Chad Michael Murray revealed a struggle with a rare phobia kept him locked in a hotel room in an interview with The Cut published Tuesday.
The 2000s heartthrob openly discussed the personal challenges he faced during the height of his fame and revealed a struggle with agoraphobia. The phobia dals with the disorder that made it difficult for him to leave safe spaces. The actor detailed how the condition started during the peak of his career and it once prevented him from leaving his hotel room during an event in Miami due to severe anxiety attacks.
Chad Michael Murray Had Agoraphobia at Height of One Tree Hill Fame: ‘I Couldn’t Leave My Hotel Room’ https://t.co/ClkbJlKXtB
— People (@people) May 21, 2024
“I was around 23, and I had an event in Miami, but I couldn’t leave my hotel room,” Murray told The Cut. “The world felt like it was closing in; I was having anxiety attacks.”
Murray continues to struggle with his condition but has managed it well. At age 25, he reached a turning point and decided to reassess his life’s direction. He sought solace in his faith, symbolized by a tattoo. (RELATED: ‘Please Stop Touching Me’: Actress Describes How A Co-Star Stepped In After Alleged Assault)
“I woke up and felt unsettled. I didn’t like the direction that I was going in my life,” he recalled. “I went to church, and I got a tattoo of a cross on my left wrist, and I was like, I’m going to move myself in faith.”
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 07: Actor Chad Michael Murray visits Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” at Universal Studios Hollywood on November 07, 2019 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: Chad Michael Murray attends the special screening of Mother of The Bride at The Bay Theater on May 08, 2024 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix)
Now at 42, Murray’s approach to his career is heavily influenced by his personal beliefs. In a conversation with Fox News Digital in 2022, he emphasized his commitment to authenticity in his roles, stating that he only accepts projects that align with his values.
“I stick to the things I believe in,” Murray explained to Fox News Digital. “Let’s just say a piece of material were to come across my desk, which has happened plenty of times over the last 22 years, that I don’t necessarily feel is what I believe or what I’m selling — then that’s not for me.”
