The cast of Riverdale is no stranger to cyberbullying and the pressures that come with
being a celebrity. It's one thing growing up under the spotlight of Hollywood. It's another story
being catapulted into fame when you're already in your late teens and have no idea how to handle the
attention. These actors have had to battle with dark episodes of depression, body dysmorphia,
and severe anxiety, but they haven't shied away from opening up about their demons. So how do
these young stars tackle the moments they have felt most hopeless amongst all the chaos of fame?
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Lili Reinhart
"I've always been aware of depression, anxiety,
and body dysmorphia, because it's something I've lived with for a while."
Out of all the cast members of Riverdale, Lili is probably the most outspoken about mental health.
The 24-year-old actress often takes to Instagram to speak about her battles
with depression and anxiety that she's been fighting since she was as young as sixteen.
During the COVID 19 Pandemic, the actress admitted it was the first time in four years
that she was forced to slow down and focus on herself.
There's no doubt that her role as Betty Cooper shot her to stardom
and although the star-status comes with its many perks, it's not always sunshine and daisies.
Lili's busy schedule, along with her life and relationship with ex-boyfriend Cole Sprouse being
gazed at through the microscope of paparazzi, led to her feeling extremely overwhelmed.
She admitted that at one point, her depression had gotten so out of control that she even
felt like she was dying and had thought that there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
"I couldn't see the light. I was like, 'I feel like I'm dying'.
It was f***ing rough, and there's no other way through it than just through it,"
Right in the middle of the pandemic, Lili and Cole who had started dating in 2017, broke up.
This left fans heartsore, but Reinhart was completely heartbroken. In the months following
the couple's split, the actress described it as the most emotional time she'd ever experienced
because her body was withdrawing from love and having to adjust to another type of loneliness.
She's always been open with her fans about her mental health struggles.
She felt it was important to reassure those who are fighting
the same battles that they are not alone in their struggle with anxiety and depression.
"It just happens, and it's just inside of you,
and that's not something you should be ashamed of. It's justified because it's happening."
The actress has found solace in her writing,
journaling for herself and writing bits of poetry to help her clear any negative thoughts.
She also escapes to the beach, goes on hikes and spends time around nature to ground herself.
Lili has recently released her first poetry book, Swimming Lessons.
The book explores the euphoric beginnings of young love, battling anxiety and depression in
the face of fame, and the inevitable heartbreak that stems from passion.
Camila Mendes
Camila Mendes wasn't known in the entertainment industry when she started out on the show
Riverdale, and she still finds it super strange to deal with being recognized for
her role as Veronica Lodge. She admits that she has had to take her newfound fame day by day,
and it can still be overwhelming to be followed by crowds of fans.
But one thing her platform quickly gave her was an influential space to
talk about important health issues – like her struggle with bulimia.
"I allowed my obsession with being thin to consume me,
and I refused to make room in my mind for any other concerns … all the interests that used
to occupy my mind — had been eaten away by my desire to be thin, and it made me miserable."
Now, she has learned how to fight off these dark thoughts,
and she knows what she needs to do to avoid any triggers that may lead to a down spiral.
Lately, the actress has been getting into meditation, spending 10 minutes
with her thoughts as soon as she wakes up in the morning. She also says that knowing
when to say no is extremely helpful in avoiding situations that will take a toll on her health.
"Knowing when you just need to go home and be alone [is important].
Now, more than ever, I value my alone time because in an industry like this that's very chaotic,
a lot of people need things from you."
Madelaine Petsch
Madelaine has admitted that her introduction into fame, though it has been overwhelming at times,
has also been extremely humbling. She thought that it was going to be a lot crazier than it is,
and all her fans have been really sweet and down-to-earth people that just want to take
a picture with her. She explained that she feels very grateful to have fans who love
her for doing what she's most passionate about, and she couldn't have asked for anything better.
The actress opened up about her struggles with her body image that was brought on as
a result of being picked on by bullies when she was younger,
as well as some cyberbullies that targeted her when Riverdale was aired.
"I think a lot of young girls go through that but don't quite understand it. And
when 'Riverdale' first came out, there would be these crazy people, fans who called me a whale.
And to be honest, there were times when I would question myself, like why do people hate me?"
The Riverdale star makes sure to be open and honest with her fans about
her struggles with her body image, but she also leans on her close friends for
support. She explains how she often checks in with her good friend and fellow cast member,
Camila, and they discuss things like self-image and mental health,
making sure that they're both doing everything that they can to take care of themselves.
Madelaine says that dancing has always been her safe-haven, and she's always
been a dancer at heart. So whenever she has any spare time, or she needs an emotional release,
she heads for the nearest dance studio and gets everything out of her system. She's also found
comfort in reading and enjoying her own space after things around her get a little crazy.
Cole Sprouse
Having been a successful child actor since he was a toddler, Cole didn't face adjusting to instant
fame the way many of his other Riverdale castmates did. But that doesn't mean it
was any easier for him to come to terms with the overwhelming attention he received from the show.
After filming The Suite Life Of Zach And Cody, Cole took a very much needed break from acting
where he could go to college and just be a normal teenager away from the spotlight. Now that he's
back in front of the camera, he admits that this time around, the fame is completely different,
and because of social media now everyone seems to know everything about everyone all the time.
As a way to deal with the newfound pressures of being a TV heartthrob, Cole says that he's
discovered a new passion for photography, that may even be bigger than the one he has for acting.
"I was sad and in a dark place and I turned to a hobby to sort of take me out of that. I used
it as an outlet, as a way to create and feel better, and it took off … if people can end up
finding joy with that work, with the same thing that makes you feel at peace, keep doing it."
He's also a firm believer that one of the best things that anyone could do for
their mental health is to make sure they're also taking care of their physical health.
Getting lots of sleep and exercising is crucial for a healthy state of mind..
Ashleigh Murray
Everyone gets a little low sometimes, even when they're not dealing with a full-on mental illness.
Actress Ashley Murray has found that using her gifts, talents,
and hobbies to the best of her ability can help get her out of a dark place
and she hopes her advice will help her fans through their difficult times too.
"I sing to myself. I love going to karaoke with friends if I'm having a really tough time.
I also really love to cook. That's kind of how I keep myself grounded."
She encourages anyone who might be feeling overwhelmed or battling with
anxiety or depression, to find something that they're good at
and lean on those around them to talk about what they're feeling.
KJ Apa
KJ has admitted that he doesn't really like talking about the fame that has come hand
in hand with his role of Archie Andrews. He says that life under the harsh light
of Hollywood shouldn't change who you are or your character unless you allow it to.
He credits his strength and sanity throughout his new introduction to fame to his belief as
a Christian and his relationship to God. He remains very spiritual
and makes sure to always prioritize his relationship with his family and friends
Mental health is always a touchy subject for many people, and it's often avoided in conversation
because people don't want to admit that they're going through a tough time.
We have to say that we are so proud of the Riverdale cast for starting so many
conversations about mental health and self-care. It's always important to take care of yourself,
and there is no shame in experiencing any form of depression and anxiety. Remember that you're
never alone and if these celebs can talk about it and get the help that they need, so can you!