Demi Lovato described her rise to fame as a “bittersweet” experience, stating that it was everything she had ever wanted, yet it brought her a lot of unhappiness.
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Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The former Disney Channel star spoke with Teen Vogue about their upcoming documentary Child Star, as part of the magazine’s September cover story.
Demi Lovato openly reflected on her early rise to fame, calling it “bittersweet.” In an interview with Teen Vogue for the September cover, the 32-year-old Disney Channel alum and two-time Grammy nominee, who uses she/they pronouns, discussed their upcoming documentary Child Star and how they now view that phase of their life.
Lovato acknowledged that from the very beginning, fame presented significant challenges. “It was bittersweet because it was everything I wanted, but it made me miserable,” she admitted.
By the time 2010’s Camp Rock 2 came out, a follow-up to the 2008 Disney hit, Lovato had already been dealing with an intense workload, including her lead role in Disney’s Sonny with a Chance.
“I felt like no one truly cared. I was isolated, lonely, and miserable,” Lovato shared, adding that her unhappiness led her to treat others poorly during her teenage years in the spotlight.
As previously reported, Child Star marks Demi Lovato’s debut as a director and includes interviews and footage from fellow former child stars like Drew Barrymore, JoJo Siwa, Kenan Thompson, Raven-Symoné, Christina Ricci, and Alyson Stoner, as they reflect on their own experiences.
Lovato shared with Teen Vogue that, as a young idol in the late 2000s, she felt disconnected from the fan admiration she received. “It felt like they were cheering for a version of me that wasn’t real, which is why I could never fully embrace the validation,” she explained.
Lovato also opened up about dealing with imposter syndrome, saying, “Because I was put in this role model position, people only saw the good sides of me. They didn’t see me out partying with friends and blacking out on weekends. I knew all along they were cheering for a façade, and it felt hollow.”
In an interview with PEOPLE, Demi Lovato opened up about her documentary Child Star, explaining that it explores her journey in realizing that “my career is completely separate from my identity.”
“When I was younger, my career and brand were so intertwined that I couldn’t tell the difference between them and my true self,” Lovato said. “It was only as I got older that I learned to distinguish between the two, and that has been one of the most important lessons in my life. I no longer tie my success to my self-worth.”
The “Confident” singer also reflected on being open about her life, saying she has always been “very, very honest” and “shown vulnerability.” She added, “I’ve shared a lot with people, but I’ve come to understand that my experiences don’t define me.”
Lovato went on to discuss the relationships that bring her peace today, particularly her fiancé Jordan ‘Jutes’ Lutes, to whom she got engaged in December 2023 after making their relationship public in August 2022.
“Above all, my fiancé, but also my best friends, family, and my dogs… I treasure love more than anything because that’s what life is truly about: love,” she shared.
