Fousey Erakat has announced he will be checked into a mental health facility for a long period of 80 days. The statement comes after a brief disappearance on October 3, 2024, during which many experts, fans, family members, and even his management were exceptionally worried.
Fousey’s sudden disappearance and missed flight to Atlanta have caused an uproar in the concern for his safety, since he has struggled publicly and consistently with matters of mental health. His management and family are gravely concerned for his mental state, fearing his anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations may have worsened.
However, Fousey himself was not pleased with how the matter was handled. When he resurfaced, he tried to address concerns but asked for space and publicly criticized his management for blowing out the whole situation into proportion. He also made it known that the scenario should not have been a drama in public, although he understood that he needed to take time out for the benefit of his mental health.
This is the latest chapter in Fousey’s life, which has been a mix of erratic behavior and complete mental health breakdowns. In August 2023, he had to be admitted to a hospital after some kind of altercation with Police. Up until that moment, Fousey had been acting very strangely on his live streams, including staying up for days and even walking along a freeway at night. His viewers were so concerned about his activities-the psychological impact of fame and public scrutiny on the streamer.
He has made his struggles with anxiety and depression public throughout his career. He has talked candidly about having suicidal thoughts and the pressure to maintain a certain kind of online persona. The “Fousey” character he created was initially meant to be an outlet and a coping mechanism for him but eventually became a burden. He felt that he was stuck behind this character, not being able to find his persona due to the image he showed to the world. The nonstop fight for this character, along with some other personal inner battles, created a circle of mental problems.
Being in the public eye magnifies all of Fousey’s inner struggles with mental health. Being one of the more open influencers when it comes to talking about personal problems, his fans have literally been with him through thick and thin in real-time. His segments of live streaming, with him often appearing disconsolate, further raised concern among viewers of his. As many followers still support him, continuous pressure from being watched and judged adds a great amount of stress to his life.
While it has brought success and recognition with fame, it has more often than not come at the cost of his sanity. He realized that this is a time to retreat and confront these issues once and for all. He has dedicated himself to 80 days in a mental care facility. This time, as he made crystal clear, it’s about long-term healing, not a Band-Aid. It is a step toward really getting a chance to work out the deep-seated problems that have haunted him for so long.
Of course, all this doesn’t kill Fousey’s optimism about the future. He has said that once his mental health is better, he intends to resume streaming and use his platform to inspire others who may go through similar struggles. Though he did not specify a return date, indications were that the return would be to advocate for mental health and a message of hope and resilience with his audience.
