Wentworth Miller Pens Powerful Open Letter About His Suicidal Past After Fat-Shaming Meme Resurfaces

The 'Prison Break' star said "eating became the one thing" that he could look forward to.

Wentworth Miller had an emotional, candid response to a split photo that went viral of the actor looking bigger when compared to a shirtless photo of him in Prison Break.

The fat-shaming meme reads: "When you break out of prison and find out about McDonald's Monopoly..."

"Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time," Miller started his lengthy Facebook post on Monday. "In 2010, semi-retired from acting, I was keeping a low-profile for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I was suicidal."

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Miller says during that time he sought comfort in eating and put on weight. "In 2010, at the lowest point in my adult life, I was looking everywhere for relief/comfort/distraction. And I turned to food. It could have been anything. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. But eating became the one thing I could look forward to," he explained. "Count on to get me through. There were stretches when the highlight of my week was a favorite meal and a new episode of Top Chef. Sometimes that was enough. Had to be."

His reaction to his weight gain, "big f**king deal."


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Years later, when the 43-year-old actor looks back at that paparazzi pic of him smiling while on a hike with friends in Los Angeles, he is reminded of how far he's come in "fighting" for his mental health. "Long story short, I survived," Wentworth wrote. "Now, when I see that image of me in my red T-shirt, a rare smile on my face, I am reminded of my struggle. My endurance and my perseverance in the face of all kinds of demons. Some within. Some without."

"The first time I saw this meme pop up in my social media feed, I have to admit, it hurt to breathe," he admitted. "But as with everything in life, I get to assign meaning. And the meaning I assign to this/my image is Strength. Healing. Forgiveness."


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Wentworth concluded his post by sharing some websites for those struggling with suicidal thoughts and depression. "Like a dandelion up through the pavement, I persist," he continued. "Anyway. Still. Despite."


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