David Bowie’s Daughter Reflects on Missing Dad’s Death Due to Rehab Stay
Alexandria “Lexi” Zahra Jones, daughter of music legend David Bowie and supermodel Iman, recently opened up about her traumatic experiences during her father’s illness and her subsequent treatment. In a candid video shared on Instagram, the 25-year-old reflected on how her father’s battle with liver cancer affected her life.
Childhood Struggles and Emotional Turmoil
Jones highlighted her early challenges with self-image and mental health. At just 12 years old, she developed bulimia, stemming from feelings of inadequacy and confusion exacerbated by her parents’ fame. “I felt miserable and unworthy,” she shared.
When Bowie was diagnosed with cancer, she was only 14. This diagnosis marked a turning point for Jones. She struggled with drugs and alcohol, viewing them as an escape from her complicated home life and her father’s illness.
Transportation to Treatment
After Bowie’s cancer diagnosis, Jones was taken from her home and sent to a wilderness therapy program. She described the experience as harrowing, recalling how she was forcibly removed from her familiar surroundings by two large men. “They told me I could do this the easy way or the hard way,” she remembered, vividly recounting her distress during the incident.
Life in a Treatment Center
Her time spent in wilderness therapy, followed by 13 months in a residential treatment center in Utah, was particularly difficult. Jones revealed that she felt stripped of basic comforts, designed to encourage compliance and proper behavior. “The entire experience was dehumanizing,” she stated, emphasizing the emotional and mental manipulation she faced during her time there.
Jones left treatment just before her 16th birthday but struggled to adjust back to normal life. She described the overwhelming transition as shocking and found herself falling back into old patterns.
Grief and Loss
Compounding her challenges was the loss of her father. Bowie passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69. Jones recalled a poignant moment during her treatment when she learned of his death through an online post while she was away. “I felt physically ill,” she admitted, describing the guilt of not being there with her family in his final moments.
In treatment, she had to navigate her grief under structured guidelines for processing loss. “I had never lost anyone close to me, so I didn’t know how to grieve,” she explained.
Long-Term Impact and Advocacy
Now, Jones aims to shed light on the struggles faced by children in similar circumstances. She emphasized the damaging effects of repeatedly being placed in treatment facilities, highlighting a system that often makes youth feel “too broken.”
Her reflections echo those of other celebrities like Paris Hilton, who have spoken out against inadequate youth treatment facilities. Hilton has advocated for increased transparency and better oversight of the industry, indicating a growing awareness of such issues.
Jones concluded her video by expressing the complex feelings surrounding her identity and relationships, revealing a profound struggle to find authentic connections amidst her challenging upbringing. “I didn’t want to be in the spotlight. It felt more like exposure than acceptance,” she stated.
Through her journey, Alexandria Jones aims to inspire conversations about the realities of mental health and familial loss, encouraging others to seek help and not suffer in silence.
