Demi Lovato is opening up about her decision to speak openly about her time in rehab and the challenges she has faced throughout her career. The Heart Attack singer shared the real reason behind going public during her appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast on October 22.
“I had a decision that had to be made when I had gone to treatment for the first time,” said Lovato, 33. “I had this very public outburst when I was 18 and which I talk about in some of my documentaries, but God, there are so many.”
Lovato explained that her manager at the time presented her with a choice—either go public about her rehab experience or keep it private. She decided to speak out, believing that her story could make a difference for others.
“But I was like, ‘I didn’t have a role model at 13 that was speaking up about eating disorders and I need to be that role model for someone else,’” she said.
The singer described her openness as a responsibility she felt she needed to take on. Growing up, she said she lacked people to look up to who were candid about mental health and body image struggles.
“Especially at the time when the beauty standards were very dangerous,” Lovato continued. “And so, I wanted to be that for other people.”
Over the years, Lovato has been transparent about her struggles with addiction, eating disorders, and mental health. She has used her platform to advocate for awareness and understanding, saying that vulnerability has become a central part of her identity as an artist.
“That’s why I’ve been open about all of my struggles,” she said. “In that moment when I made that decision, it set the tone for the rest of my life of like, you know, I wanna help people.”
Lovato added that the best way she knows to help others is by sharing her own story honestly. “And the best way that I know how is sharing my personal experience with them,” she concluded.
Lovato’s decision to speak publicly about her recovery has inspired many of her fans who face similar battles. Her openness continues to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction, reinforcing her commitment to using her voice for good both on and off the stage.