Jonah Hill has said he will not be promoting his films for the foreseeable future in a bid to protect his mental health.
The 38-year-old explained that his years-long battle with anxiety was ‘exacerbated by media appearances and public facing events’.
Because of this, the Superbad star said he won’t be doing any press rounds for Stutz - the new documentary Hill directed - or Kenya Barris’s You People, due to hit Netflix this year, which he wrote and produced.
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Touching upon Stutz - named after his own therapist and featuring important and frank mental health discussions - Hill said if he willingly made himself more unwell by embarking on a promotional tour for the documentary, he wouldn’t be acting true to ‘himself or the film’.
Hill’s full statement to Deadline read: “I have finished directing my second film, a documentary about me and my therapist which explores mental health in general called Stutz.
"The whole purpose of making this film is to give therapy and the tools I’ve learned in therapy to a wide audience for private use through an entertaining film.
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“Through this journey of self-discovery within the film, I have come to the understanding that I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks, which are exacerbated by media appearances and public facing events.”
The star continued: “I am so grateful that the film will make its world premiere at a prestigious film festival this fall, and I can’t wait to share it with audiences around the world in the hope that it will help those struggling.
“However, you won’t see me out there promoting this film, or any of my upcoming films, while I take this important step to protect myself. If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film.”
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Hill went on: “I usually cringe at letters or statements like this but I understand that I am of the privileged few who can afford to take time off. I won’t lose my job while working on my anxiety.
"With this letter and with Stutz, I’m hoping to make it more normal for people to talk and act on this stuff. So they can take steps towards feeling better and so that the people in their lives might understand their issues more clearly.”
He concluded: “I hope the work will speak for itself and I’m grateful to my collaborators, my business partners and to all reading this for your understanding and support.”
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If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone
Topics: Jonah Hill, Celebrity
Aisha Nozari