Rough Childhood: Child Stars Reveals How Growing Up In Hollywood Was

As children, we all aspired to be on television, and some children were able to realize those dreams. Was it, however, everything it claimed to be? It turns out that most accounts of what it is like to grow up in the spotlight are horrifying. The term “nightmare” may be more appropriate. It wasn’t all fun and games, from lost fortunes to harassment and all in between. The adults around them did not have their best interests at heart. Unfortunately, many of these child actors kept silent for a long time, but some have opened up. See what your favorite former child stars say about their life in the spotlight.

Macaulay Culkin Was Forced to Act

The career of former child star Macaulay Culkin is an electric one. In the Home Alone series, Culkin made a fortune; His manager and father, Kit Culkin, had been pushing him to success. He now claims that his father was harsh and wouldn’t let him sleep. Projects were forced down his neck, regardless of the psychological cost. “I simply needed a little break,” he recalls.

According to tabloids, Macaulay had a bit of a rebellious streak as an adult. He took a break from Hollywood to focus on himself but appeared in various reality television shows and contests after making a brief return in the early 2000s. This year, Culkin will occur in the pandemic-themed film Rich Flu, currently in post-production. Additionally, he will provide a voice for Entergalactic, an upcoming Netflix animated series. From his perspective, not all of the glitz was gold. Fortunately, he makes his own choices now.

Selena Gomez Was Too Exposed

Selena Gomez rose to fame after starring in Wizards of Waverly Place and then breaking into the music industry. Her achievement was almost instantaneous, but it came at a price. She had to think about the approvals of millions of strangers while she should have been thinking about homework and boys.

“I think it’s extremely dysfunctional to be in this industry at a young age when you’re figuring out who you are,” the singer says. Her current net worth is estimated to be over $75 million. Selena, nevertheless, has paid a psychological price and wants you to know the truth.

Late Aaron Carter Revealed He Has Suffered From Depression

Late Aaron Carter admitted he self-medicated his depression with forbidden materials in an interview on a TV Show. As a result of his parent’s divorce in 2004, Carter said he became depressed. He also mentioned that he found out his parents “Blew $500M of my money, had 15 houses, 30 cars.” Carter disclosed that he didn’t receive a share when his parents began liquidating their real estate assets.

He also shockingly recounted how his father fired a .44 magnum close to his ear, which resulted in him losing 70% of his hearing in that ear, all to coerce him into signing a check for $256,000. “I couldn’t dwell on it,” he said. “I couldn’t think about it too much. I kind of had to block it out. I started partying and getting into a lot of trouble.” He turned to these forbidden materials when he “went broke,” and his career stalled. At some point, he realized he needed assistance and went to the Betty Ford Center for help. Carter died in 2022 at age 34.

Drew Barrymore Was Everyone’s Moneymaker

Successful child star Drew Barrymore was her family’s breadwinner. Obviously, this was not a good idea. She ponders: “I felt poisoned inside for 20 or 30 years, and I had to keep isolating myself from her in order to develop autonomy, structure, and boundaries. I had to relearn everything about the parent-child relationship. I couldn’t have a connection with her until I realized it for myself and was able to approach her as a woman.”

Drew was never a happy child, which had a long-term impact on her. On the talk show she has been hosting since 2020, the actress gets candid about her life.