When we think about Lyme disease, we tend to envision hikers or outdoorsmen being bitten by ticks in forests. But Lyme has no prejudices, it can strike anyone, the rich and famous included. In recent times, a surprising quantity of public figures have come forward with their stories, putting a face on what is so often an ill-understood and misdiagnosed disease. Here are 10 well-known names you likely didn’t know are on the list of celebrities with Lyme disease — and what their experiences can teach us.
1. Bella Hadid
Perhaps no more renowned celebrity suffers from Lyme disease than Bella, who was diagnosed as a young teenager. She talks about it candidly.
She suffers from brain fog, dizziness, insomnia, and neuro problems – but still catwalks at the top.
Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, also lives with Lyme, and the family is always transparent about the ” invisible load” of chronic illness.
2. Yolanda Hadid
Yolanda is also one of the more outspoken public voices in the Lyme community. Diagnosed in about 2012, she’s long described brain fog, anxiety, pain, problems with memory, and insomnia.
On The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and on Instagram, she’s used the platform to build awareness about the “unseen disability” of chronic Lyme.
3. Avril Lavigne
Perhaps one of the most prominent songwriters and vocalists on here, Avril revealed in the press in 2015 that she was bedbound for months with Lyme before being diagnosed.
She also utilized her experience through song, singing about surviving and enduring in her emotional song “Head Above Water.”.
4. Justin Bieber
In 2020, Bieber surprised many fans by announcing his Lyme disease diagnosis.
He also said that he had experienced neurologic impairment, chronic fatigue, and the emotional stress of being a high-profile public figure with a chronic illness.
5. Amy Schumer
Comedian and actress Amy Schumer revealed in 2020 that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, but believed that she had it for years earlier.
She directly confronted the setbacks, including weight, lack of energy, and the frustrations of a delayed diagnosis.
6. Ben Stiller
Not exactly the same as medical problems, Ben Stiller also features among stars who suffer from Lyme disease. According to reports, Ben acquired the disease while on vacation in Nantucket, and over time, realized episodes of joint discomfort that would ultimately bring about a diagnosis.
He still occasionally participates in Lyme awareness campaigns and fundraising.
7. Shania Twain
Country/Pop icon Shania Twain’s tale is particularly poignant: Lyme disease affected her singing voice — a blow for a singer.
She revealed that she thought that she would never sing again at some point.
8. Alec Baldwin
One of the lesser-publicized but more interesting cases: actor Alec Baldwin talked about Lyme disease episodes in public.
He was experiencing seasonal cycles of “flu-like” symptoms, joint pains, and excessive tiredness — often following primary exposure.
9. Kelly Osbourne
As with most Lyme patient registries, Lyme disease issues in their family were brought up by Kelly Osbourne, but they generally earn less mainstream media scrutiny.
It highlights the reality that stars from all walks of life — not only musicians or reality stars — can fall.
10. Miranda Hart
British comedian and actress Miranda Hart revealed in 2024 that she had long suffered from a mysterious illness, only to blame most of the symptoms in the end on Lyme disease complicated by ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome). She further said that the disease had bed- and house-bound her for years and that the symptoms began as early as adolescence.
Why So Many Celebrities With Lyme Disease?
You may ask: Is Lyme disease more prevalent in celebrities? Not so much. But a few things explain why more celebs appear to be coming forward with their diagnoses:
- Visibility and platform
Celebrities have large audiences, which means they both have the pressure and the platform to disclose personal struggles. When a celebrity comes forward, the media blasts it — and so we hear “celebrities with Lyme disease” more than ordinary cases.
- Delayed diagnosis, chronic course
Lyme disease is notoriously hard to diagnose, particularly in its chronic state. Many of the afflicted — celebrity or otherwise — spend years enduring symptoms of a vague nature before receiving a diagnosis.
Celebrities are more likely to have access to specialists with whom to seek an accurate diagnosis.
- Advocacy drives disclosure
A number of celebrities have taken on a role as advocates: they view their diagnosis as something that can be used to desensitize the disease, further research, and assist others in avoiding unnecessary suffering. Yolanda Hadid, for instance, has stated that she hopes to “turn her mess into a message.
What We Can Learn from Their Stories?
The tale of these stars afflicted with Lyme disease is a teaching for all:
- Early symptoms go unnoticed. Fatigue, joint or head pain, and “brain fogs” are dismissed or misconstrued — occasionally by doctors.
- Speak out for yourself. Most Lyme patients suffer through misdiagnoses (e.g. autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue) before proper care.
- The invisible illness is all too real. It’s one of the most frustrating aspects of Lyme disease — chronic, specifically — that outside appearances do not equate to inner damage.
- Support matters, whether in public discourse or personal networks, survivors value community, mental health care, and accommodative life adjustments.
Final Thoughts
When we look at big-name stars such as Bella Hadid, Avril Lavigne, Amy Schumer, or Alec Baldwin being named among stars with Lyme disease, it is a two-pronged reaction: it personalizes the disease and raises inquiry. Their cases demonstrate Lyme disease doesn’t adhere to dictums about careers, salaries, or stardom.
If you were present in the hopes of further insight into Lyme disease, their stories bring with them warnings as well as hope. You do not have to be a star to earn care, respect, and answers — but in their case, public scrutiny brought into relief that oft-hidden reality.
