EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Demi Lovato's Dad: Pressure Of Hollywood Got To Her
Posted on Nov 02, 2010 @ 01:54PM
Disney star Demi Lovato has checked into a medical center for help and her father Patrick Lovato told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview that he believes the pressure of Hollywood got to her. He said this was a key reason he was concerned about her getting into showbiz at such a young age.
When asked if he thought the pressure of Hollywood affected her, Lovato’s dad answered, “yes.” He told RadarOnline.com, “There are a lot of pressures. That is one of the things I worried about when she signed with Disney.
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“It’s just going to happen,” he said about the pressure affecting his daughter.
Lovato announced Monday that she was checking into a medical center to seek treatment. Her rep said she is not being treated for drugs but is facing “emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time.” People close to her told RadarOnline.com she has had emotional problems with being bullied, cutting herself and body image issues.
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Demi’s parents were both in the entertainment business when she was young and her father told RadarOnline.com that it gave him a preview of how hard touring would be for Demi. “Dianne and I each played in a band and we toured all over the United States and Canada and our oldest daughter Dallas went with us and I could see then what the pressures would be like for a child on tour because it was hard on Dallas too,” Patrick said. “She enjoyed it because we were always on the road and we had a nice bus and it wasn't too bad but the hours were difficult."
Patrick said he thought watching her parents influenced Demi’s decision to go into showbiz. “She grew up around it so I guess that's why she went into it; I guess it's in her genes with her mom and her dad. Mainly watching her mom, I’d gotten out of it myself. Cause someone had to take care of the kids."
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Demi’s parents are divorced and Patrick is battling cancer. The last time Demi visited him was reportedly 2008.
He didn’t expect his daughter to go into a treatment center, and told RadarOnline.com her admission was a surprise. “No, I didn’t’ know anything about it,” he said.
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“It’s not a drug addiction center,” Patrick added.
Reports that the Camp Rock star was bullied in school surprised her father. “No I sure didn’t,” he said when asked if he know about her being bullied.
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Pictures over the years show Demi with what looked like cuts on her wrists, but her father wouldn’t comment when asked about her cutting. “I can’t say,” he responded.
Patrick hasn’t spoken to Demi lately. “It’s been a couple of months. I've had cancer, I've been in the hospital for two months and I just got out. She hasn't visited, she's been too busy, she's been way too busy."
Demi’s parent’s marriage ended in 1994, and her father spoke fondly of his spitfire daughter. “After Dianne and I split up I would take and pick the kids up every morning to school. When she would get out of preschool she would go on the job with me. She was so cute. I was a contractor and I also raced cars and she loved it, she loved going out there to the race track. She was a born racer. She rode in the car with me; I took her out a few times.
“I worked with Dale Earnhardt and the first car on his track, the track wasn't open yet on the Texas Motor Speedway, I built all the light tracks there, Dale was going around the track, this was on ABC TV too, he was getting out of the car and he said "hey little one what did you think of that?" she said "my daddy can drive faster than that." Like a true daughter."
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Patrick expressed confidence in his daughter, who has cancelled her tour with the Jonas Brothers for her treatment.
“She’ll be fine,” he said. “She’s strong alright.”
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The Daily Juice
Nov 11, 2010 @ 15:04
I dont understand you people, how are you bashing in Demis Dad about not being there for her. He has CANCER and she hasn't visited him in 2 Years. Like come on, Demi is just like any other celebrity who gets famous & forget about their love ones.
Posted Sun, 11/07/2010 - 3:32pm
i feel bad for demi...money won't buy happiness. i think it's DISGUSTING that her ex Joe Jonas has no class than to think of her feelings before having his new girlfriend tour w/ him while Demi is on the tour. He was a jerk to Taylor Swift too!
Posted Wed, 11/03/2010 - 1:23am
Don't know if I should feel bad for him or if he's just another Michael Lohan. The photos show very obvious cutting marks, so I believe that it isn't drugs
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 6:42pm
Her step-sister is the fat girl on Desperate Housewives. Demi needs treatment so she can become a
better role model for her little sister.
That's disgusting she has not seen her father for two years. Shame.
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 6:41pm
Nothing like scraping the bottom of the barrel for a "source." The guy is a loser and obviously is not one bit involved in his kids' lives.
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 5:55pm
The bulimia and self mutilation issues all stem from severe bullying, but those issues aren't new. I don't know if Disney or her people are responsible for pushing her out onto that tour with her ex, but that was a terrible idea.
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 5:02pm
Demi had to go on tour with her ex-boyfriend, who decided like a jerk to bring along his smoking hot new girlfriend, and that pushed her over the edge. But the rumors of Bulima and Self-mutilation have been floating around for years.
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 4:59pm
"She'll be fiiiiine" says the dad who didn't know his own daughter was being bullied to the point of severe depression
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 3:59pm
Why is he giving an interview. He's an absentee dad who doesn't even know his daughter. How sad.
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 3:58pm
It says volumes that he had cancer and she was too busy to visit. Potentially part of the source of the problems for her? Just sad all the way around. Praying that she is able to heal and move forward in a positive manner.
Posted Tue, 11/02/2010 - 2:03pm