Lindsay Lohan has spoken openly and honestly about an event that has marked her life and is also affecting the way she is raising her 2-year-old son. In an interview with The Sunday Times, published on Saturday, August 2, the actress spoke about her experiences as a teenager in the spotlight, at a time when the paparazzi had unlimited access and the tabloids followed her every move.
"I never want my family to experience being followed by paparazzi like I did. Those were terrifying moments in my life, I have deep PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - a mental condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing an extremely traumatic event) from those situations. They were extremely scary situations and I pray that things like that never happen again. They are not safe. They are not fair," said the 39-year-old actress.
She added that she and her husband, Bader Shammas, constantly discuss how to protect the privacy of their son, Luai, as well as how much access they want the media to have to him.
They first got engaged in 2020, married in July 2022. The couple welcomed their son a year later, in July 2023.
The "Freaky Friday" actress said she thinks the age of social media has helped young celebrities regain control over the narrative of their lives, giving them the opportunity to share what they want with fans.
"I think now [paparazzi intrusion into private life] doesn't happen as often as it used to. It was much worse when I was younger, but now, thanks to social media, people can tell their story the way they want. There's 'ownership' back over your life."
"We didn't have that luxury," she added, before pointing out: "But what I've learned over time is how to separate your private life from your public life, and that was hard for me because no one teaches you how to do that."
What about fans approaching her in public? The "Mean Girls" star said she would rather have a fan ask for a photo than try to secretly film her with her phone.
"That's scary. I feel so embarrassed," she explained. "I would rather have someone just ask me for a photo, otherwise you're just so careful about every move you make."
Lindsay Lohan will star in the family comedy “Freakir Friday,” the sequel to the 2003 hit “Freakir Friday,” opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. Although it’s been more than two decades since the first film, Lindsay told that she and Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, have remained “almost constantly in touch” over the years.
“Throughout all these years, because my life was so public, it was a safe space for me,” the actress said, and according to her, it was Jamie Lee who convinced her to return for the sequel.
“Freakir Friday” will be released in theaters on August 8.
