Imagine dealing with the ups and downs of newfound fame when you’re 21… now imagine doing it when you’re battling a mental illness like bipolar.
As US singer-songwriter Halsey – whose debut album ‘Badlands’ has already hit Gold O/S and led to a collab track with The Biebs on ‘Purpose’ – is discovering, the two can be exhausting to juggle.
She’s spoken openly about her struggles with mental illness in the past, detailing her suicidal past in an interview with Billboard and going deep on the impact that trolls have on her mindset in a sit-down with PEDESTRIAN.TV on her recent first visit to Australia.
On April 3, Halsey deleted her Twitter account with no explanation, though it followed days of aggressive cyber-bullying in the comments section of a post on her Instagram, in which she was slammed for sharing an arty photo without crediting its original artist.
The comments were next-level gross: people calling her “ugly,” a “waste of oxygen”, jibing her sexuality and short hair, and even some going so far as to tell her to kill herself, all in the name of a fkn uncredited image – which she apologised profusely for.
She’s since reactivated her account, after a clearly much-needed break, but the war continues to rage between those who support her (#IStandWithHalsey has trended) and those who, inexplicably, want to drag her down.
We talked to Halsey at length about the shock of losing all anonymity, and her struggle with wanting to give fans a big part of her – mostly her music – while keeping something to herself, as well as criticism over her so-called sensitivity to trolls’ comments.
“It makes me upset to have people abusing me for A,B,C or D online and it’s not because I’m over sensitive; it’s not because I take it to heart; it’s not because I’m overdramatic; it’s because I have a mental illness.”
Watch the full interview here:
We love ya, Halsey.
If you need support or immediate assistance, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636, headspace or Sane Australia or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
