Alyson Stoner opens up on the dark side of child stardom

When they entered show business, Alyson Stoner was a little girl. Today, they openly admit that it wasn't a place for a child.

Alyson Stoner belongs to the group of child stars from popular TV stations who regret being pushed into show business so quickly. Stoner acted in films such as "Cheaper by the Dozen" and became recognizable for their role in "Step Up." When they appeared in "Camp Rock," they had already featured in a music video for one of Missy Elliot's songs. Years later, Stoner returned for "Step Up 3D" and "Step Up: All In." Their latest production is from 2022, the series "Justice Guardians." Soon, their revelations will be available in the documentary "Child Star," exposing the behind-the-scenes life of young American stars.

Stoner gave an interview with their former nemesis from "Camp Rock," Demi Lovato. The stars conflicted for a long time, but they have now reconciled. Lovato, who directed the documentary "Child Star," asks, among other things, whether children like Stoner realize what they are getting into when they join various TV or film projects. The answer seems simple: no. In the online preview of the film, Stoner admits they felt dragged through the mud by the media and were under constant pressure.

"My story has always been in my head that I've said in interviews for years is like, 'Yeah! I chose this, and then we chose this because I wanted this.' And I'm like I was 3 years old when I was performing. I was 6 years old. Six-year-olds want a lot of things, and it doesn't mean that that all just happens," they say in an interview with "E!"

"The world has had a story of all of us, right? Your friends, your family, your teachers, all the people around you—they know you for a thing and sometimes we glue people to who we've known them as. And then, for example, you come out and they're like, 'But wait, you're not my little' whatever thing that they wanted you to be anymore. Or, ‘You don't fit into the box of how I knew you. You've changed," comments Stoner, who came out as pansexual a few years ago.

"I'm trying to give myself that space to say, 'Yeah, I might truly never be in the entertainment industry ever again and that would be totally fine," says the actress.

The documentary "Child Star" is set to premiere on 18th September at 1:00 AM on Hulu. It is directed by Demi Lovato, who suffered greatly from starting their career in show business as a child. In 2021, their online documentary was widely talked about, where they discussed their addiction, rehab, and the fact that they were abused as a teenager.