\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Disney’s Alyson Stoner: I Was ‘Fired’ From a Kids’ Show for Being Queer<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tAlyson Stoner is opening up about how their identity has impacted their career, claiming they were\u00a0deemed \u201cunsafe\u201d by employers\u00a0after publicly coming out as queer. \u201cIt was really nerve-racking and the reason I ended up doing it was because my girlfriend at the time, we reached a point in our relationship where it felt like it [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The former Disney star<\/a> called The Hunger Games<\/em> role a \u201clong shot,\u201d but was hopeful that it wasn\u2019t \u201ctoo unrealistic for a director to pluck an unexpected person from the crowd and make them a star, either.\u201d<\/p>\nTo better their chances at getting the part, Stoner claimed they were approved to attend \u201ca world-renowned medical weight loss camp\u201d at age 17. Even though they admittedly were already drastically underweight, Stoner enrolled in the two-week course that consisted of \u201cseven hours of daily exercise on a calorie deficit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the experience, Stoner wrote, \u201cI didn\u2019t recognize the irrational exceptions that doctors (and society) made for Hollywood, because it was all I knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former child star<\/a> revealed that when they were 10 years old, a doctor \u201cdiscovered a heart murmur\u201d during a physical they needed before being able to fly and film Cheaper by the Dozen<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cUpon sharing that I had dizzy spells and blackouts, he didn\u2019t mark anything on my file because it \u2018might stop the production company from letting you work,\u2019\u201d Stoner claimed in their book. \u201cI followed the doctor\u2019s orders and ignored the murmur like he did, deducing that Hollywood must exist<\/a> above medicine, above the law, and even above common sense.\u201d<\/p>\nStoner explained that the same oversight seemingly allowed them to participate in the weight-loss camp despite being underweight.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoctors and trainers should\u2019ve never permitted an underweight minor to do seven hours of 14-mile hikes, heavy lifting, and high-intensity cardio,\u201d Stoner wrote of the Hunger Games<\/em> audition prep<\/a> they ultimately endured. \u201cBut all I had to say was that I was training for an acting role. They assessed me as mentally stable and opened the door. Then, on off days, I took myself (and all my mental stability) bouldering in a nearby forest to build tactical prowess like Katniss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n![\"Alyson](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Alyson-Stoner-Went-to-Medical-Weight-Loss-Camp-for-Hunger-Games-Audition-MCDHUGA_EC002.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>Murray Close\/\u00a9Lionsgate\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhile Stoner waited to see if they got the gig \u2014 the role of Katniss ultimately went to Jennifer Lawrence<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 they remained committed to the unhealthy lifestyle obtained during the camp.<\/p>\n\u201cAfter a week [of waiting to find out], I teetered past the edge of deprivation into a full-body emergency alarm for food,\u201d Stoner wrote, noting they entered \u201cstarvation mode\u201d as the casting process went on.<\/p>\n
Stoner eventually \u201cwilled\u201d themselves to \u201cslowly approach the pantry\u201d and finally eat a \u201cmodest amount of peanut butter on saltine crackers\u201d totaling \u201c350 calories.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was famished,\u201d the actor recalled. \u201cAn hour later, I rationed out a packet of sugar-free instant oatmeal and added protein powder. This should be enough. My stomach growled for more.\u201d<\/p>\n
After depriving themselves of nutrients during the audition process, Stoner revealed<\/a> they had a full binge of food that included eating a \u201cpint of ice cream from the back of the freezer\u201d and \u201cwolfing down chips, popcorn, chocolate bars, and whatever was within reach until my jaw was too sore to chew. With pants unbuttoned, I completed the biggest binge of my life and faded into delirium on the couch.\u201d<\/p>\nDespite \u201cstill craving sugar\u201d 12 hours after their binge, Stoner remembered thinking they had to \u201cface the self-inflicted damage of the night before.\u201d<\/p>\n
To better their chances at getting the part, Stoner claimed they were approved to attend \u201ca world-renowned medical weight loss camp\u201d at age 17. Even though they admittedly were already drastically underweight, Stoner enrolled in the two-week course that consisted of \u201cseven hours of daily exercise on a calorie deficit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the experience, Stoner wrote, \u201cI didn\u2019t recognize the irrational exceptions that doctors (and society) made for Hollywood, because it was all I knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former child star<\/a> revealed that when they were 10 years old, a doctor \u201cdiscovered a heart murmur\u201d during a physical they needed before being able to fly and film Cheaper by the Dozen<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cUpon sharing that I had dizzy spells and blackouts, he didn\u2019t mark anything on my file because it \u2018might stop the production company from letting you work,\u2019\u201d Stoner claimed in their book. \u201cI followed the doctor\u2019s orders and ignored the murmur like he did, deducing that Hollywood must exist<\/a> above medicine, above the law, and even above common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n Stoner explained that the same oversight seemingly allowed them to participate in the weight-loss camp despite being underweight.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctors and trainers should\u2019ve never permitted an underweight minor to do seven hours of 14-mile hikes, heavy lifting, and high-intensity cardio,\u201d Stoner wrote of the Hunger Games<\/em> audition prep<\/a> they ultimately endured. \u201cBut all I had to say was that I was training for an acting role. They assessed me as mentally stable and opened the door. Then, on off days, I took myself (and all my mental stability) bouldering in a nearby forest to build tactical prowess like Katniss.\u201d<\/p>\n While Stoner waited to see if they got the gig \u2014 the role of Katniss ultimately went to Jennifer Lawrence<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 they remained committed to the unhealthy lifestyle obtained during the camp.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a week [of waiting to find out], I teetered past the edge of deprivation into a full-body emergency alarm for food,\u201d Stoner wrote, noting they entered \u201cstarvation mode\u201d as the casting process went on.<\/p>\n Stoner eventually \u201cwilled\u201d themselves to \u201cslowly approach the pantry\u201d and finally eat a \u201cmodest amount of peanut butter on saltine crackers\u201d totaling \u201c350 calories.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was famished,\u201d the actor recalled. \u201cAn hour later, I rationed out a packet of sugar-free instant oatmeal and added protein powder. This should be enough. My stomach growled for more.\u201d<\/p>\n After depriving themselves of nutrients during the audition process, Stoner revealed<\/a> they had a full binge of food that included eating a \u201cpint of ice cream from the back of the freezer\u201d and \u201cwolfing down chips, popcorn, chocolate bars, and whatever was within reach until my jaw was too sore to chew. With pants unbuttoned, I completed the biggest binge of my life and faded into delirium on the couch.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite \u201cstill craving sugar\u201d 12 hours after their binge, Stoner remembered thinking they had to \u201cface the self-inflicted damage of the night before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>
![\"2019](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/GettyImages-1189822098.jpg?crop=0px%2C306px%2C3528px%2C1993px&resize=400%2C225&quality=40&strip=all\")
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