‘Summer House’ Reunion: KJ Dillard Was…
Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty
Content warning: This article accommodates point out of self-harm.
Part 1 of the Summer House Season 10 reunion didn’t just characteristic Ciara effortlessly eviscerating Amanda over West; it also delivered an emotional and deeply susceptible second from star KJ Dillard, who made historical past as the first Black man to be part of the Bravo franchise.
During Tuesday’s reunion particular, KJ opened up to Bravo government Andy Cohen about the close bond he shaped with co-stars Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese, revealing how they supported him through what he described as a “heavy” period for his mental health last fall after the season wrapped.
Throughout the season, Dillard had been candid about his struggles with anxiety.
“I actually had to go to the hospital for self-harm,” the 28-year-old told Cohen before turning into emotional. “I was there for a week. Mia and Ciara were there almost every day.”
KJ Dillard revealed that he was identified with BPD during the Summer House Season 10 Reunion.
KJ shared that he spent a number of months in recovery, a period he said finally gave him the prospect to really “focus” on himself. During that time, he was identified with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a mental health condition that could cause extreme emotional instability, risky relationships, an unstable self-image, and chronic impulsivity, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“My whole life, I distracted myself and ran away from my issues instead of facing them head-on,” he said, before including he’s now in therapy and taking medication. He also thanked followers for the help they confirmed him online.
“I’m grateful that I’m here alive because I could have not been,” he added. “I’m grateful for the help of my associates. Like everybody right here has considerably confirmed their help in their own means. So I recognize that. I’m very grateful that the viewers is embracing that, because it’s my fact.”
KJ Dillard also spoke with Ebony about his mental health, revealing that money points along with the weight of being the first Black man on Summer House took a “toll” on him.
Dillard also spoke about the stress of being the first Black man on Summer House during an interview with Ebony revealed on May 27.
Source: Kareem Black / Bravo
The outlet famous that he was “saddled with an unrealistic set of expectations for a first-time reality star: the weight of being the first.” Dillard explained that carrying the accountability of illustration created a new stage of stress, particularly at a time when variety in tv and movie continues to face backlash. While attempting to current himself as a strong consultant of the Black group, he was privately struggling financially.
After filming wrapped in the autumn, Dillard anxious about how he would help himself as modeling alternatives slowed down and “money was rough.”
He continued, “I didn’t have any stability at all, and it took a toll on me; it took a toll on my relationship with Dara [Levitan]. I struggled a lot mentally and emotionally. I started to hate myself from within, and it started to show up in my relationship. I started distancing myself in friendships. I acted like everything was all good when in reality it wasn’t.”
The stress only intensified as he tried to carry the weight of his historic function on the show.
“Having to show up as the first Black guy this summer, I didn’t wanna show any signs of weakness. I felt really weak,” he told Ebony. “I was holding all of that in until it all came out. I went to the hospital with Ciara, Mia, and Dara. I checked myself into the psychiatric unit and was there for a week.”
Now, Dillard hopes that by sharing his story, he can encourage more males, particularly Black males, to converse overtly about mental health, an issue that is often stigmatized within the Black group. He said going to recovery “changed” his life.
“I started to learn what self-care and self-love look like. I realized that it’s okay to not be okay. As a Black man in a world where we feel like we have to show up and be tough, being tough is talking about your emotions, and not holding the weight of the world in,” he added.
We ship love to KJ Dillard for his bravery!
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If you or somebody wants help, call 988 to attain the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the community, beforehand recognized as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, textual content HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/assets for extra assets.
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