Why Demi Lovato Regrets Not Being “More Protective” of Sister Madison

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Content warning: This story discusses eating disorders.

Demi Lovato wishes she had a second chance.

Demi Lovato has said she wishes she’d spent more time supporting her younger sister, Madison De La Garza, while Madison was acting on Desperate Housewives between 2008 and 2012, playing Eva Longoria’s daughter. Lovato feels she was too focused on her own career with Disney at the time.

Looking back, I wish I’d been more protective of her,” Demi admitted on the October 22nd episode of Las Culturistas. “That part was a really tough experience for someone so young, I think.”

The 33-year-old admitted she was preoccupied with personal issues at the time, which she now regrets.

It was especially difficult to watch Madison play Juanita Solis, Gabrielle Solis’s (Eva’s) daughter, as her character faced hurtful comments about her body on the show.

Demi admitted she feels some regret, explaining that the role was tough on the actress. She was upset by the intense focus on the actress’s body during the show and wished things had been different.

Demi feels bad she couldn’t be there for your sister, but she realizes she was limited in what she could do as a teenager.

She said they were both just starting out in the industry and were new to it as a family. They both received significant opportunities around the same time, which led to a move to Los Angeles.

You know, as someone who’s followed Madison’s journey for a while now, I’m just really struck by how much she’s grown. It’s been inspiring to see her navigate life, especially after she bravely shared her experience with her pregnancy loss earlier this year. She’s truly blossomed.

Demi raved about how strong and amazing this person is, expressing immense pride in their success. She highlighted their incredible and iconic performance on the show.

Demi added, “ I’ve always been protective over her. She’s my baby sister and she always will be.”

Madison has spoken about how challenging it was to film Desperate Housewives, particularly dealing with online criticism of her appearance, which contributed to her developing an eating disorder.

In a 2023 interview on the Heart of the Matter podcast, the 23-year-old explained that she used to spend a lot of time reading online comments. She described receiving incredibly hurtful messages, such as people wishing death upon her because of her appearance. She recalled comments like, ‘Ugly fat cow, and I hope you get cancer and die because you’re so fat,’ sharing that these attacks began when she was just 6, 7, or 8 years old.

Madison shared that reading all the comments online really harmed her mental health and contributed to her developing an eating disorder when she was young.

She recalled first attempting to starve herself when she was seven years old, explaining that it was largely triggered by negative comments she’d read. Her family was unaware of what she was going through.

But as she’s gotten older, she’s worked on recovery, noting that it will be a life-long process. 

She explained that this isn’t something that will simply disappear or be fully resolved. It’s a lifelong process of ongoing effort. While it does become more manageable over time, it will always be present in some form.

For more stars who have been open about their own mental health journeys, keep reading. 

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He said he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and will even consider medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Ka’oir Davis, along with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son, and he worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared experiencing a severe mental health crisis he couldn’t recover from, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, describing them as a form of “body dysmorphia” he experienced as a child actor.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they deeply disliked their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, and struggling with depression and isolation, he consciously started focusing on his appearance. He felt that being seen as more attractive could lead to greater success and make him feel more valuable.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that overcoming his disappointments and personal struggles enabled him to return to his work with a renewed sense of self.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying, “Some might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” On the The Funny Thing Is podcast, she admitted that food was her primary coping mechanism and that she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely eliminated sugar and alcohol from her life and started practicing yoga, along with breathing and stretching exercises. She described this combination as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She shared that she struggles with food and body image, which are genuine concerns for her. However, she’s working on improving her mental and physical health by focusing on a healthy diet and natural wellness practices.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She admitted on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She explained that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she can’t feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist frequently talks about safeguarding her well-being, including blocking negativity online, and often offers guidance to others who are struggling.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that the most important thing is patience. She emphasized being patient with yourself, resisting impulsive decisions, and allowing time to pass. She believes that difficult feelings will eventually subside if you simply wait things out.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” opened up about how challenging and stressful times like these can be.

She tweeted that it’s often hard to decide what’s more difficult – avoiding the virus or dealing with the sadness that comes with this new way of life. Katy explained that she often finds peace in her car, saying it’s become her safe place since there aren’t many other options for getting away from things.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and recently discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

She remembered that after her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Honestly, my life is a bit of a rollercoaster – some days I feel great, and others I struggle with a lot of anxiety. That’s a big reason why I wanted to get involved in this – I really want to help people feel less alone. It means a lot to me to connect with others and let them know they’re not the only ones going through tough times.

The actor who played Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but being open about your feelings is really important. Men, in particular, often tend to keep things bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone in this.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.”

The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking professional help, having publicly discussed her own experiences with depression. She’s stated that talking to a therapist is essential for managing her mental health, telling Variety, “That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a type of PTSD treatment involving MDMA and psilocybin after struggling with both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any stage fright for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This made her understand how much she thrives on, and even needs, that powerful, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained she decided to stop taking birth control, feeling like it had severed a connection to traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, she admitted, but she felt liberated from those expectations, like it created new possibilities for her.

In a 2017 Instagram post, the Riverdale actress shared that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and credited the support of her family and a therapist with saving her life. She encouraged others to seek help, emphasizing that it’s a crucial first step and that everyone has immense value.

The singer behind “What He Didn’t Do” has opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. It wasn’t something that started recently; I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly discussed her mental health journey for years, sharing coping strategies in public speeches and on social media platforms like Instagram.

I’ve been following her advice for a while now, and what I really appreciate is that she emphasizes finding what personally works for you. She shared with Health magazine that for her, it’s a combination of things – sometimes that means medication, but it also includes a practice she swears by: for every negative thought, she actively lists ten positive ones. And she’s a big believer in getting plenty of exercise too – it all works together for her, and I’m trying to incorporate it into my own routine.

As someone who’s followed a lot of journeys through motherhood, I’ve always admired this cookbook author’s honesty. She’s a mom of four, and she’s been so brave about sharing her experience with postpartum depression. It’s something so many new moms go through, but often feel completely unable to discuss – so her openness is incredibly valuable and helps break down the stigma.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became increasingly comfortable for her to talk about her experience. Her hope was to let others know that anyone can go through something similar, and to help those who are struggling feel less ashamed and isolated.

Oh my gosh, I was reading an interview with her in The Edit while she was promoting Mirror, Mirror, and she was SO brave! She talked about how incredibly tough her teenage years were, admitting she struggled with really dark thoughts and even… well, she said she had suicidal thoughts. She described feeling this ‘something dark’ inside her back then, and it just broke my heart. It’s amazing she’s sharing this now, and I’m so proud of her for being so open!

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn how to find joy on her own, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to do just that.

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a playful tweet asking about her therapist. She shared that therapy has been life-saving for her on numerous occasions.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. She explained that I didn’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long way to go, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has openly shared her struggles and recovery related to addiction and mental health, and she often explores these experiences in her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with inevitable setbacks. She once shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder to anyone who’s struggling – life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

I’ve been so impressed with this actress – she doesn’t just play characters dealing with tough mental health struggles, like her incredibly powerful role as Rue in Euphoria, but she’s also been open about facing those kinds of challenges herself. It feels really authentic and brave, and I really admire her for it.

Zendaya revealed in 2013, through her old app, that she experienced anxiety following a TV appearance on Ellen when her microphone malfunctioned. She’s since found ways to cope with these feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break and reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme highs and lows, with particularly difficult periods lasting for weeks.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

In 2018, while accepting a Global Changemakers Award at a fundraiser, she shared that she had long wrestled with whether to speak openly about her mental health. She explained that she firmly believes keeping things hidden actually makes it harder to get better.

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2025-10-25 02:19