JoJo Siwa recounts her ‘vulnerable’ childhood in Demi Lovato’s new documentary Child Star

Due to release in September, the documentary will explore the highs and lows of childhood fame

4 months ago

Former Disney icon, Demi Lovato, is making her debut as a director with a new documentary about the highs and lows of being a child star.

Fittingly named Child Star, the production will hear stories from the likes of JoJo Siwa, Drew Barrymore and explore their experiences of being in the limelight during their childhoods.

Set to be released in September this year, the 90 minute documentary will focus on the wild rollercoaster of ups and downs navigated by young stars, and pressures placed on child celebrities as a consequence of rising to fame at such an early age.

Here’s all of the juicy details that we know about the new documentary from Demi Lovato so far.

Child Star is about growing up under the spotlight

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According to the Hollywood Reporter, Demi’s Child Star documentary “examines the high highs and low lows of growing up in [the] spotlight”, incorporating “intimate” yet “heart-breaking” conversations with fellow child stars to take viewers on a deep dive into the pressures and challenges faced by young stars in the entertainment industry today.

In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Demi said: “I’m so proud to make my directorial debut with this documentary that sheds light on the complexities of child stardom, a topic that is very close to my heart. I want to thank our cast for being so vulnerable with their stories and our contributors for sharing their knowledge to help push the conversation forward.”

The documentary will feature Drew Barrymore, JoJo Siwa and other child stars

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A post shared by JoJo Siwa (@itsjojosiwa)

To take viewers on a deep dive into the gruelling realities of dizzying fame and the demands of the entertainment industry at such a young age, Demi’s upcoming documentary boasts a star-studded line-up of former child stars like herself.

Celebrities taking part in the documentary include Drew Barrymore, who starred in her breakout role in E.T. at age seven, JoJo Siwa, dancer turned singer, actress and reality star who made her debut on the reality series Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition at aged nine and who has recently broken out into a new genre of music. It seems like JoJo is the perfect celeb to interview for this project, having grown up in the spotlight and only recently reaching adulthood.

Demi will also interview Raven-Symone, an actress who played Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show at the age of just three.

Other former child stars taking part in Demi’s docu include Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, and Demi’s fellow Camp Rock costar, Alyson Stoner.

Netflix director Nicola Marsh is co-directing the documentary

Demi’s co-director for Child Star is Nicola Marsh, the director of the Netflix’s Stay On Board: The Leo Baker Story. Nicola has previously shared her excitement for viewers to take a sneak peek into the gruelling realities for child stars behind the glamorous mask of fame.

“It was a real peek of what it was like to handle meteoric fame in childhood and all the pressures that come along with that. It looks so fun and glamorous on the outside but actually it’s really challenging to be forming your identity as a kid while also commodifying yourself,” she said.

Demi’s documentuary is produced by Michael D. Ratner, who directed and produced Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil (2021).

Demi hopes to shed light on challenges experienced by child stars

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A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato)

Through her Child Star documentary, Demi hopes that “viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and pressures faced by young people in the industry so we can achieve our goal of creating a safer and more supportive environment for future generations young talents in entertainment, social media and beyond.”

She told The Hollywood Reporter: “I’m so proud to make my directorial debut with this documentary that sheds light on the complexities of child stardom, a topic that is very close to my heart.

“I want to thank our cast for being so vulnerable with their stories and our contributors for sharing their knowledge to help push the conversation forward. I hope viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and pressures faced by young people in the industry so we can achieve our goal of creating a safer and more supportive environment for future generations young talents in entertainment, social media and beyond.”