March 29, 2016
Fat-Shaming Meme Sparks Wentworth Miller to Open Up About Suicide
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
"Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller posted an open letter to his Facebook Monday night after finding himself the subject of a fat-shaming meme.
The meme shows a picture of a buff Miller along side a pic of the actor from 2010, where he is wearing a red T-shirt and is a little larger. The caption reads: "When you break out of prison and find out about McDonald's monopoly..."
Miller, who is openly gay, got frank in his Facebook post, and opened up about being suicidal.
"Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time," he wrote. "This one, however, stands out from the rest. In 2010, semi-retired from acting, I was keeping a low-profile for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I was suicidal.
"I've struggled with depression since childhood. It's a battle that's cost me time, opportunities, relationships, and a thousand sleepless nights," Miller, 43, continued. "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. And I put on weight. Big f--king deal."
The actor remembers when the snap was taken, writing that he and his friend were on a hike in 2010 when a group of paparazzi came upon them.
"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," he wrote. "In 2010, fighting for my mental health, it was the last thing I needed."
He said it "hurt to breathe" when he saw the meme pop up on social media, adding, "But as with everything in life, I get to assign meaning. And the meaning I assign to this/my image is Strength. Healing. Forgiveness. Of myself and others. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Reach out. Text. Send an email. Pick up the phone. Someone cares. They're waiting to hear from you."
According to Vanity Fair, the meme has been taken down by the original account that posted it, The Lad Bible.
Check out Miller's full post below.
