Avril Lavigne, Bella Hadid & other stars battling Lyme disease after Justin Timberlake reveals ‘debilitating' diagnosis

The Irish Sun

4 days ago

JUSTIN Timberlake revealed his 'debilitating' battle with Lyme disease on Thursday.
But
11
Justin Timberlake has opened up on his secret health battle
Credit: Getty
11
He was previously diagnosed with Lyme disease, but he is not the only star
Credit: Getty
Lyme disease is an infection that is transmitted to humans through infected ticks via a bite.
In 2022, over 62,000 cases were reported to the CDC, and it's most common in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest.
Whilst early treatment can be effective, people might face serious and long-lasting and serious symptoms if treatment is delayed.
The U.S. Sun takes a look at all the stars who have suffered with the disease.
READ MORE ON JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
The Hadid Family
11
Various members of the Hadid family have famously battled with Lyme disease
Credit: Getty
Former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Hadid has been very honest about her battle with the disease.
She spoke out about her diagnosis in 2017 and she wrote about it in her memoir, Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease.
At the
Global Lyme Alliance
in 2016, her daughter Bella Hadid also admitted how many aspects of her life, including her passion for horseback riding - had been hindered by the condition.
Gigi has not had the disease herself, but has spoken about the effects it has had on her family.
Most read in Celebrity
She admitted, "Growing up, having three of my family members sick made me very independent.
"My mom couldn't drive or get out of bed some days, so I took my brother to school with me, or I made lunch.
Justin Timberlake reveals secret health battle and confesses symptoms have been 'relentlessly debilitating' on tour
"But I also felt a lot of guilt for being the one person in the family who didn't understand what they were going through."
Gigi added, "It's hard when your whole family is in pain and you don't know what to do."
Avril Lavigne
11
Avril Lavigne admitted she was left bedridden for five months
Credit: Getty
The Sk8ter Boi singer first revealed that she was suffering from Lyme disease back in 2015.
She told People Magazine that she had been battling with symptoms for a year as she admitted, "I had no idea a bug bite could do this.
In 2019, she told the outlet that her charitable foundation was working with various organizations dedicated to fighting Lyme disease.
Whilst insisting she was well again, she added, "It gave me a purpose, and made me find myself all over again.
"When you go through something like that, you realize how fulfilling simple things are - things I could do anymore, like being able to get up in the morning and go to the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee."
Riley Keough
11
Riley Keough chose to start her family using surrogacy due to the disease
Credit: Getty
The daughter of Lisa Marie Presley admitted that she had Lyme disease when she appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in 2023.
She opened up on how it affected her day-to-day life.
It also led to her decision to choose the surrogacy route when she wanted to start a
family
with her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen.
Riley admitted, "I can carry children, but it felt like the best choice for what I had going on physically with the autoimmune stuff."
The interview for the publication took place in Sweden where the actress chose to recover from the condition at a special holistic center.
She explained that she was on a "break" to try and "alleviate" symptoms with treatment that wasn't available in the states.
She added, "[There's] all kinds of things that you can't really do in America yet, like cleaning your blood."
Amy Schumer
11
Amy Schumer opened up on the medication she took to alleviate symptoms
Credit: AFP or licensors
The actress is best known for her TV work in comedy and even on Broadway.
But she opened up about her diagnosis with Lyme disease in an Instagram post in September 2020.
She posted a throwback image of her 'first ever fishing pole,' as she captioned the photo, "Anyone get LYME this summer?
"I got it and I'm on doxycycline. I have maybe had it for years. Any advice? Can you have a glass of
wine
or 2 on it?"
She continued, "I know to stay out of the sun. I'm also taking these herbs from cape cod called lyme-2.
"I also want to say that I feel good and am excited to get rid of it."
Justin Bieber
11
Fans thought Justin may have been on drugs due to concerning images, but he was just midway through battling the condition
Credit: GC Images
In July 2019, fans of Justin Bieber became concerned by a photo circulating the internet.
Whilst many speculated that he was on
drugs
, in January 2020 he explained that it was actually taken at the worst point of suffering with the condition.
On Instagram, he admitted, "While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like s-, on meth etc. they failed to realize I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease.
"It's been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever."
Shania Twain
11
Country star Shania Twain suffers from vocal problems due to dysphonia
Credit: Getty
The singer is known for hits such as That Don't Impress Me Much and You're Still The One.
However, she has secretly faced vocal problems because of dysphonia, which is a result of Lyme disease.
She has been forced to both regain and retune her voice over the years due to the condition.
She previously told People Magazine, "I was very scared for a little while that I wouldn't sing again, ever.
"I went through that moment, but I found a way. I found a way to do it."
Shania now has to do lengthy warmups and 'very difficult' physical therapy when she uses her voice.
Ben Stiller
11
Hollywood actor Ben admitted the disease is still in his system
Credit: Getty
In 2010, the
A year later he told The Hollywood Reporter, "I'm symptom-free now, but Lyme doesn't ever leave your system."
Ben added, "It's a really tough thing."
Alec Baldwin
11
Alec Baldwin thought he could die from the effects
Credit: Getty
The former SNL star took to the stage at the LymeAid gala dinner for the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, where he was also the Master of Ceremonies.
During the evening, Alec was very candid about his battles with the medical condition.
He admitted, "I really thought this is it, I'm not going to live, I was alone, I wasn't married at the time, I was divorced from my first wife.
"I was lying in bed saying, 'I'm going to die of Lyme disease,' in my bed and 'I hope someone finds me and I'm not here for too long.'"
Kelly Osbourne
11
Kelly Osbourne was bitten by a tick at a birthday party thrown for her dad Ozzy
Credit: Getty
The former reality TV star is known for her presenting roles on
In 2004, midway through the height of popularity for The Osbournes on MTV, she attended her dad's birthday party.
Ozzy had the surprise bash thrown for him to celebrate his 56th birthday, which featured featured a reindeer sanctuary in the family's backyard.
However, Kelly was bitten by a tick during the event and would go onto suffer from an array of symptoms.
These included a sore throat and stomach pains as she later opened up on the impact of the condition on her life.
The former E! star admitted, "I've learned to advocate for myself when it comes to my
health
, and I trust my intuition."
In her memoir, There Is No F*cking Secret: Letters From a Badass Bitch, she continued: "If I think something is wrong, I refuse to let anyone dismiss it. And sadly, I stay the f--- away from reindeer."