KJ Apa: Riverdale star reveals addiction battle and moment he ate McDonald’s off floor after peeing around it
Actor KJ Apa, known for his role in Riverdale, has opened up about his past struggles with addiction and unhealthy behaviors while filming the series. He shared personal anecdotes about his extreme efforts to manage his impulses and body image during his time on the show.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intense pressures faced by young actors in the entertainment industry and the personal toll of maintaining a specific public image.
New Zealand actor KJ Apa has come clean on the extreme lengths he would go to quell his “addictive” urges while filming hit series Riverdale. Apa starred as protagonist Archie Andrews for seven seasons on the show, which aired between 2017 and 2023, after relocating to the US at 17 to pursue acting. Appearing on the newly launched Wildmen Podcast, he admitted there were elements of his life that he found difficult to control at the time. “I had so many things that I was doing that were so unhealthy that kind of bred throughout that show in me because of . . . having my shirt off all the time, even just experiencing fame,” he said. “I’ve been sober a year and a half, but it’s been six years of . . . anything that makes me feel good, I will abuse.
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