"I Hated My Body": Penn Badgley’s Candid Confession Spotlights Body Dysmorphia Epidemic Among Youth
Hollywood actor Penn Badgley’s recent disclosure about his struggle with body dysmorphia has resonated widely, igniting crucial conversations about mental health, celebrity culture, and the influence of media on self-image both in the West and here in Thailand. In a heartfelt interview with The Guardian, Badgley—best known for his roles in “Gossip Girl” and “You”—shared, “I know that I hated my body and simply wanted a different one…I was jumping wilfully into, but also being thrust into, this world where the more conventionally beautiful I seemed, the more successful I might be, the more value I might have” (The Guardian). His frank admission has sparked international attention, highlighting the often-hidden torment experienced by people living with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and underscoring the urgent need for public awareness and intervention—especially in visually oriented societies.