Lindsey Shaw revealed her private life was the rationale behind her Fairly Little Liars character Paige McCullers’ departure from the hit sequence.
“I bought mainly let go from Fairly Little Liars in season 5 due to the burden that I had misplaced, and it was actually an embarrassing factor,” the 34-year-old actress shared on the Wednesday, July 5, episode of the “Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Information” podcast. “I didn’t look good too skinny after which, you realize, then once I began to place the burden again on, I couldn’t deal with it being too heavy, so it sort of performed into this dumb cycle.”
Shaw starred as one of many love pursuits of Shay Mitchell’s Emily Fields on the teenager drama, which ran for seven seasons on Freeform (previously ABC Household) from 2010 to 2017. Although Paige departed the fictional city of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, after the present’s fifth season, she later returned for a handful of season 7 episodes.
The Ned’s Declassified College Survival Information alum went on to clarify that her physique picture points coincided with drug use struggles. “After I had my drug downside and I used to be in between engaged on stuff, you realize, I’d by no means have to handle my relationship with meals as a result of I used to be at all times like, ‘Oh, I may at all times simply go get extra Adderall,’” she informed her podcast cohosts Devon Werkheiser and Daniel Curtis Lee.
Shaw says she was knowledgeable of her PLL exit throughout a gathering with present creator I. Marlene King, a call that was made along with her well-being in thoughts. “[I. Marlene was] like, ‘It’s not as a result of your appearing,’ she’s like, ‘However do you have got anyone to speak to?’ And I used to be like, ‘Um, no.’ And she or he’s like, ‘We’ll discover anyone, and now we have to allow you to go for now,’” she tearfully recalled. “It was actually candy as a result of they introduced me again in season 7, and it was so pretty of that writing workforce to see that relationship and that character out. However I used to be — that was tough.”
Lindsey Shaw Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
The previous Nickelodeon star even famous that Mitchell, 36, would deliver her protein energy through the troublesome time as they went to the identical nutritionist. “I simply gave away every little thing I cared about, and I simply don’t know that I’ve ever gotten again to the purpose in my profession that I used to be [at] earlier than that discuss, that assembly or that entire season of utilizing,” Shaw acknowledged.
These days, Shaw stated she’s in a “a lot happier” place than she was on the time of her PLL exit and is blissful to see the panorama surrounding physique picture in leisure change. “There are issues I get pleasure from a lot about my physique now that I can’t put phrases to, despite the fact that, like, earlier than, it was historically a bit bit extra skinny or what it must be or no matter seems to be good digicam in order that any angle seems to be good on you.”
Previous to launching her Ned’s Declassified College Survival Information rewatch podcast with Werkheiser, 32, and Lee, 32, in February, Shaw was again within the highlight as she obtained backlash after allegedly mocking a dance development popularized by Black creators on TikTok. “Hey, are we OK? What the f—okay is that this?” she captioned a since-deleted video of the dance development by way of her TikTok web page, in response to Leisure Tonight, earlier than deleting her account in June 2021.
Shaw later apologized for her feedback by way of her Instagram Tales. “I didn’t imply something in any sort of method,” she defined in a June 2021 video. “I’m studying each day as I believe all people is. And this sort of hate simply must evaporate from the planet irrespective of who it’s directed towards. Crocodile tears, no dude! That is my soul on the market.”
Werkheiser defended his former costar in a video of his personal, stating, “If you realize Lindsey personally, you realize she’s a hater on all types of issues — Black, white, brown, well-liked, unpopular — and is usually a reactionary and defensive individual. However she’s additionally bought an excellent coronary heart and is coping with private points and challenges that none of you realize something about.”
