Joshua Bassett has spoken openly about the health challenges and mental anguish he endured after being scrutinized after the release of ex-Olivia Rodrigo’s rumored song “Drivers License.”
The 21-year-old singer-actor found his personal life in the headlines when his High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star released their viral hit, which many believe is about their alleged breakup, last January.
Though they never confirmed they dated, the performer revealed to People that the overall situation was taking its toll on his health, and he found himself in the hospital with heart failure after receiving criticism — and even death threats online — for the song’s release .
Tough times: Joshua Bassett suffered heart failure amid the test he faced when Olivia Rodrigo issued his driver’s license; he will be seen earlier this month
Bassett recently told the site, “I felt my heart literally give out. I said, “It’s not just fear. That is bad.”
The actor said he was “feeling progressively worse” in the week leading up to his hospitalization.
He added: “I slept 16 to 20 hours a day. I couldn’t even stand up for more than 30 seconds.’
A producer on his TV show eventually took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with septic shock and told waiting for the illness, which could have been caused by stress, could have been fatal.
Dire Situation: A producer on his TV show ended up taking him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with septic shock and told waiting for the illness, which could have been caused by stress, could have been fatal
Not doing well: In the week leading up to his hospitalization, the actor admitted that he was “feeling worse and worse” every day.
“The doctors said, ‘If you hadn’t called in within 12 hours, you would have died in your apartment.’ It’s crazy that I was so close to taking another nap.’
The actor left the hospital nine days later physically recovered. But his mental health was badly damaged.
He recalled: “I was even more depressed and stressed. I had a panic attack every day.”
Bassett turned to music and wrote three songs, Crisis, Secret and Set Me Free, but he found the process “stressful and tough” rather than therapeutic.
Unintended consequence: Bassett turned to music and wrote three songs, Crisis, Secret and Set Me Free, but he found the process “stressful and tough” rather than therapeutic
The performer expressed that his sources of inspiration were far from ideal, although he was happy to have pursued various artistic endeavors during this time.
“Even though I’ve been able to do something with my pain, a lot of times it was just me grieving and going through all these different feelings,” he said.
The Better Nate Than Ever actor deliberately delayed the release of the songs until December to avoid creating new speculation about the inspiration behind the tracks.
After releasing his songs, however, he admitted: “This week was worse than the year combined.”
Silence: The Better Nate Than Ever actor deliberately delayed the release of the songs until December to avoid fresh speculation about the inspiration behind the tracks
He expressed that ‘I got what I had to say out of my chest, but it brought all that stuff back up, and the healing isn’t very linear.’
Bassett, who has spoken out in the past about being sexually abused as a child, said he got his life back on track with the help of his therapist, yoga and meditation.
He said, “My therapist loves the song ‘Set Me Free,’ but every time she hears it, she says, ‘Only you can set yourself free.’
The actor then realized that he had finally come to terms with the advice he had been given regarding his experiences.
Professional help: Bassett, who has spoken out in the past about being sexually abused as a child, credited his therapist, as well as yoga and meditation, with helping him get his life back on track
“I say, ‘Yes, yes, yes, I get it. I get it.” But I understand now that it’s really me who can give me permission to move on. Ultimately, I was the one who had to break free,” he said.
Bassett concluded by expressing that he finally understood why he hadn’t addressed his feelings before.
“What I’ve realized recently is that the reason I haven’t been able to process so much of it is because I was in pure shock,” he said.
He added, “I’m still in the middle of the whole process, and I think it’s a lifelong thing, but I’m learning to peel off the layers.”
Coming to terms with himself: Bassett concluded by saying he finally understood why he hadn’t addressed his feelings before