Alyson Stoner gained fame in the early 2000s as an actress, singer, and dancer, starring in films like “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “Step Up” and Disney Channel shows such as “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and “Camp Rock.”

She also danced for notable artists like Missy Elliott, Will Smith, and Eminem.

In a recent video essay and People magazine op-ed, Stoner shares her own account for the first time, recounting instances of sexual harassment, severe eating disorders, breaches of child labor laws, and other disturbing experiences.

She describes the emotional impact of auditioning for sexually violent scenes and then princess-themed commercials as a six-year-old.

At 12, Stoner recalls being malnourished and constantly stressed due to the “inappropriate and hazardous” environment on set, which violated child labor laws.

At 17, against her team’s advice, she entered rehab, even as they continued to send her to auditions during her bedrest.

In her op-ed, Stoner writes, “While navigating the extreme highs and lows of global fame, covert medical hospitalizations, artistic achievements, premature adultification, and multi-faceted abuse I wish upon no one, I barely escaped the child-star-to-disaster trajectory.”

“In truth, nothing was in place to ensure I would end up normal, stable, or even alive.”

Now, Stoner is leveraging her platform to push for changes within the industry to safeguard young actors, such as mandatory mental health professionals on set and media literacy courses for guardians.

Stoner emphasizes, “I’ve realized that as long as we’re captivated or indifferent, we’re also susceptible.”

“This holds true for Hollywood families and viewers alike. Collectively, we can shift the narrative.”