Demi Lovato Attributes 2010 Incident with Background Dancer to Fame’s Adverse Effect on Mental Health

Demi Lovato, the American singer and actress, recently opened up about her struggles with fame and its detrimental effects on her mental health, particularly reflecting on the infamous incident in 2010 when she punched a background dancer in the documentary Child Star, which she co-directed. Lovato recounted some of the most significant and explosive moments of her life, connecting them to the intense pressures she faced as a young celebrity.

“I didn’t realize that it would have such a negative impact on my mental health,”Lovato acknowledged.

She emphasized how her early rise to fame took a considerable toll.

“And unfortunately, sometimes that looks explosive, like an incident where you punch your backup dancer on an airplane or you overdose from heroin.”

Demi Lovato was referencing the 2010 incident involving Alex Welch, a background dancer during The Jonas Brothers tour. This altercation occurred on a plane and led to the pop star entering rehab for further mental health evaluation.

In 2018, the Cool for the Summer singer collapsed and was later discovered unconscious. After being discharged from the hospital, she revealed that she was treated with six needles and had suffered three strokes and a heart attack during a nearly fatal heroin overdose.

Demi Lovato Reflects on Past Behavior and Reconnecting with Former Co-Stars in Child Star

As Lovato co-directed the new documentary Child Star alongside Nicola Marsh, she took the opportunity to reflect on her past actions and sought closure for her earlier behavior.

“Talking to people who knew me at a different time in my life was challenging because I wanted to apologize for my behavior,”she explained. “I wasn’t the nicest person to work with at times because I was struggling so much internally, and I was under a lot of pressure.”

Demi Lovato revealed that working on Child Star allowed her to reconnect with former colleagues, including Raven-Symoné and Alyson Stoner, who appeared in the documentary.

“They were so lovely, so incredible, and so receptive, and I was so grateful for that,”she expressed, describing the experience as “really cathartic.”

In an interview with PEOPLE, Demi Lovato shared her motivations behind creating Child Star, which premiered on September 17. The documentary features a cast of stars including Drew Barrymore, JoJo Siwa, Kenan Thompson, Raven-Symoné, Christina Ricci, and Alyson Stoner, all sharing their journeys of growing up as child actors.

“This was just a story that I had been wanting to tell for quite some time,”Demi Lovato stated. “I’ve always thought about exploring the history of child stars, and also looking at different points of views and the perspective of what it’s like to be a child star in today’s day and age.”

Reflecting on her journey, Demi Lovato mentioned that she has been “very, very honest in the past”and has “demonstrated that vulnerability throughout my life.”

Demi Lovato’s previous struggles have been highly publicized, and she has been open about her mental health challenges. Despite the difficulties, she remains dedicated to her journey of growth and healing, particularly through her work in Child Star.

“I’ve shared a lot with people, and I’ve realized that my experiences don’t define me,”she remarked, highlighting her evolved perspective over time.

Nevertheless, the highly-publicized 2010 incident will remain a significant part of her history, serving as a reminder of her growth and progress.

In Child Star, Lovato continued the process of addressing her past while looking towards the future, focusing on the emotional toll of early stardom and the resilience required to overcome such challenges.

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