 people. (Gessner, 2025)
References:
Cyrus, M. (2013, September 13). Wrecking Ball . YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8
Lovato, D. (2021, March 23). Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil. YouTube Originals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZmXF50Yx7I
Peplow, G. (2024, October 17). Liam Payne Obituary: One direction made his childhood dream a reality – but fame was never easy. Sky News. https://news.sky.com/story/liam-payne-obituary-one-direction-made-his-childhood-dream-a-reality-but-fame-was-never-easy-13235126#:~:text=%22He%20was%20the%20stand%2Dout,Zayn%20Malik%20soon%20followed.
Spears, B. (2023). The Woman in Me. Gallery Books.