19 Celebrities Who Have Struggled With Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a frustrating, devastating condition that can affect anyone. The inflammatory infection spreads to humans through tick bites, that pick up bacteria by biting infected animals and passing it on to others (usually deer, birds, mice and other small rodents), including humans. Lyme disease can be mysterious and often has become more difficult to treat, and recovery isn’t always guaranteed. So, what might seem like the flu might be something much worse.

In recent years, more celebrities have spoken out about being diagnosed, in hopes it brings loads of awareness to the disease and offers reassurance. Here are some stars who have spoken out about their struggles and experiences with Lyme disease.

Justin Bieber wearing a bright pink hat at the Grammy Awards

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1 / 19

Justin Bieber

When paparazzi photos of the Canadian singer resurfaced online, Bieber took to Instagram to announce that he has been suffering from Lyme disease. Not only does he have the illness, but he was also dealing with a “serious case of mono” that affected his overall health. “It's been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever NO CAP," he shared.

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Amy Schumer

The actress and comedian shared on Instagram that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2020. She revealed in her post that she’s on the antibiotic doxycycline as well as an herbal supplement called lyme-2.

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3 / 19

Ramona Singer

The reality star thinks she might have been bitten by a tick in the Hamptons – where she spends a lot of time at her home – and emphasizes that you should get tested at least once a month if you live in a heavily wooded area. She told DailyMailTV in 2020 that she has since recovered from the disease and her immune system is back.

Kelley Flanagan wearing a green outfit, hand on her hip and smiling

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4 / 19

Kelley Flanagan

After feeling that her body was “much more sensitive and super reactive to a bunch of things,” Flanagan was diagnosed with the disease. Since inflammation is a symptom, according to People, The Bachelor alum shared that she was making her diet her priority.

Avril Lavigne in a black dress at the Grammy Awards

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5 / 19

Avril Lavigne

When people assumed her absence from the public was because she was in rehab, the pop star eventually revealed she was so sick and was bedridden for five months. She's since come back stronger than ever and since her diagnosis, Lavigne has been advocating for Lyme awareness, raising funds for children and young adults who suffer from the illness.

Shania Twain wearing a black outfit at the Grammy Awards

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6 / 19

Shania Twain

The award-winning country singer had to retrain her voice after dysphonia, the result of her Lyme disease, affected her singing voice. It's improving but she now requires special warm-up sessions and physical therapy to do what she loves.

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Yolanda Hadid

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star might be one of the most prominent stars advocating for Lyme disease awareness. Hadid, who was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in 2012, recruited her co-stars for an Instagram campaign dubbed the "Lyme Disease Challenge" and has been outspoken about her plight. "You don't get it until you get it."

Anwar and Bella Hadid at red carpet event

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8 / 19

Bella and Anwar Hadid

Two of Hadid's children also suffer from the "invisible illness," with Bella explaining how many aspects of her life have been hindered by her disease. "I know what it feels like to not want to get out of bed from bone pains and exhaustion and days on end of not wanting to socialize or be around people because the anxiety and brain fog just isn't worth it. After years of this, you begin to get used to living with the sickness, instead of getting cured and moving on with your life."

Ben Stiller wearing a black suit and smiling

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9 / 19

Ben Stiller

In 2011, the actor told The Hollywood Reporter that he was diagnosed with Lyme in after suffering from a lingering knee injury. "I'm symptom-free now, but Lyme doesn't ever leave your system," he told the magazine. "It's a really tough thing."

Alec Baldwin speaking at the Kennedy Human Rights event

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10 / 19

Alec Baldwin

Baldwin, who was emcee at the Bay Area Lyme Foundation's gala LymeAid in 2017, revealed he thought he was going to die from Lyme. It was in 2011 that he told the New York Times he suffered from a chronic form of the condition.

Kelly Osbourne wearing a black dress and both hands on her hips

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11 / 19

Kelly Osbourne

The star remembers being bitten by a tick in 2004 at her father Ozzy's surprise 56th birthday party. She would then go on to suffer from all kinds of "simple" symptoms, like stomach pains and a sore throat before realizing the truth.

"I've learned to advocate for myself when it comes to my health, and I trust my intuition," she wrote in her memoir, There Is No F*cking Secret: Letters From a Badass Bitch. "If I think something is wrong, I refuse to let anyone dismiss it. And sadly, I stay the f*ck away from reindeer."

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12 / 19

Richard Gere

It has been reported that Gere had to postpone filming of Autumn in New York more than 20 years ago after undergoing antibiotic treatment for Lyme.

Daryl Hall playing guitar and singing into microphone

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13 / 19

Daryl Hall

Lyme forced the musician to cancel a Hall & Oates tour in 2005. He's since criticized the lack of recognition it gets and has become an advocate to the medical community's approach to Lyme.

Debbie Gibson wearing a gold jacket holding a microphone

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14 / 19

Debbie Gibson

Gibson started experiencing the symptoms of Lyme in 2013, and it really messed with her cognitive skills. She's improved dramatically since, but like so many others, isn't entirely out of the woods.

Christy Turlington wearing a black outfit at an event

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15 / 19

Christy Turlington

The model and humanitarian reportedly contracted Lyme in 2007 but detected it early enough so she was able to successfully eradicate it with antibiotics.

Ally Hilfiger wearing a satin white outfit and smiling

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16 / 19

Ally Hilfiger

"I was convinced that bugs were crawling in my body. I could feel them eating at my organs, my stomach and especially my brain," Hilfiger wrote in her new book, Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy, and Almost Killed Me. "I wasn't me anymore. I was a weakly projected image of myself on a wall, crying out for someone to help me and figure out what was wrong." Hilfiger was seven years old when she was bitten by a tick and diagnosed with Lyme.

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Parker Posey

The actress was diagnosed with Lyme in 2009 and had to drop out of a stage production at the time.

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George W. Bush

The former U.S. president was reportedly diagnosed in 2006 when he first noticed a rash on the front of his lower left leg. His condition improved and the following year it was said that the Lyme had reached "complete resolution" and was "without recurrence."

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19 / 19

Amy Tan

The author of The Joy Luck Club took to the New York Times to reveal her plight with a mystery illness that caused symptoms like insomnia, head and muscle aches, nausea, exhaustion and seizures. It wasn't until nearly four years that she was diagnosed with Lyme.

"Three months after antibiotic treatment, I could write again," she wrote in the column, in which she called for new diagnosis and treatment standards, along with insurance coverage for Lyme. "I have my life back, but I am not cured. If I go off antibiotics, the symptoms march back. I have permanent bodily damage, including epilepsy, a consequence of 16 lesions in my brain."