10 Celebrities You May Not Know Were Affected By Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
As you may have heard, fetal alcohol syndrome can be a serious disorder that affects the physical and mental development of those who are born with it. It’s caused when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy and passes excessive amounts of ethyl alcohol onto the developing fetus, which causes brain damage.
The symptoms include facial malformations, spina bifida, heart defects, learning disabilities, and coordination problems. FAS affects about 1 in every 8000 newborns in America; however, there is no cure for FAS yet and even when it does become one there are no guarantees that treatment will work, While some celebrities have dealt with this condition up close (like Britney Spears), others haven’t disclosed their FAS story until now (like Tim Roth).
So while we hope these celebrities help give hope to other people who’ve experienced similar issues yourself or know someone who has (like us!), we also want to share their stories so you can learn more about what this disorder looks like up close.
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which can lead to developmental delays, vision problems, and other health issues.
The model and TV host grew up in Brooklyn alongside her grandmother, who raised her while also working as a seamstress. In later years, Tyra said that she felt guilty about not being able to provide for her family as they deserved because of how hard she worked as an actress and model at such a young age.
Tim Roth
Tim Roth was born to an alcoholic mother who drank while she was pregnant with him. The effects of her drinking are visible on his face, which you can see below:
- His head is smaller than average and has a smaller brain.
- He has a small mouth and jaw, as well as smaller teeth and nose (although he does have an impressive set of pearly whites).
- His eyes are also smaller than average—and they’re more closely spaced together on his face, which makes him appear more like a serious person than other celebrities who may have been affected by FASD
Drew Barrymore
- Drew Barrymore was born to a teenage mother who drank alcohol during pregnancy.
- Her biological father died of cancer when she was 7 years old, but she didn’t meet him until later in life.
- She went to rehab for alcohol and drug addiction as a young adult, which led to her being diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Eminem
Eminem was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that affects the brain. His adoptive parents didn’t know he had it, so they didn’t consider it when they named him Marshall Mathers III.
Check This Out 5 Things You Should Keep Secret If You Want To Succeed In The Real World
As a result of his condition, Eminem struggled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life and eventually recovered from those addictions in 1996 after being arrested for Driving Under Influence (DUI).
He went on to become one of America’s most successful rappers ever: he has sold over 90 million albums worldwide and won eight Grammys.
Gary Coleman
- Gary Coleman was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition that causes birth defects, including mental retardation.
- He appeared on TV as a child and later in movies. One of his biggest roles was in the movie “Different Strokes” where he played Tommy’s older brother on the show, “The Bad News Bears.” In this film version of the classic sports comedy movie starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal, you’ll see Gary get beat up by an older boy in school who calls him “retarded.” While not technically accurate (it’s more like “special needs”), it does give viewers an idea about how people thought about those born with FASD back then and still do today!
- Another notable role for Coleman was playing David Mahoney (AKA: Little David) in one episode titled “The Christmas Show” from Little House on The Prairie series 1-7 (1974 – 1983).
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. He was adopted by a family that did not know about his condition, and he grew up in a sheltered environment.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears was born with a heart defect and she was affected by fetal alcohol syndrome. While it’s not clear how much of an impact that had on her, she did say that she felt like an outsider during her childhood because of it. The singer has since become successful and is now one of the most iconic female singers in music history.
She has been an inspiration to other people who were born with the condition, including actress Zoe Saldana (Fearless) and singer Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana).
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey was born with a heart condition, which caused him to have to wear a pacemaker. His mother drank alcohol during her pregnancy and abandoned him when he was a teenager. As an adult, Jim suffered from depression and anxiety disorders. In addition to his troubled childhood, Jim also suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Read Also: 10 Tips To Help You Stay Physically And Mentally Healthy Right Now
During his rise to fame as an actor and comedian, Jim received critical acclaim for his work as an artist; he was nominated for two Academy Awards during this period—for “Dead Poets Society” in 1989 and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.”
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek was born in Mexico to a Lebanese father and a Spanish mother. She has since become an award-winning actress, producer, and philanthropist.
In her early years, she struggled with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is a neurological disorder caused by excessive drinking during pregnancy. FAS can cause developmental delays in children who were exposed to alcohol in their mothers’ wombs while they were still growing inside them – even if they don’t show outward signs of having it at all!
Salma eventually overcame her symptoms through treatment and medication before becoming one of Hollywood’s most successful actresses.
Jamal Crawford, NBAan player
NBA player Jamal Crawford was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition that affects the growth and development of children. His mother drank alcohol during pregnancy, which caused him to be born with a condition that affected his growth and development.
In addition to his physical appearance, he was also diagnosed with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Conclusion
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a serious genetic disorder that can affect anyone who is exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. Unfortunately, due to its prevalence and the stigma surrounding it, many people have never heard of it before today.
That’s why we wanted to do our part in educating others about this condition by sharing some famous faces who were affected by this syndrome and how they dealt with it both physically and emotionally throughout their lives.