Demi Lovato Wishes She Had a ‘Backup Plan’ for Her Career

Demi Lovato understands the challenges of early fame intimately and doesn’t want her future children to face the same difficulties.

When asked about her future children’s desires to enter show business, Lovato told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Wednesday that she would support them — but only after they turn 18.

“Not because I don’t believe in you or love you or want you to be happy, but because I want you to have a childhood, the childhood that I didn’t have,” she explained.

At just 15, Lovato catapulted to stardom with her role in Disney’s “Camp Rock” in 2008.

“I was filled with gratitude, and there was this sense of wonder and excitement,” she recalled. “It was very much the honeymoon phase of my career, right before the train got moving in a way where I couldn’t pump the brakes.”

Now 31, Lovato has faced many of the pitfalls of early fame, including battles with addiction and eating disorders. “I didn’t realize that child stardom could be traumatic — and it isn’t traumatic for everyone, but for me, it was,” she admitted.

Lovato stressed the importance of having a “backup plan” for her future child.

“[It’s] something I wish I’d done because sometimes I think it’s time for me to move on, but I’m in this weird position in my career because I still rely on music for my income,” said Lovato, who, like other Disney stars such as Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus, transitioned to a music career.

Lovato’s thoughts on backup plans are especially relevant as more Gen Z workers quit their jobs without securing another one. In 2023, management consulting firm Oliver Wyman conducted a study over two years with more than 10,000 Gen Zers across the US and UK. The study found that this generation is more likely than others to leave unfulfilling jobs even without another job lined up.

Basant Shenouda, 27, a LinkedIn creator, told Business Insider that she left a toxic job less than a year into it to care for her mental health. Though she didn’t regret her decision, she left during a bad job market, which caused her stress. She advised others to consider their finances and evaluate risks before quitting without a backup plan.

Similarly, Amber Smith left her corporate job to become a reseller and content creator. Smith, 27, emphasized the importance of having a budget and a backup plan. If her self-employment didn’t work out, she planned to become a waitress or a bartender.

Smith emphasized the need for thorough preparation before quitting. “Have a good idea of your expenses and your income so that you are truly prepared. This way, you don’t find yourself having to go back to that job before you want to, if ever,” she advised.

A representative for Lovato did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Business Insider