Early Sunday morning, Amanda Bynes, the former child star, was discovered walking without clothing near downtown Los Angeles. Bynes flagged down a car and informed the driver that she was experiencing a psychotic episode. Later, Bynes herself contacted 911. Medical professionals determined that Bynes required a 5150 psych hold, and she was placed in a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Bynes has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder since 2013, when her mother became her conservator. In 2013, Bynes had set fire to her neighbor’s driveway and was subsequently admitted to a psychiatric ward for treatment. Her conservatorship lasted nine years before being terminated one year ago. Bynes seemed to be thriving after the conservatorship, but the recent incident raises questions about her well-being.
Longtime attorney for Bynes has refused to comment on the matter, and sources close to the situation confirm that the star has not been in contact with her family for quite some time. In 2018, Bynes had disclosed her substance misuse and being in a “dark” place in a Paper magazine interview. However, she has been sober for nearly four years now, crediting her parents for helping her “get back on track.”
The recent incident marks Bynes’ first public struggle since the end of her conservatorship. At the time, a Ventura Superior Court judge terminated Bynes’ conservatorship after her petition to dissolve the arrangement was supported by her parents. Her conservatorship of the estate had ended in 2017. According to court documents filed in 2022 by Bynes’ attorney, she has been living in a “structured community for women” since 2022.
Amanda Bynes is not the only former child star from Nickelodeon to have faced personal difficulties after leaving the network. Others, such as Drake Bell, Matthew Underwood, and Jennette McCurdy, have also faced challenges. Bell was charged with DUI and sexual assault on a minor, Underwood was arrested for drug possession and engaging with a minor, and McCurdy wrote about her traumatic experiences and discomfort with showrunner Dan Schneider in a memoir. Schneider’s contract with Nickelodeon ended in 2018 after an internal investigation found misconduct by him.
In conclusion, Amanda Bynes’ recent incident and struggles with mental illness highlights the challenges that former child stars face after leaving the limelight. Although she had been thriving after the end of her conservatorship, the incident raises questions about her well-being, and it is crucial to provide resources and support for individuals dealing with mental illness.
