What up, Hollywooders! It’s Good in the ‘Wood Wednesdays, and here’s what’s Hollygood today:
Yesterday, Demi Lovato announced the premiere of her YouTube docuseries Dancing with the Devil. The first and second episodes of Demi Lovato’s documentary are available to watch now.
Here are the heartfelt words she shared alongside her announcement tweet:
#DemiDWTD episodes 1+2 are available now to stream on @YouTube. I will let these 2 episodes do the talking than try to put it all into words for this tweet. ?? https://t.co/t1vV0avidq pic.twitter.com/rdxqGt0Tx2
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) March 23, 2021
Also, can we take a moment to appreciate this LEWK Demi Lovato served at her documentary premiere?!
She danced with the devil and she’s back, better than ever!
Demi Lovato opens up about her darkest moments…so why is this considered good news?
We get it. Demi Lovato’s documentary is not a light or feel-good watch, but it’s not all bad.
A celebrity brave enough to open up about her darkest moments–– drug abuse, an eating disorder, and mental health struggles––is relatable for others going through the same thing. It’s a reminder that you are not alone if you have similar struggles. It’s a reminder that you are not alone if you have a family or friend who has similar struggles. It’s a reminder to get help when you need it.
Demi Lovato’s story is not unique, and we’re all so lucky that she got help before it was too late. That’s why her documentary is good news to us.
We have lost countless Hollywood celebrities to drug abuse: Juice WRLD died of a drug overdose at just 21 in 2019 after taking too many Percocet pills; Mac Miller died in 2018 at just 26 years old due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol. We lost Lil Peep in 2017 at just 21 due to an overdose of fentanyl and Xanax. Tom Petty overdosed in 2017; Prince overdosed in 2017; Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joan Rivers both passed away in 2014 due to drugs in their system. Whitney Houston in 2012 drowned and was found to have a mix of drugs in her system; we lost Amy Winehouse in 2011 due to fatal alcohol poisoning; the list goes on and on.
So, what is Demi Lovato’s documentary about?
The first episode includes unreleased footage filmed in 2018 prior to Demi Lovato’s overdose in July. “I was allowing the cameras to see the tip of the iceberg,” Demi Lovato says.
The songstress opens up about how her own father struggled with drug abuse. We also get to hear from her friends and family about what it was like at the time. It turns out, Demi Lovato is pretty good at hiding what’s going on from not just her loved ones, but from herself, too.
“Anytime you suppress a part of yourself, it’s gonna like overflow at some point,” says Demi Lovato. “And that’s ultimately like what happened to me in a lot of areas of my life and it’s what led to my overdose for sure.”
Can anyone else relate to suppressing things just to put on a pretty face and get on with life? *raises hand*
Like many of us, more time spent at home due to coronavirus gave Demi Lovato time to face her own demons and work on healing.
“It’s interesting that it took me a quarantine to work on this trauma stuff,” Demi Lovato says. “I have never really taken the time to dig deep and do the work on.”
We all need to take time to really look within and do the work to heal ourselves and process past traumas. It’s not easy, but Demi Lovato is proof that it’s worth it.
The second episode uses sketches to reenact what it was like when Demi Lovato’s former assistant Jordan Jackson discovered Demi Lovato that morning.
Me during episode 2 of Dancing with the Devil:#DemiDWTD pic.twitter.com/E493ajpGy7
— Dr. K (@DoctorKC2016) March 23, 2021
Accurate.
It’s hard to watch, but again, it highlights how important it is to share these stories and remove the stigma around drug addiction and mental health.
Overall, after watching the first two episodes, I feel emotional but also really inspired that Demi Lovato was brave enough to open up about all of this. It takes a lot of courage to do what she’s doing.
In a tribute to Dancing with the Devil director Michael D. Ratner, she says “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for helping me share my story in the most honest, transparent, tasteful way possible.”
We agree. It’s honest, transparent, and tasteful. It feels so real and intimate. It also shows that Hollywood is evolving to be more sensitive to things like this in a way that hopefully prevents future overdoses for both celebrities and the people influenced by celebrities.
