
From Shania Twain to Justin Bieber: All the celebrities you didn’t know had Lyme disease
One star says she spends most days in ‘excruciating’ pain as a result of the illness
When Justin Timberlake recently revealed his Lyme disease diagnosis, it sent shockwaves through fans and reignited discussion about the illness.
The US singer announced via Instagram the “relentlessly debilitating” symptoms he faces, after considering stopping his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour early, but ultimately deciding to carry on.
Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by ticks, can have long-lasting impacts for some people, including severe fatigue and aches that persist for years after treatment. Although the illness is rarely fatal, with most individuals recovering if treated quickly with antibiotics, the condition is becoming more common, with a number of celebrities catching Lyme disease too.
With diagnoses on the rise, here are all the celebrities you didn’t know had also gone public about their battle with Lyme disease.
Justin Bieber
Announcing his diagnosis on Instagram back in 2020, Justin Bieber’s post detailed the “rough couple years” he’d suffered through as a result of multiple health complications. The Canadian pop singer addressed speculation he had a drug problem, after photographs circulated with blotches on his skin.
Justin said those making the speculations had “failed to realise I’ve been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health”.
Bella Hadid
Out of all the celebrities with Lyme disease, Bella Hadid was first diagnosed with the infection in 2012, and has said she now spends most days suffering from”excruciating” pain as a result of the condition. In an interview with Vogue, the supermodel explained that having a shower and making herself breakfast can be seen as an “accomplishment” because of her daily battle with symptoms.
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She suffers from headaches, joint pain, thyroid dysfunction and sensitivity to light and noise, among others. Bella’s younger brother Anwar Hadid, and mother Yolanda Hadid, have all said they also suffer with the disease.
Amy Schumer
In September 2020, Amy Schumer announced on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. The US actress and comedian looked to her followers for advice, asking whether she can “have a glass of wine or two on it”, whilst adding that she knows “to stay out of the sun”. The post said her treatment involved doxycyline, an antiobitic for treating bacterial infections, as well as herbal supplements.
In an upbeat tone characteristic of the stand-up comedian, Amy rounded the caption off by explaining she felt “good” and was “excited to get rid of it.
Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne opened up about her Lyme disease diagnosis back in 2015, saying it had taken months for specialists to work out what was causing her symptoms. According to The Independent, the pop singer also published a letter to fans on her website describing her battle with the disease as “the worst years of [her] life”.
Avril said the experience was like “drowning” and she could feel her “body shutting down”. An advocate for increasing awareness about the illness, the 40 year old also launched the Avril Lavigne Foundation, which supports individuals living with the infection through treatment grants and programmes.
Ren
Welsh rapper Ren, whose full name is Ren Erin Gill, has battled numerous chronic illnesses, including a relapse of Lyme disease last year that led to him being hospitalised. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, the artist recalled how, “for years and years, [he] was so sick, [he] couldn’t get out of bed.”
After being repeatedly misdiagnosed by doctors, Ren was forced to suspend his music career, until receiving an accurate diagnosis in 2015. However, the illness had been contracted for so long that it’s left him with ongoing autoimmune conditions.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain contracted Lyme disease in 2003 after a tick bit her whilst she was out horse riding. The country singer opened up about the significant health complications that followed in her Netflix documentary, Not Just a Girl. In the prime of her career when she received the diagnosis, symptoms included nerve damage to her vocal cords.
In the documentary, Shania spoke of how her voice was “never the same again”, amidst fears that she would have to give up performing altogether. Speaking to Today, the star, who has now recovered, said although her vocal cords have been permanently altered, she’s happy to have “found a new voice”.
Miranda Hart
Miranda Hart revealed her struggles with Lyme disease in her book last year, titled I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You. The comedian experienced chronic fatigue and was bed and housebound, after a long period of feeling unwell but being unsure of the cause. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Miranda reflected on finally receiving her diagnosis: “Probably when I was about 14 or 15, I got a tick-borne illness… and that’s when my symptoms started.
“It was such a relief [to be diagnosed]. I mean, being misunderstood and misjudged is one of the hardest things about these kind of conditions. For sure,” she added.
Justin Timberlake
During Justin’s recent The Forget Tomorrow World Tour, fans accused the singer of “lazy” performances and being “in a rut.” However, those people soon apologised after the Grammy winner revealed his battle with Lyme disease via an Instagram Story. Writing about the diagnosis, he said: “Living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically. When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”
After a difficult decision as to whether to pull out or carry on with the tour, Justin said he proved his “mental tenacity” by seeing it through.
Featured image via @lilbieber/@bellahadid/@shaniatwain on Instagram