I had an eating disorder and the world kept telling me how much better I looked: Ke$ha

Singer wants to remind fans they’re not alone in the fight against mental health

Ke$ha’s very name seems to have become synonymous with her legal battle against Hollywood music producer Dr Luke.

Mention it to anyone in recent months and you’ll have heard of the ongoing case as a part of which, the singer has sued the latter for emotional and sexual abuse. Dr Luke has, unfortunately, counter-sued Ke$sha for defamation and things have been pretty tough for the 30-year-old ever since she filed the law suit back in 2014.



But while the stress and prejudice Ke$ha has received from the public for speaking against her abuser would have most people hiding away from additional attention, the Tik Tok hit-maker has done quite the opposite. She has, somehow, found the courage to talk about her struggles with eating disorders to help others realise they’re not alone, reports Elle magazine.

In a statement to mark National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Ke$ha revealed, “Eating disorders are a life-threatening illness that can affect anyone. It doesn't matter what your age, your sex, your ethnicity are. Eating disorders don't discriminate.”

The singer also posted an image on her Twitter page, accompanied by a quote about her own issues with body confidence and eating disorders. “I had an eating disorder that threatened my life and I was very afraid to confront it. I got sicker, and the whole world kept telling me how much better I looked. That's why I realised I wanted to be part of the solution,” its caption read.

This, however, is not the first time the star has spoken out about seeking treatment for her mental health. In 2014, Ke$ha wrote an op-ed letter about her fears while getting treatment at a Chicago-area rehabilitation centre and how she ultimately found acceptance of herself. “That first day at the treatment center was the scariest of my life. The music industry has set unrealistic expectations for what a body is supposed to look like and I started becoming overly critical of my own body because of that,” she wrote. “I felt like people were always lurking, trying to take pictures of me with the intention of putting them up online or printing them in magazines and making me look terrible. I became scared to go in public, or even use the Internet. I may have been paranoid but I also saw and heard enough hateful things to fuel that paranoia.”



According to Ke$sha, the two months spent in rehab made her feel stronger and reminded her of who she is. It was this message that helped her win the Trailblazer award at the Billboard Music Awards last year and gave her the platform to speak about body image and shaming.

“I've decided to stay confident in my ever-changing, totally imperfect body,” Ke$ha said. “Thank you so much for reminding me that what I'm doing is worth it. If I can't give up, then neither can anyone else with big dreams,” she added.

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