Demi Lovato has always been one to open up about struggles, using her low moments to connect with fans. It has always brought her success, and we know that Demi Lovato’s documentary will only bring her more success in the future.
“I think that when the universe shuts one door, it opens another or there’s a window to open. It just depends on your perspective and how you choose to look at it,” Demi Lovato says in an interview with Christopher Rosa for Glamour.
Lovatics react to Dancing with the Devil
Here’s what Demi Lovato fans are saying after watching the first two episodes:
Lovatics with Demi after watch #DWTD #DemiDWTD pic.twitter.com/2tmhW4OqF1
— Scarlett? (@vintagebx) March 23, 2021
So many feelings.
Watching this scene made me cry bc I have little siblings & I just can’t imagine not being able to see them or recognize them. I just want to say that Addiction is real, a lot of ppl struggle from it so WE need to take it seriously, help ppl instead of criticizing them. #DemiDWTD pic.twitter.com/puUAxhf07F
— Celia? (@StanRealMusic) March 23, 2021
PREACH.
the way demi is so open with her struggles from the past and that alone shows exactly how strong she is… she really choose to share her story with hopes of helping ppl with the same struggles #DemiDWTD
— seray ? (@scottrauhls) March 23, 2021
Thank you Demi ?
Everyone say “thank you Jordan” #DemiDWTD
— Jake (@JakeConcentrate) March 23, 2021
Thank you Jordan!!
#DemiDWTD is very hard to watch. It’s hard to watch someone you’re a fan of go through what we don’t see until it’s meant for us to see it. Demi, you are a warrior. You’re strong, and you are inspirational. You sharing your story is going to help many to know they aren’t alone.?
— Nicholas Liddle (@NLiddle16) March 24, 2021
A true warrior.
dancing with the devil diaries might be my favorite thing demi has ever done we got to see her go through her own thought process and it was just so intimate and personal. she’s so honest with us we are lucky
— ˗ˏˋ ?????? ˎˊ˗ (@hoIydemi) March 24, 2021
We are SO lucky.
Demi reminds us all that it’s okay to ask for help.
Demi Lovato’s Dancing with the Devil documentary series brings up her struggles with eating disorders and mental health, and how it’s okay to ask for help when you need it.
For that reason, we’re sharing some resources in case you or someone you know is also struggling. These are the same resources shared in both episodes of the YouTube docuseries. Please keep this in mind if you decide to watch.
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) helpline
1-800-931-2237 (they also offer click-to-chat messaging)
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
SAMHSA Hotline for individuals and family members facing mental health and/or substance use disorders
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
If you need immediate support, please reach out to your local crisis text line:
USA: Text HOME to 741741
UK: Text SHOUT to 85258
Canada: Text CONNECT to 686868 or 741741
Much love to you from all of us at Hollywood.com <3 You are not alone!
Here’s some HollyGOOD news: new Demi Lovato songs are headed our way
Demi Lovato’s new album, Dancing with the Devil: The Art of Starting Over will be released April 2 and we CAN’T WAIT!
Dancing With The Devil The Art Of Starting Over
??? ? #DWTDTAOSO
Album out April 2!Pre-save it here: https://t.co/nfMs1VXHjH pic.twitter.com/jqzqAG96ht
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) March 16, 2021
We love the use of the butterfly in the album artwork. It feels symbolic of Demi’s evolution that we all have had the privilege to watch over the years, from young Demi Lovato to Demi Lovato now in 2021.
Demi has teased on Instagram that Ariana Grande, Noah Cyrus, Saweetie, and Sam Fischer will all be featured on tracks.
In a comment on an Instagram post teaser, Sam Fischer says “u’ve changed my life & given me wings & I’m forever honored to fly alongside you!! love u dude, let’s goooo!!! ??” Ariana Grande commented on her teaser post simply with “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Honestly, that’s how we all feel as we wait for Demi Lovato’s new album!!!!!!!!
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