Demi Lovato and Keke Palmer are revisiting their early years in the spotlight with a more mature perspective. During a candid conversation on Palmer’s podcast, the two former child stars spoke openly about growing up in Hollywood, navigating fame at a young age, and realizing later in life that some of their teenage relationships with adult men were inappropriate.
Lovato, 33, appeared on a recent episode of the “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer” podcast, where the host, 32, invited the singer to reflect on the pressures they both faced while working as teenagers in the entertainment industry. Their discussion quickly turned to the emotional toll of growing up fast while being treated like adults professionally.
Growing Up Fast in the Entertainment Industry
Lovato explained that the pressure of working at such a young age influenced how they approached their personal life. While they were expected to perform and behave like adults on set and in public, they felt that same expectation seeped into their private decisions. “For me I actually was like … I had this mantra that was like, ‘If you’re going to work me like an adult, I’m going to party like an adult,’” Lovato said. “And I got into some bad stuff at a young age and that’s when I started self-medicating.”
The “Confident” singer has previously spoken publicly about their struggles with substance abuse and recovery. Looking back now, Lovato acknowledged that those early choices were shaped by the environment they were in. “I wish that, you know, I had stayed more focused,” Lovato said.
© Getty Images for TikTokEven so, the singer emphasized that their journey, including the difficult moments, helped shape who they are today. “Obviously, I think the course of my life would have gone in a different direction, meaning I wouldn’t have maybe struggled as much with substances later down the road, but everything happens for a reason,” Lovato said. “I’m sitting here in this state of mind today, like, grateful for everything that I’ve been through. It was really challenging. There wasn’t a lot of time for play, but when I did, I played pretty hard.”
Realizing the Reality of Age-Gap Relationships
Palmer then shifted the conversation toward romantic relationships they experienced as teenagers while navigating fame. The actress and singer said it took years to fully understand the dynamics of those relationships.
“I feel like people don’t understand that that’s what we was dealing with, you know?” Palmer said. “I found myself dating. I’m 15. Why is my boyfriend 20?”
Lovato immediately related to the experience. “Why was my boyfriend 30? You know what I’m saying?” Lovato replied.
© FilmMagicThe two stars reflected on how these relationships felt normal at the time because of the adult environments they were working in. However, as they grew older, their perspectives changed. “But then you look back in hindsight,” Lovato said. “When I turned 30, I was like, that’s not okay.”
The singer even addressed the topic in their 2023 song “29,” which explores the emotions tied to a past age-gap relationship.
© FilmMagicThe Moment Perspective Changes
Palmer described a turning point that many former child performers experience: realizing as adults that the situations they once thought were normal were actually harmful. “Girl, the moment when you realize, and you get [to] the age of a lot of people that were around you and doing stuff, it’s almost a mental break that can happen because you realize you were taken advantage of,” Palmer said. “Oh, I was being exploited.”
© Baby, This Is Keke PalmerShe explained that the realization was especially difficult because her teenage self believed the relationship made sense given her career. “That was very difficult for me ‘cause at 15 I’m thinking my boyfriend’s older because I’m doing an older job, and I’m doing a bunch of things, and this is the way that it is, and it seemed normal in my mind,” Palmer said.
Lovato added that maturity at a young age can blur boundaries even further. “Especially if you’re an older soul, too,” Lovato said. “Especially if you’re mature for your age.”
A Shared Experience Among Child Stars
The conversation also highlighted how common these experiences may have been among young performers in the entertainment industry. Palmer pointed to Hilary Duff’s recent single “Mature,” which reflects on a similar age-gap relationship, saying it resonated deeply with her.
“I love the Hilary Duff song that came out because it’s like, ‘Oh s—,’” Palmer said. “We all had the same damn life.”
Their discussion offered a rare look at the emotional complexity of growing up in Hollywood, where the lines between childhood and adulthood can blur quickly. For Lovato and Palmer, revisiting those memories now is part of understanding their past while continuing to move forward with clarity and self-awareness.
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