Big E’s interview with Chris Van Vliet potentially helped save someone’s life
While speaking to Sam Roberts, WWE personality Big E commented on speaking publicly about his mental health struggles…
“I think a lot of people perceive entertainers and people who come off as very happy or very positive, and they think life is just grand, they never have any issues. So I just really wanted to be more honest and open.
For the longest time, I carried a lot of shame with my diagnosis and what I went through. But really, the powerful part is the times I’m able to share my story and get the feedback that, ‘Oh, I decided to go to therapy,’ or ‘I addressed my addiction issues.’
I just did the Chris Van Vliet podcast yesterday, and someone DM’d me that they were in a hotel and were going to commit suicide. Then they listened to the podcast, and we spent all day going back and forth. We talked for a little bit, but he seems to be in a much better place now.
For me, I think about it at 40 years old. I’ve been so grateful to have had a career that was so much fun. I had a blast. But what is it that I want now with my career? How do I want to use performance, writing, and art? How do I want to use my platform now?
For me, this is it. This is what really drives me. There are a lot of other things that I want to do, but I feel like this is my purpose. As someone who was looking for purpose for the longest time, if by sharing my story I can get someone to realize that they need to seek help or that life is worth living—whatever that is—I feel like, yeah, this is what I want to do every day.”