10 Disney Stars with Tragic Childhoods
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Aidan Johnson
Behind the glitz and glamour of Disney stardom lies a darker reality. We're diving into the challenging childhoods of beloved Disney stars who faced incredible personal struggles, revealing the hidden pain behind their bright smiles and successful careers. Our countdown explores the difficult journeys of stars like Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and others who battled mental health challenges, family issues, and intense public scrutiny from a very young age!
10 Disney Stars With Tragic Childhoods
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re discussing 10 Disney stars who unfortunately did not have easy childhoods.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan began her career at just three years old as a child model. In 1998, she gained widespread recognition when she starred in Disney’s “The Parent Trap”. Despite her early success, her childhood was fraught with hardships, with her parents having a rather tumultuous relationship. Her father struggled with legal issues and substance use disorder, and even served jail time when Lohan was only four. By the time Lohan entered her teenage years, the media and public were intensely scrutinizing her. As a result, her personal struggles were highly publicized, making her one of the most tabloid-covered stars of the 2000s.
Britney Spears
The Princess of Pop is one of the most iconic stars of all time, but her rise to fame came with its fair share of challenges. Her Disney career first began in 1993, when she starred in “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club”, alongside Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling. She later transitioned into pop music, which she said was always an outlet for her, especially during her difficult childhood. She has described her father as “mean, apathetic, and cold”, noting that his unpleasant behavior, including body shaming, persisted well into her 30s. The full story is detailed in her memoir, “The Woman in Me”, which was incidentally one of the largest book deals of all time.
Rowan Blanchard
“Girl Meets World” catapulted Rowan Blanchard into the spotlight at only 12 years old. This brought about an intense work schedule, acting commitments, and of course immense media attention. When she was a young teen, she opened up about struggling with depression. Throughout her time on the Disney Channel and especially afterward, Blanchard made it a point to be outspoken about human rights on social media. Later on, in a 2017 interview, Blanchard would go on to say that “working for Disney was stressful”, citing an environment known for silencing and carefully crafting the voices of its employees.
Alyson Stoner[a]
Alyson Stoner acted in numerous Disney projects during the 2000s, such as “Camp Rock” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”. They were one of the most recognizable faces of that Disney Channel era. Behind all their talent, however, Stoner faced significant hardships growing up in the limelight. They have been open about their mental health struggles, saying they first developed anxiety at elementary-school-age on account of the industry’s demands. In their teen and young adult years, they struggled with eating disorders, in part due to a working culture that encouraged toxic body standards. Today, Stoner is an important voice in the conversation about the realities of childhood stardom.
Dylan & Cole Sprouse
Adored for their roles as Zack and Cody Martin, the Sprouse twins were among Disney Channel’s biggest stars. Entering the industry at just eight months old, they made their feature film debut at age seven, starring alongside Adam Sandler in “Big Daddy”. Unfortunately, a life in Hollywood wasn’t exactly their choice. When their parents divorced, the twins were left in the care of their mother, who struggled with substance use disorder and mental health issues. She thrust Dylan and Cole into the acting world as a way to get by, letting them take on the burden of financial responsibility at too young an age.
Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne first made a name for herself playing CeCe Jones on “Shake It Up” alongside Zendaya. However, her journey to stardom was shaped by significant hardships. Her father died in 2007, leaving her mother with the difficult task of raising four children alone. The only reason Thorne even auditioned for Disney was because her family was on the verge of facing homelessness. After her Disney career, Thorne would reveal that she’d been sexually abused throughout her youth. Her struggles are loosely documented in her poetry book, “The Life of a Wannabe Mogul: Mental Disarray”.
Raven-Symoné[b]
Raven-Symoné first began acting when she was only three years old, with her first role being on “The Cosby Show”, as Cliff’s step-granddaughter. Eventually, in 2003, she became well known for starring as psychic teen Raven in “That’s So Raven”, a Disney sitcom that is still highly revered today. The actress has since opened up about how stressful the industry was for her. Body image was something the young star struggled with as she endured frequent body shaming and criticism, including doubts about her ability to perform as a dancer on tour. She has also been outspoken about how tough coming out was, since she worried how it would be portrayed by the media. Despite the challenges, she’s considered a trailblazer and a role model.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus rose to fame as the star of Disney’s “Hannah Montana”, where she played a teenager juggling life as a regular girl by day, and a pop superstar by night. As the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, she grew up in the spotlight, meaning her childhood was anything but ordinary. When she was just 12, her schedule was so tightly packed with press and filming, she’d barely get a moment to herself. The role did what was said to be “extreme damage” to her psyche, while being dolled up every day ultimately left her experiencing body dysmorphia. Looking back, Cyrus has said she doesn’t remember most of her childhood stardom as a result of all the pressure she endured.
Selena Gomez
Before securing the role of Alex on “Wizards of Waverly Place” at the age of 15, Selena Gomez got her start on “Barney & Friends” in 2002. Growing up on camera caused her personal life to come under intense scrutiny from the public, which took a major toll on her mental health. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gomez talked about her bipolar disorder diagnosis, as well as an episode of psychosis she experienced in 2018. She also delved into how she felt a lack of control over herself and her mental state in her early 20s. Her candidness has at least inspired fans to face their own vulnerabilities and let go of any shame that might be surrounding them.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato had an immensely tragic upbringing, as she grappled with horrible mistreatment by peers. This led to substance use disorder in her early teens, something that would follow her for much of her adolescence. The star also dealt with disordered eating and other mental health challenges. Lovato’s difficult relationship with their abusive father was the source of a lot of pain. After his passing in 2013, Lovato Treatment Scholarship Program to honor his memory. Her journey is one of resilience and hope, and their story has become a symbol of strength for fans around the world.
