Newsmatro
LOS ANGELES- In anticipation of the release of her memoir, “Thicker Than Water,” actress Kerry Washington opened up about her personal battles in a candid interview with “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts. The one-hour “20/20” special, set to air on Sunday, delves into Washington’s intimate journey, including her struggles with an eating disorder that led to suicidal thoughts, as well as a revelation about her biological parentage.
The 46-year-old “Scandal” star emphasized that her decision to share these deeply personal experiences wasn’t driven by a desire for fame or attention but rather by a sense of purpose.
“By the time I got to college, my relationship with food and my body had become a toxic cycle of self-abuse that utilized the tools of starvation, binge eating, body obsession, and compulsive exercise,” Washington revealed in her memoir, according to “Good Morning America.”
During the interview, Washington recounted the pivotal moment when she realized her battle with disordered eating had spiraled out of control.
“The first time that I actually got on my knees and prayed to some power greater than myself to say like, ‘I can’t do this. I need some help,’ was with my eating disorder,” Washington disclosed. She acknowledged her proficiency at appearing perfect and maintaining control in other aspects of her life, even while grappling with her eating disorder.
Although she functioned at a high level, Washington said her complicated relationship with food “took me out.” She described experiencing body dysmorphia and a profound sense of body hatred that felt beyond her control. These feelings ultimately led her to seek help and confront the possibility that she might not want to continue living due to the intense emotional pain.
In response to Robin Roberts’ question about whether she had contemplated suicide, Washington answered, “Yeah.”
“The behavior was tiny, little acts of trying to destroy myself,” she added.
In a separate interview with People magazine, Washington shared another revelation from her memoir: the discovery that her father, Earl Washington, is not her biological father. This revelation significantly impacted her understanding of her identity.
When she informed her parents about her intention to appear on Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s “Finding Your Roots” on PBS, a show where celebrities explore their ancestry through DNA testing, she learned the truth.
“When I got this information, I was like, ‘Oh. I now know my story,'” Washington said. “I didn’t know what my story was, but I was playing the supporting character in their story.”
In light of her disclosure about her struggles, Kerry Washington’s openness may serve as a source of inspiration and support for others dealing with similar challenges. For those facing eating disorders, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) can be reached at 1-800-931-2237 or through NationalEatingDisorders.org. Additionally, if you or someone you know is grappling with thoughts of suicide, free and confidential help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the national lifeline at 988.