Alan Ritchson, the star of Reacher, has opened up about a traumatic mental breakdown and sexual assault in the modelling profession.
The 41-year-old Amazon Prime actor admitted to attempting suicide when a business failed, leaving him’really miserable.’
‘I was reeling from the fallout and the fatigue, and it got to the point where I was stuck in bed for weeks,’ he said.
‘My wife and kids were concerned, and I could see confusion in their eyes. Nobody knew what was wrong.’
He stated that his depression worsened over time, and that in 2019, he tried suicide.
Ritchson claimed that a vision of his three boys with wife Cat, who are now eight, ten, and eleven years old and in their thirties, rescued him.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘They calmly asked me not to do it, and told me that they wanted me to be here, alive and part of their lives.’
At 36 years old, the Hunger Games star was diagnosed with bipolar illness and began therapy soon after.
According to the NHS, bipolar disorder is a mental health illness that affects your moods and can swing from one extreme to another.
Ritchson now says that mental health is a ‘every discussion’ for him, and he sees a psychiatrist every day.
In the wide-ranging conversation, Ritchson also discussed the worst points of his modelling career.
The Smallville actor said: ‘There are very few redeeming qualities to working in that industry. Let’s be honest, it’s like legalised sex trafficking.
‘The number of times and situations where I was put in horrific environments where sexual abuse was the goal and the paycheck that you were desperate for in order to survive was the carrot, I can’t count on two hands. It was quite often.’
Ritchson said he was sexually assaulted by a ‘very famous photographer’ and quit the industry immediately afterward.
‘It was the last photoshoot I’ve ever had,’ Ritchson said.
‘Those pictures were never seen or published. That was it. I swore it off and thank God acting found me at the exact same time so I was able to make a switch to a new career, but it left some scars.’
Ritchson made his cinematic debut in the horror thriller The Butcher in 2006. He then appeared in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as District 1 victor and returning tribute Gloss, seven years later.
He portrayed Aquaman in Smallville and has appeared in Blue Mountain State, New Girl, 90210, CSI: Miami, Black Mirror, Fast X, and Supergirl.
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
Reacher is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Source My Celebrity Life.