‘Prison Break’ actor mocked for ‘getting fat’ confesses reason for weight gain which should shame critics

When Wentworth Miller finished filming Prison Break in 2009 he was one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood.  Yet, by the next year he had semi-retired from acting, and was the subject of horrible ridicule when pictures surfaced showing that the actor had put on weight.  Memes of the actor circulated the internet mocking him for “getting fat.”

But now, six years later, Miller is speaking out about the reason for his weight gain.  In a Facebook post on Monday, he responded to a particularly harsh internet meme directed at his weight:

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. As so many do. The extent of my struggle known to very, very few.

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.

I’ve struggled with depression since childhood. It’s a battle that’s cost me time, opportunities, relationships, and a thousand sleepless nights.

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. Count on to get me through. There were stretches when the highlight of my week was a favorite meal and a new episode of TOP CHEF. Sometimes that was enough. Had to be.

And I put on weight. Big f–king deal.

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.

My mother has one of those “friends” who’s always the first to bring you bad news. They clipped one of these articles from a popular national magazine and mailed it to her. She called me, concerned.

In 2010, fighting for my mental health, it was the last thing I needed.

Miller goes on to explain that although seeing the pictures and the comments was hard, it has made him stronger and he has fought to overcome his haters. He wrote:

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. Some within. Some without.

I love his attitude and the hope he is giving to millions who silently struggle with mental illness, only to be mocked and misunderstood by the world around them.

I hope Miller’s confession is a wake-up call to all those who incessantly made fun of him.  You never know what a person is going through and just how deadly your words can be.  For a culture that claims to be so tolerant and loving, it is so often just the opposite.  It is easy to be cruel hiding behind a computer screen, but lets not take the easy way out.  Lets try to give each other the benefit of the doubt, and realize we are all struggling in one way or another.

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