Actress Amanda Bynes was hospitalized and placed in the psychiatric ward today. Bynes rapidly rose to fame for her Nickelodeon hit “The Amanda Show,” which ran on the network from 1999 to 2002. Bynes went on to star in a number of teen and romantic comedies, from “Sydney White” to “She’s The Man” and countless other fan-favorite y2k movies in between. Her successful acting career was abruptly put on hold when she was initially arrested for driving under the influence (a DUI) in West Hollywood, California, in 2012. Following the incident, Bynes continued to struggle with substance abuse and mental health troubles.
In recent years, Bynes was released from a nine-year conservatorship similar to that of musician Britney Spears. Her conservator was her mother, Lynn Bynes. Both of her parents voluntarily released her from the conservatorship in 2022 when the family and mental health professionals agreed that she was ready to take on life as a private citizen. Following the end of the conservatorship, Bynes told Entertainment Tonight that “In the last several years, I have been working hard to improve my health so that I can live and work independently, and I will continue to prioritize my well-being in this next chapter. I am excited about my upcoming endeavors, including my fragrance line, and look forward to sharing more when I can.”
She received her Associate’s Degree in Merchandise Product Development from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles in 2019. Today, Bynes was hospitalized and remains on psychiatric hold after she was found wandering the streets of Los Angeles naked. Bynes allegedly flagged down a driver and explained that she was experiencing an episode of psychosis, and the stranger took her to a nearby hospital.
Outside of her struggles with addiction, Bynes was previously diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder and manic depression. It is likely that Bynes was experiencing the aftermath of a period of mania, a common symptom for people living with her mental illnesses. Fans of Bynes’ acting career took to Twitter to wish her well, and applauded her willingness to seek help during her episode.
Really sad to hear about Amanda Bynes. She was supposed to appear at 90s Con this weekend, but called out sick at the last minute. Her fans that I spoke to were incredibly understanding and gracious about it. https://t.co/ZXGWCHJrEd
— kelsey weekman (@kelsaywhat) March 20, 2023
Others wonder if she experienced a Nickelodeon-related trigger recently. Several former stars of popular shows on the network in the 90s and 00s have come forward and alleged abuse at the hands of producer Dan Schneider. Among them was ex “iCarly” and “Sam and Cat” star Jeanette McCurdy, who penned a memoir titled “I’m Glad My Mom Died” about the alleged abuse she experienced at the hands of her late mother and Dan Schneider. The memoir led many to question the ethics of the platform, and the trauma it allegedly inflicted upon many of its stars.
really hope amanda bynes is able to heal. she's been through it and the nickelodeon industrial complex must have done a number on her
— ilana kaplan (@lanikaps) March 20, 2023
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Some recognized that today’s incident may not have been a lapse in her sobriety, but a challenge posed by her mental health conditions. Her self awareness was noted by one Twitter user as a sign of positive progress.
The fact that Amanda Bynes flagged a car down, told them she was having a psychotic episode and called 911 herself actually gives me a lot of hope for her well-being.
That's a huge deal. When she's ready, I hope she can be proud of herself for that.— Bassey Ikpi (@Basseyworld) March 20, 2023
Others were quick to warn against repeating history when it comes to media coverage of female celebrities experiencing difficulties with their mental health or sobriety. The heavy scrutiny on Britney Spears is what ultimately lead to her lengthy conservatorship, and contributed to what many felt was the sexism of the entertainment industry at large.
i find it really disrespectful that the headlines say Amanda Bynes was "found" naked and alone and "placed" on a psychiatric hold – removing her agency. she was able to recognize that she was in psychosis, ask someone for help, and call 911 herself. that's fucking impressive https://t.co/W8RC1ZKE5e
— Erika Hersteria Heidewald (@erikaheidewald) March 20, 2023
Fans continue to honor her legacy in acting, and continue to advocate for safer production environments for women in film.
Peak Amanda Bynes before Hollywood destroyed her… you just had to be there. She deserved better and we were all robbed of a comedic genius and what she had to offer. pic.twitter.com/WL4epiAvcb
— Chris E. Teigen (@ChrisETeigen) March 20, 2023
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this breaks my heart :,( amanda bynes gave us so much https://t.co/ngPrrFqRhA pic.twitter.com/iVDW7QuTka
— popcultureangel (@lohanisgod) March 20, 2023
Amanda Bynes is currently being treated at an undisclosed hospital in Los Angeles, California following her episode. Bynes’ representative is yet to issue comment on the matter.
