In a candid conversation featured in her new documentary, Child Star, Demi Lovato, alongside Camp Rock co-star Alyson Stoner, opened up about their experiences filming Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam and Lovato’s regrets regarding their behavior during that period. The discussion, part of Lovato’s exploration of childhood stardom, reveals a shift in dynamics between the two actors and Lovato’s acknowledgment of past missteps.
Lovato, known for hits like “Heart Attack” and their role in Sonny with a Chance, shared with Stoner how their rising fame impacted their perception and behavior during the filming of the second Camp Rock movie. Recalling the first movie, Lovato noted a sense of equality among the cast, referencing shared dinners and experiences at the Grand hotel. Stoner echoed these memories, highlighting the camaraderie of the initial Camp Rock production.
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However, as Lovato’s solo music career took off and their profile grew, the atmosphere on the set of Camp Rock 2 shifted. “Then my career exploded, and all of a sudden I was staying at the Four Seasons,” Lovato explained. This change in circumstances created a noticeable “power dynamic,” leading Lovato to feel “leveled up,” but also acknowledging a trade-off: “I was trading connection for success.”
Stoner corroborated this shift, expressing that accessing Lovato’s আগের closeness became difficult during The Final Jam. “I remember that it felt so hard to access you in that way,” Stoner admitted. “Like we had lost that thread of trust, we had lost that closeness. It didn’t seem maybe like you wanted to be reached either at that point. So the last few years of working together felt really challenging.” The emotional weight of these reflections was palpable, with both actors becoming tearful during their conversation.
Stoner delicately broached the subject of Lovato’s demeanor, revealing the tense atmosphere on set. “The treatment did feel drastically different,” Stoner stated, before acknowledging the sensitive issue. “My heart is racing. I do remember a sense of walking on eggshells [around you], and so there was definitely a lot of fear of a blow-up.” This candid admission highlighted the impact of Lovato’s behavior on their co-stars and the overall filming environment of Camp Rock 2.
Lovato took full responsibility for their actions, recognizing that while it was an intense period in their career, it was not an excuse for poor treatment of others. “I know that we both were going through our own stuff, but it still didn’t give me an excuse to treat anyone poorly, and so I just want to genuinely, deeply apologize for any stress or any walking on eggshells, any hurt feelings,” Lovato expressed. “I’m genuinely so sorry for that. And I look back at that time, and I have profound sadness, ’cause I’m like, ‘How many people did I treat poorly?'”
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Adding another layer to their reflection, Lovato revealed difficulties in recalling the Camp Rock 2 period, which preceded their entry into rehab in 2010. “Camp Rock, I remember a lot more than I do Camp Rock 2,” Lovato confessed. Stoner resonated with this, sharing their own experiences of memory gaps related to their early career. “There were like entire projects that was like ‘Oh, that film.'” Lovato then suggested “Disassociation. It’s like a common thread between all of us,” to which Stoner agreed, “All of us,” highlighting a shared experience among child stars.
Stoner further elaborated on this point, connecting their early start in dance and acting to a sense of dissociation throughout their childhood stardom journey. “I know I started dancing around 3 years old, and I just went straight to treating it like work,” Stoner explained. “I think I was dissociated kind of throughout the whole journey. On the outside, you look like everything’s okay. And then years later, you can’t remember a thing.”
Child Star, co-directed by Lovato, is currently available for streaming on Hulu, offering a deeper look into Lovato’s journey and reflections on their experiences as a child star, including their time filming Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.
