Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart isn’t as perfect as you might think. Lili Reinhart plays Betty Cooper on new CW show “Riverdale” (now-streaming on Netflix). Sometimes it’s the characters from a show that captivates you, other times it’s the actors themselves. Both Reinhart and her role as Betty Cooper on Riverdale will definitely leave an imprint on you.
Betty is the girl next store in Riverdale, but she proves that a person can be sweet and strong at the same time. Betty stands up for what she believes in, just like Reinhart does in real life. The actress recently revealed her difficult past through Twitter. Her series of tweets gained thousands of likes, retweets, and attention. They revealed how she grew up with depression and social anxiety.
Reinhart Opens Up About Her Past
Reinhart explained that her role in “Riverdale” completely saved her, then later added: “To anyone out there who feels depressed or hopeless… do not give up on yourself. You’re all you’ve got. And you deserve the world.” She revealed her past through 10 heartfelt and emotional tweets.
Reinhart reminded her followers that one’s mental health should be his or her priority. “Don’t forget that. This is your life.. and you’ve only got one. So don’t waste it by being sad,” she said.
Her Tweets Were Controversial
Even though the actress came clean about her challenging past, she didn’t have the best reactions among followers. One fan wrote back, “You cannot tell people to stop being sad. I’m sure you meant differently, but wording it like that makes it seem harsh.” Ignoring the backlash, Reinhart, however, strives to be an advocate for mental health and wants to help others who are struggling with their mental health.
Now that Reinhart has the spotlight on her with her new role as Betty Cooper on “Riverdale,” she wants to assert herself and speak about her troubling past to help others going through a similar situation. She opened up and explained how growing up as an actress and balancing that with work at school was a huge challenge. She felt extremely out of place at school and in 8th grade, panic attacks and depression drastically impacted her. With the help of her family, friends and mental health professionals, Reinhart has been able to cope with her depression and anxiety.
Reinhart Should Advocate for Mental Health
Reinhart, now a mental health advocate, seems to want people dealing with mental illness to not feel ashamed even if they have a “perfectly normal” life. According to the National Institute of Health, more than 20 percent (or 1 in 5) adolescents have dealt with a serious mental disorder. Due to this high percentage, Reinhart certainly should be able to speak her mind about the importance of maintaining one’s mental health without backlash from followers. Her life experiences dealing with mental illness can help another person who is in the same position.
Team Reinhart
Even though I have not personally dealt with a mental illness, I have seen close friends and family members face adversities with their mental health. Reinhart deserves to have her voice heard. She should be able to speak about her experiences and inspire others to do the same.