'Star Wars' Jake Lloyd 'Doing Much Better' after 10 months in rehab following mental break last year

[nutella_forever]

'Star Wars' Child Actor Jake Lloyd in Mental Health Rehab Facility Following Psychotic Break Last Year, Mom Says https://t.co/vWSTvHWbbm
- People (@people) March 13, 2024

-Jake Lloyd (35), who as a kid starred as young Anakin Skywalker in 'The Phantom Menace,' is now in his 10th month of an 18-month stay in a mental health rehabilitation facility

Comments

[rainbows_are_ok]

This is like when people try to say The Shining ruined Shelley Duvall's life despite the fact that she's said several times that it didn't and despite the fact she still had a career after that film.

[queenursula]

Kubrick was still awful to her.

[rainbows_are_ok]

Never said he wasn't, but you can't tell someone's story for them. If she says he did not ruin her life, then he did not. My comment is not a defense of Kubrick, but I'm pointing out that sometimes people think they know a person's life story better than the actual person that lived it.

[hiimtish]

Schizophrenia is so misunderstood in our society so I’m glad she’s speaking out about this* and that he’s doing well

*as long as he’s okay with it

[genbu_no_miko24]

She says that but I remember Jake saying he destroyed or threw away all his star wars toys as a result of his bullying over it years ago?

I wish him well though.

[chll51]

I remember the same thing. I think he did an interview and said it. I don't doubt she tried to protect him but this feel somewhat sus. Maybe she doesn't want to bring in more attention to him so saying this just to end that convo

[eowyn]

Yeah, he definitely said all that and that he was bullied at school. She did her best I'm sure, but the kid absolutely knew.

[imnotasquirrel]

Apparently the source of that interview was the Daily Mail/Sun, so not the most reliable. There was a facebook post, not sure if it's legit, where Jake says he never gave the Sun an interview.

[epicdonald]

I was 8 when TPM came out and had such a crush on him as Anakin so I always have a soft spot for him.

I always think of him when people shame child actors who don't stay actors when they grow up. Like people always seem to assume it's the child actor's "fault" that they left the industry, or something. As though kids never change their mind about their dream job or give it a try and it doesn't work out. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid and even went to space camp, are internet trolls gonna shame me for realizing I'm not that good at science or calculus (and don't wanna pee in space) and giving up on that dream??

[nutella_forever]

it also seems like such a toxic environment, I can't blame anyone who decides to leave it all behind

[squirrels_oh_no]

As I have learned from many a child actor memoir, a lot of child actors don't have the acting dream, their parents do.

[burntxtoashes]

Yeah like I remember Jack Gleeson said he loved acting as a kid, but then after GOT he said that making it his 'job' made him lose his passion for it (and all of the hate he got, I'm assuming).

I definitely loved the idea of acting as a kid because I was just like 'oh it's just like playing make believe!', but I think the reality of how technical it is and the whole repeating lines/scenes, long work days, admin etc would've taken me out of it.

[yurasama_love]

I'm glad he's improving. Schizophrenia can really ruin your whole life and available treatments can only do so much.

[anterrabre]

Let's not start this. There are different degrees to schizophrenia just like other disorders, and medications have come a long way.

[steffi_333]

Tbf I don’t think that’s what they were trying to say. I agree with you - it’s come a heck of a long way and not everyone has severe disease - but like pretty much any disease there’s still a lot of unmet needs, and it can be an especially challenging one to tackle as symptoms like hallucinations and psychosis (even mild) can hinder the person getting help. Plus there’s still a butt tonne of stigma attached to schizophrenia which definitely doesn’t help.

[anterrabre]

Thank you for this, because I'm not here for "If you develop schizophrenia you're fucked forever" fearmongering.

I would also add access to medication to that list, because unfortunately vulnerable populations (the unhoused, etc) don't have it. There's also issues with people getting on medication, feeling better, stopping because they feel better and don't think they need it, and the process starts anew. Which is why the long-term meds that are out now (1-2 shots every six months/yearly) are so promising.