Shane Dawson has returned to YouTube with an hour-long video talking to
Eugenia Cooney about her eating disorder and rehab stint.
Fellow vlogger Eugenia, who announced in February that she was getting help, acknowledged that she had a disorder in Shane’s clip, which is titled The Return Of Eugenia Cooney. The US star revealed that, after years of denial, she went to rehab where her eating habits were monitored and she had regular sessions with a therapist. ‘I was dealing with an eating disorder.
There would be times when I would realise I wasn’t eating enough,’ she told Shane during an interview at her house. Eugenia went on: ‘My family would be like, “you really should be taking care of yourself and eating more”.’ The
YouTuber explained that while, at times, she knew she had a problem, it was hard to seek help.
‘It’s kind of like smoking. People know in their brain, like, “hey I should stop this”. It’s hard to totally stop and actually go and try to get help for myself,’ she said. ‘Even when I was younger I was always naturally small. As things were going forward I was losing more weight and not seeing that it was a really big problem.’ Cooney added that trolling over her weight ‘affected her really badly’ and if anything, seemed to worsen her disorder. ‘That kind of stuff puts you in a worse mindset and makes you not want to help yourself,’ she said. Shane, who has been open about his battle with bulimia, then asked Eugenia to explain her experience in rehab.
‘I was in a rehab programme. It was a really weird experience. It’s very scheduled – you wake up at a certain time. You have a therapist,’ she recalled. ‘As you’re eating, you’re watched. When you go to the bathroom, you have someone outside the door.’ The 24-year-old said she was ‘shocked’ when she found out how little she weighed, and said it spurred her on to get help. ‘I knew I just had to do it, follow the program, and do what I had to do. When you’re going into it, it seems like a lot. It isn’t exactly the easiest,’ she said. ‘I’m doing a lot better and trying to make sure I’m eating enough. I think it’s good that I made a decision to get myself back to a healthy place.’ Shane concluded the video by saying that he felt Eugenia was ‘doing a lot better,’ and called her progress a ‘miracle’.
The filmmaker explained that Eugenia had trusted him to make the video as she felt that speaking out about her eating disorder could help others dealing with the same issues. ‘My hope and her hope is that this could help a lot of people. This to me feels like the most important thing I’ve ever done,’ he said.
Eugenia commented on the clip: ‘So excited to see this!!!!” next to a crying emoji and some heart emojis. Shane, who’d been keeping a low profile since apologising for making a bestiality joke, sparked plenty of love for his return to YouTube. Jeffree Star tweeted: ‘Welcome BACK to YouTube KING!!!! Happy birthday and I love you with all of my pink diamond encrusted heart.’