Olivia Rodrigo appeared out of the Disney apparatus and into the music industry after releasing her critically acclaimed debut album Sour at just 18-years-old. But now that she’s a success, pop star and ex-Disney player Selena Gomez lent her some sage advice on how to deal with the realities of being a star.
Unlike her predecessors, Sour didn’t follow the usual formula of a ex-Disney star making music for the sake of Disney, but rather an expression of teenage angst and heartbreak. In a recent interview with Rodrigo, she recollects what Selena Gomez told her about the intricacies involved with rising to fame and what effect that can have on one’s mental health.
“I met Selena, and she was so kind,” Olivia said in the interview. “She talked to me a lot about prioritizing mental health, which I think is really important in this industry. All of us were in the limelight very young. … That can be taxing on your psyche and can bring about all these weird issues.”
It’s no surprise to anyone anymore that the topic of mental health was severely ignored when it came to young Disney and ex-Disney stars alike; people like Demi Lovato have made it a point to reveal her truth as a way of paving the path forward and making space for others to come out about their experiences. It’s refreshing to see the past generation passing on what they’ve learned to the new generation, as to avoid what they had to deal with.
Earlier this year, Gomez unveiled a project known as Mental Health 101,”a wellness initiative that aims to provide resources and empowerment to young people experiencing mental health struggles.” This came after Gomez revealed her bipolar disorder diagnosis during Miley Cyrus’ Instagram Live series.
Rodrigo also thanks the likes of none other than Taylor Swift, who apparently wrote her a letter congratulating her on her success. “It’s so nice to be welcomed into the music industry and so great to be supportive of other women,” Olivia said. “She wrote me a letter a while ago, and she wrote something about how you make your own luck in the world, and how you treat other people always comes back to you.”
