Megan Thee Stallion might be typically associated with a bubbly demeanour that makes her seem like the life of the party but, for well-documented reasons, recent years have been tough for the rapper too.
In a new interview, the star has opened up about her experiences with depression and the work she’s put in to help herself heal. In the aftermath of being shot by Tory Lanez, the artist experienced swells of hate and backlash from those in the music community, fans and strangers online. “As a Black woman, as a darker Black woman, I also feel like people expect me to take the punches, take the beating, take the lashings, and handle it with grace,” she told Women’s Health. “But I’m human.”
Despite experiencing continued success in her career, behind-the-scenes Megan wasn’t feeling as dazzling as all her achievements. She explained that she would cry “half the time” before performances, torn between not wanting to go on stage and not wanting to disappoint her fans, while, at home, she would struggle to get out of bed.
“I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers,” she said. “I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself.”
In addition to therapy, the rapper turned to working out and journalling, the latter of which she said has helped her take “a more positive approach” to speaking to and about herself. It’s all helped her become “a new person physically and mentally”, which has fed into her new album.
Although the record has yet to be officially announced, she’s already shared two singles from it – the candid ‘Cobra’ and the fierce ‘Hiss’.
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