Olsen twin's anorexia clashes with image
For teen sensations Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, these have been the brightest of times in their star-dusted lives. Or so fans of theirs have been led to believe. In the past few weeks alone, the Olsen twins celebrated their high school graduations and 18th birthdays, promoted the release of their latest feature movie, "New York Minute," and appeared for umpteen magazine covers and celebrity interviews.
Now in command of a $300 million multimedia empire comprising movies, videos, books, and fashion accessories, yet barely old enough to vote, the Olsens began their show-business careers at the tender age of 9 months and have been America's sweethearts ever since. They even appeared on "Saturday Night Live" recently, poking fun at an All-American image tailored for
The "SNL" joke rang a bit hollow yesterday, though, and the brightest of times suddenly seemed a good deal darker, as news broke that Mary-Kate is in fact being treated for anorexia. According to a Reuters report, she checked into a treatment clinic within the past week or two and will remain there for a least a month. Ashley is said to be embarking on a European promotion tour without her sister.
The Olsens' publicist, Michael Pagnotta, did not return a phone call yesterday seeking comment on the news, which surfaced in a story in the upcoming issue of US Weekly (the magazine gave advance copies to the Globe and other news outlets). Pagnotta spoke with USA Today, however, asserting that Mary-Kate is "taking charge in making this decision" and "wants to be healthy." According to Pagnotta, Ashley retains "complete faith" in her sister. Both Olsens are still expected to enter New York University in the fall.
The news of Mary-Kate's detour into a treatment center, blending as it did with a steady stream of air-brushed publicity shots and cotton-candy interviews (Mary-Kate in Justine magazine: "The people who know us best . . . say I tend to be more of a free spirit and laid back . . ."), resonated with at least two camps yesterday: the twins' fan base -- preteen and teenage girls, mostly -- and health-care professionals and others concerned about how celebrity role-models influence pop-culture consumers.
For Sarah Morse, 15, of Sudbury, who faithfully watched "Full House" (the Olsens' first TV sitcom) growing up, the news was sobering, if not exactly earth-shaking. Morse said she could relate to the Olsens because they always seemed to be going through the same phases she was.
"I feel bad for her because I think she feels a lot of media pressure to be thin and have the perfect body," Morse said. "It's not only bad for her health, but it might influence her fans to do the same thing."
Asked whether the news might spur other young girls to face their own eating issues, Morse said that it could. "They might see they're not alone," she said, adding that it also could remind worshipful fans that Ashley and Mary-Kate, however close, are individuals with separate needs and issues.
"I do feel bad for her," Morse said. "It's a serious illness, and hopefully she's getting help for it."
Emily Giudice, 13, of Newton described herself as a lapsed fan who used to watch their videos faithfully. "She's not the first person in Hollywood to have an issue like this, so I wasn't really surprised," Giudice said. Will the news be tough on the twins' fans? "Probably," she said. "Especially for those who look up to them as role models."
Nancy Groover, publisher of New Moon magazine, a periodical aimed at girls age 8 to 14, predicts the revelation could have several effects on fans who've viewed the twins as reflections of themselves, albeit idealized ones.
"The story is not so much about the pressure of fame but that even extraordinary success can't shield girls from the pressures our culture exerts on them," Groover said. A disorder like anorexia is all about struggling for control, Groover said, and young girls do that constantly in many ways, including getting the message they "should" look a certain way.
"A teachable moment? Absolutely," said Groover. "But for adults and parents, as opposed to girls. We must value them for who they are and what they do, not for how they look."
Douglas Bunnell, board chairman of the National Eating Disorders Association, hopes the story of Mary-Kate's battle educates the public that a disease such as anorexia is far from being "a lifestyle choice of rich girls," as he puts it.
There's a tone to news stories like those about actress Calista Flockhart's alleged eating disorder that "it's a silly, stupid thing," said Bunnell. "There's little sense these people are caught up in a disease process beyond their control."
Reminded that Mary-Kate just turned 18 and is headed for college, Bunnell said he was sympathetic to what she was now dealing with. "This is a season of transition," he noted, "and young women are in clinics across the country right now struggling with this very same issue."
Joseph P. Kahn can be reached at jkahn@globe.com.
