Keanu Reeves, and Jennifer Lawrence, which can be lighthearted and so amusing that even the celebrity subject approves. But occasionally the Internet crosses a line in its attempt to find wit by Photo shopping some celebrity image.
Such was the case on Monday when Prison Break star Wentworth Miller found himself the subject of one such meme, which seemed to be more straight-up body shaming than good-spirited goofing. Courageously, the actor took to his Facebook account on Monday to pen a frank response to the insensitive mems .Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time .This one, however, stands out from the rets .In 2010, semi-retired from acting, I was keeping a low
profile for a number of reason .First and foremost, I was suicida .This is a subject I've since written about, spoken about, shared about But at the time I suffered in silence. As so many do. The extent of my struggle known to very, very few.
Ashamed and in pain, I considered myself damaged goods. Ashamed and in pain, I considered myself damaged goods. And the voices in my head urged me down the path to self-destruction. Not for the first time .I've struggled with depression since childhood. It's a battle that's cost me time, opportunities, relationships, and a thousand sleepless nights.
In 2010, at the lowest point in my adult life, I was looking everywhere for relief/comfort/distraction. And I turned to food. It could have been anything. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. But eating became the one thing I could look forward to. Count on to get me through. There were stretches when the highlight of my week was a favorite meal and a new episode of TOP CHEF. Sometimes that was enough. Had to be .And I put on weight. Big f king deal .Unbeknownst to me, paparazzi were circling. They took my picture, and the photos were published alongside images of me from another time in my career. Hunk To Chunk. Fit To Flab. Etc.
My mother has one of those friends who's always the first to bring you bad news. They clipped one of these articles from a popular national magazine and mailed it to her. She called me, concerned .In 2010, fighting for my mental health, it was the last thing I needed Long story short, I survived .So do those pictures .I'm glad .Now, when I see that image of me in my red t-shirt, a rare smile on my face, I am reminded of my struggle. My endurance and my perseverance in the face of all kinds of demons. Some within. Some without .Anyway. Still. Despite.
The first time I saw this meme pop up in my social media feed, I have to admit, it hurt to breathe. But as with everything in life, I get to assign meaning. And the meaning I assign to this/my image is Strength. Healing. Forgivenes Of myself and other seIf you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Reach out. Text. Send an email. Pick up the phone. Someone cares. They are waiting to hear from you. Much love. - W.M. koalas inneractivist prisonbroken
The actor came out as gay in 2013, after declining an invitation to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival because of the country anti gay laws. In a speech The actor came out as gay in 2013, after declining an invitation to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival because of the country anti-gay laws. In a speech the same year, at the Human Rights Campaign Seattle Gala, the actor admitted, Growing up I was a target. Speaking the right way, standing the right way, holding your wrist the right way. Every day was a test and there were a thousand ways to fail, a thousand ways to betray yourself, to not live up to someone else’s standards of what was accepted, of what was normal.”
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