Doja Cat has responded to accusations of having "demonic" tendencies, sharing that she has previously struggled with cocaine addiction. The Grammy-winning artist, 30, addressed these claims and her past substance use in a series of TikTok videos on Monday.
Speaking to her over 29 million followers, Doja Cat, whose full name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, expressed initial fear about discussing the topic but stated she was "taught" that engaging in something that scares her daily is part of a healing journey. "So a lot of people on the Internet believe that I'm demonic - that I have demons - that I have evil in me," she said.
She connected the concept of demons to addictions, including those to drugs, alcohol, or social media, often exacerbated by "uncared for, undiagnosed mental illness." The artist noted that she has had issues with alcohol, stating, "I was never an alcoholic, but I definitely had problems." She also shared her experience with cocaine, saying, "I have struggled with cocaine... I think could have been like eight years ago, but I'm well past that, so... thank God."
Doja Cat emphasized the significant, often overlooked issue of "undiagnosed" or "uncared for" mental illness when paired with social media. She advised that when encountering negative comments online, it's important to consider that "first of all, you probably need help - second of all, they probably need help."
The singer encouraged her followers to remain creative, prioritize self-care, and remember their own fragility. She also discussed her approach to online negativity, explaining that she tries not to mirror toxic energy back to trolls because she understands such behavior often stems from personal despair. "Once you understand that that person is doing it out of their own personal - dare I say demons - it becomes more sad than it becomes angering and irritating," Doja Cat explained.
She suggested that negative remarks often represent people projecting their own issues, stating, "the Internet is a breeding ground for f***ing projecting and everyone's favorite place to project." Before posting online, Doja Cat urged users to consider their words, question if they are projecting, and recognize that "not everything is the truth; not everything is so cut and dry."
