American singer Doja Cat has opened up about her past struggles with cocaine and alcohol in a series of personal videos posted on TikTok.
The Grammy-winning artist clarified that her drug use took place roughly eight years ago and is now firmly in her past, expressing gratitude that she has removed illegal substances from her life.
In one of the videos published on the video sharing platform, Doja Cat addressed her fans directly to clarify her history with substance use. She explained that she felt it was necessary to speak out, even though she wished she did not have to make such a public clarification.
She confirmed that her struggle with cocaine occurred approximately eight years ago and emphasized that the experience is completely behind her, adding that she thanked God for moving past that period. She also noted that, aside from marijuana, she never had a real problem with other drugs.
Doja Cat, whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, is a prominent American singer, rapper, and songwriter known for her successful pop and hip-hop releases. She won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance alongside SZA for their hit song Kiss Me More.
Alcohol Use and Social Media Impact
In a second video posted to TikTok, Doja Cat discussed her past difficulties with alcohol consumption. She admitted that while she would not label herself as an alcoholic, alcohol was something she definitely struggled with during earlier periods of her life.
She explained that she had used the internet as a tool to validate negative thoughts in her mind, which became significantly worse whenever she drank alcohol. She urged her followers to learn from her experience, warning that combining alcohol with negative online spaces creates a harmful dynamic.
The singer also highlighted the dangerous intersection of mental health struggles and social media exposure. She stated that mental health disorders combined with online platforms can create severe issues that many people do not fully comprehend, emphasizing the importance of keeping this in mind when encountering negative commentary online.
Childhood Experiences and Identity
Addressing long-standing allegations from some fans who claimed she hated being a Black woman, Doja Cat spoke candidly about her childhood and identity in a third video segment. She recalled that her feelings of self-doubt and self-hatred began when she was around eight years old.
She explained that those feelings developed after her family moved to a neighborhood where the overwhelming majority of residents were white. She concluded the series of posts by stating that she felt a strong need to release these personal reflections and felt that the day of posting was the right time to speak out.
Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis
The disclosures follow statements Doja Cat made earlier in March, when she publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. At the time, she shared details about her long-standing coping mechanisms developed during her youth.
She explained that from a very young age she learned to pretend to like things, pretend to be happy, and pretend to dislike things she actually enjoyed in order to appear as if everything was fine. She said she repeatedly told herself she would manage, but those suppressed feelings eventually caught up with her.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by difficulties in regulating emotion, leading to intense mood swings and instability in self-image and relationships. Doja Cat revealed that she has been undergoing psychotherapy for several years to manage what she described as a tormenting condition.