Which Disney star did you look up to most growing up? Let us know in the comments!
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re discussing 10 Disney stars who unfortunately did not have easy childhoods.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan began her career at just three years old as a child model. In 1998, she gained widespread recognition when she starred in Disney’s “The Parent Trap”. Despite her early success, her childhood was fraught with hardships, with her parents having a rather tumultuous relationship. Her father struggled with legal issues and substance use disorder, and even served jail time when Lohan was only four. By the time Lohan entered her teenage years, the media and public were intensely scrutinizing her. As a result, her personal struggles were highly publicized, making her one of the most tabloid-covered stars of the 2000s.
Britney Spears
The Princess of Pop is one of the most iconic stars of all time, but her rise to fame came with its fair share of challenges. Her Disney career first began in 1993, when she starred in “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club”, alongside Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling. She later transitioned into pop music, which she said was always an outlet for her, especially during her difficult childhood. She has described her father as “mean, apathetic, and cold”, noting that his unpleasant behavior, including body shaming, persisted well into her 30s. The full story is detailed in her memoir, “The Woman in Me”, which was incidentally one of the largest book deals of all time.
Rowan Blanchard
“Girl Meets World” catapulted Rowan Blanchard into the spotlight at only 12 years old. This brought about an intense work schedule, acting commitments, and of course immense media attention. When she was a young teen, she opened up about struggling with depression. Throughout her time on the Disney Channel and especially afterward, Blanchard made it a point to be outspoken about human rights on social media. Later on, in a 2017 interview, Blanchard would go on to say that “working for Disney was stressful”, citing an environment known for silencing and carefully crafting the voices of its employees.
Alyson Stoner[a]
Alyson Stoner acted in numerous Disney projects during the 2000s, such as “Camp Rock” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”. They were one of the most recognizable faces of that Disney Channel era. Behind all their talent, however, Stoner faced significant hardships growing up in the limelight. They have been open about their mental health struggles, saying they first developed anxiety at elementary-school-age on account of the industry’s demands. In their teen and young adult years, they struggled with eating disorders, in part due to a working culture that encouraged toxic body standards. Today, Stoner is an important voice in the conversation about the realities of childhood stardom.
Dylan & Cole Sprouse
Adored for their roles as Zack and Cody Martin, the Sprouse twins were among Disney Channel’s biggest stars. Entering the industry at just eight months old, they made their feature film debut at age seven, starring alongside Adam Sandler in “Big Daddy”. Unfortunately, a life in Hollywood wasn’t exactly their choice. When their parents divorced, the twins were left in the care of their mother, who struggled with substance use disorder and mental health issues. She thrust Dylan and Cole into the acting world as a way to get by, letting them take on the burden of financial responsibility at too young an age.
Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne first made a name for herself playing CeCe Jones on “Shake It Up” alongside Zendaya. However, her journey to stardom was shaped by significant hardships. Her father died in 2007, leaving her mother with the difficult task of raising four children alone. The only reason Thorne even auditioned for Disney was because her family was on the verge of facing homelessness. After her Disney career, Thorne would reveal that she’d been sexually abused throughout her youth. Her struggles are loosely documented in her poetry book, “The Life of a Wannabe Mogul: Mental Disarray”.
Raven-Symoné[b]
Raven-Symoné first began acting when she was only three years old, with her first role being on “The Cosby Show”, as Cliff’s step-granddaughter. Eventually, in 2003, she became well known for starring as psychic teen Raven in “That’s So Raven”, a Disney sitcom that is still highly revered today. The actress has since opened up about how stressful the industry was for her. Body image was something the young star struggled with as she endured frequent body shaming and criticism, including doubts about her ability to perform as a dancer on tour. She has also been outspoken about how tough coming out was, since she worried how it would be portrayed by the media. Despite the challenges, she’s considered a trailblazer and a role model.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus rose to fame as the star of Disney’s “Hannah Montana”, where she played a teenager juggling life as a regular girl by day, and a pop superstar by night. As the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, she grew up in the spotlight, meaning her childhood was anything but ordinary. When she was just 12, her schedule was so tightly packed with press and filming, she’d barely get a moment to herself. The role did what was said to be “extreme damage” to her psyche, while being dolled up every day ultimately left her experiencing body dysmorphia. Looking back, Cyrus has said she doesn’t remember most of her childhood stardom as a result of all the pressure she endured.
Selena Gomez
Before securing the role of Alex on “Wizards of Waverly Place” at the age of 15, Selena Gomez got her start on “Barney & Friends” in 2002. Growing up on camera caused her personal life to come under intense scrutiny from the public, which took a major toll on her mental health. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gomez talked about her bipolar disorder diagnosis, as well as an episode of psychosis she experienced in 2018. She also delved into how she felt a lack of control over herself and her mental state in her early 20s. Her candidness has at least inspired fans to face their own vulnerabilities and let go of any shame that might be surrounding them.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato had an immensely tragic upbringing, as she grappled with horrible mistreatment by peers. This led to substance use disorder in her early teens, something that would follow her for much of her adolescence. The star also dealt with disordered eating and other mental health challenges. Lovato’s difficult relationship with their abusive father was the source of a lot of pain. After his passing in 2013, Lovato Treatment Scholarship Program to honor his memory. Her journey is one of resilience and hope, and their story has become a symbol of strength for fans around the world.
Which Disney star did you look up to most growing up? Let us know in the comments!
[a]https://youtu.be/5q7JbnlbXao?si=LjMBPhv0xxRi4F8c&t=970
[b]https://youtu.be/8Ba_7Hr62rA?si=RgAIC8TaccgIkIVS&t=97
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