Wentworth Miller Suicidal: Actor Pens Open Letter Following Mean Meme
Wentworth Miller has struggled with suicidal feelings in the past. The Legends of Tomorrow actor made it known in an open letter after a body-shaming meme went viral.
(At the time of this writing, the letter on Facebook has been shared more than 176,000 times. It has over 67,000 comments.)
According to USA Today, the mean Facebook meme compares an ultra-slim photo of Miller in Prison Break to a snapshot taken several years later, in 2010. The caption reads, “When you break out of prison and find out about McDonald’s monopoly.”
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Wentworth Miller Slams Meme Mocking… https://t.co/mThl60yOdZ pic.twitter.com/kIHLVXNGHC
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 29, 2016
Wentworth Miller had no qualms re-posting the hateful meme, along with an open letter to all of the “haters” out there. He explained that when the 2010 photo was taken, he was dealing with issues related to his mental health.
“First and foremost, I was suicidal. 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.”
At that time, the actor’s favorite form of self-destruction was eating, which he did several times a day. As a result, he put on weight. In reference to the supposedly “unfit” photo of himself, he stated.
“One day, out for a hike in Los Angeles with a friend, we crossed paths with a film crew shooting a reality show. 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.”
Wentworth Miller is, for the most part, pleased with the feedback the letter is generating. The responses he’s received are generally positive.
This isn’t the first time Miller’s spoken out about suicidal thoughts. He did so back in 2013, when he made the decision to tell fans he’s gay.
E! Online indicates after the original paparazzi picture surfaced, Wentworth’s mother called him, very concerned about his overall health and mental well-being.
Wentworth Miller was very candid, in a recent Salon interview, telling readers he’s attempted suicide in the past. He related the fact that, as a gay teenager, he was a target. At the age of 15, when his family was away for the weekend, he swallowed an entire bottle of pills.
He doesn’t indicate who, if anyone, found him or if he received medical care after the incident. But, thankfully he survived the unfortunate attempt and went on to become the successful actor and director he is today.
'Prison Break' star Wentworth Miller responds to body-shaming: 'I was suicidal' https://t.co/9gkS01UCmo pic.twitter.com/7Ev98hGjUG
— CNN (@CNN) March 29, 2016
Obviously, he survived the hateful photo, just like he’ll survive the new meme. Miller says looking at the man in the red shirt reminds him of his struggle. It also reminds him of his perseverance, when it comes to fighting off demons. He explains it this way.
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, forgiveness. Of myself and others.”
At the conclusion of his open letter, Wentworth Miller reached out to the individuals who are dealing with struggles of their own. He reminded them there is help readily available, 24/7. This is especially true with suicidal issues. Whether they call, email, or text, the most important thing is to reach out for assistance.
If you or someone you know is in need of help, don’t hesitate to contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
In other Wentworth Miller news, as recently reported by Inquisitr, Prison Break fans will be happy to learn the actor is returning to the show. Several spoilers are circulating in Cyberspace, which give viewers an idea of what to expect.
About the mean meme. Do you think Wentworth Miller did the right thing, in regard to penning his heartfelt open letter to the world? He could’ve just as easily chalked it up to human spitefulness. Feel free to share your opinion below.
[Photo by Kiyoshi Ota / Getty Images]
