Joshua Bassett is speaking publicly about the near-fatal health crisis he endured last year as public scrutiny of his private life peaked.
The actor, best known for his role in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, has spent much of 2021 amid a frenzy of media speculation following the release of his co -Stars Olivia Rodrigo.” Many fans believe the song was an ode to a true behind-the-scenes romance between Bassett and Rodrigo and their subsequent breakup.
Though Rodrigo never clarified the inspiration behind “Drivers License,” that didn’t stop legions of fans from inundating Bassett with hateful comments and even online death threats. In an interview with People published Wednesday, Bassett said the stress he subsequently experienced resulted in him being hospitalized with heart failure in January 2021, just days after his “driver’s license” fell.
“I slept 16 to 20 hours a day,” he explained. “I couldn’t even stand up for more than 30 seconds… I felt my heart literally give out. I thought, ‘This isn’t just fear. This is bad.'”
Joshua Bassett is currently starring in Better Nate Than Ever, which premieres April 1 on Disney+.Amy Sussman via Getty Images
Bassett was diagnosed with septic shock and told his illness might be due to my stress. “The doctors said, ‘If you hadn’t called in within 12 hours, you would have died in your apartment,'” he said. “It’s crazy that I was so close to taking another nap.”
In the end, Bassett said he was in the hospital for nine days and continued to have depression and panic attacks after he was discharged. He went on to credit his therapist, along with yoga and meditation, for helping him get back on his feet.
And these days, Bassett hopes to start a new chapter. He came out as a member of the LGBTQ community in June last year and has since become an outspoken advocate for queer youth. Last month he unveiled a new pop single, “Doppelganger.”
He also stars in the new Disney+ movie Better Nate Than Ever, a coming-of-age story about an outcast teenager (played by Rueby Wood) who flees to New York hoping to find fame on Broadway will.
Regarding his latest endeavors, Bassett told People, “Everything I do aligns with what I needed when I was 10 years old.”
“With that, I’m constantly looking for ways to have a greater impact on myself and others, whether it’s through music, charity or projects,” he said. “My mission is to bring light to people and help them find peace. That’s really all I ever want to do.”