I’m really glad I was never a child star. There’s the wonderful time as a child when everyone seems to love you, followed by a show cancelation or worse, puberty. Suddenly, the whole bottom falls out and you’re left self medicating.
I first realized the reality of this while driving through part of Las Vegas with a friend years ago. As we passed a dry cleaners, my friend pointed it out and said “That’s where Dana Plato got arrested!” He was pretty excited about it, but seeing the actual place a child star got cuffed was pretty sobering.
Now Jodie Sweetin, who played Stephanie Tanner on Full House, has admitted to doing meth. Meth is apparently the new cocaine for celebrities, so that isn’t too surprising. What is surprising is that her (soon to be ex) husband is a cop.
I mean, how does one go out and (presumably) arrest meth addicts and not realize one is sleeping next to them? Of course, addicts become very skilled at hiding difficulties, but I have to wonder.
The other surreal item is that John Stamos, Bob Saget and the Olsen twins allegedly staged an intervention for her. What’s even more incredible is that it was effective. I just can’t imagine Mary-Kate and Ashley convincing someone to step into rehab. Then again, they’ve convinced millions of tweens to buy anything with their faces on it, so I may be missing the female element to their powers of persuasion.
I’m pained to make cracks about this, I really am, but every time I want to, I just picture that dry cleaners and the painful reality of what’s going on.