Wentworth Miller Recalls Suicidal Past in Empowering Response to Fat-Shaming Meme: ‘I Was Suicidal'

Miller shared that after seeing the paparazzi photo, his mother called him, concerned about his health and well-being.

Memes are a dime a dozen these days, but while some make us chuckle, others may leave a bad taste in our mouths.

"Prison Break" and "Legends of Tomorrow" star Wentworth Miller felt the latter Monday when flipping through social media and stumbling on a side-by-side shot of him, comparing his early days in Hollywood to a paparazzi shot taken of him in 2010.

The 42-year-old actor took to Facebook to share his reaction with the world, saying, "Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time. 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. This is a subject I've since written about, spoken about, shared about. But at the time I suffered in silence." [[373862641,C]]

The actor continued, "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...And I put on weight. Big f---ing deal."

Miller shared that after seeing the paparazzi photo, his mother called him, concerned about his health and well-being.

"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...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."

Miller concluded with one poignant note to those who either know or are struggling themselves: "Help is available. Reach out. Text. Send an email. Pick up the phone. Someone cares. They're waiting to hear from you."

Officials with the LAD Bible page – where the image was posted – apologized to Miller in another Facebook post, writing "we want to say we've got this very, very wrong. Mental health is no joke or laughing matter."

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). [[238904721,C]]

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