Demi Lovato recently reflected on her early career and how fame affected her bond with her younger sister, Madison De La Garza, who also faced her own challenges as a child actor.
Speaking about the Las Culturistas podcast on October 22, Lovato admitted that she wished she had protected Madison more while she was working on it Desperate housewives.
“At the time, I wish I had been a little more protective, to be honest. Because that role, I think, was very challenging for her at such a young age,” Lovato shared.
“And I was unfortunately distracted by my own things, and so I have some regrets in that aspect.”
De La Garza, now 23, played Juanita Solis, the daughter of Eva Longoria’s character Gabrielle, from 2008 to 2012.
During those years, Lovato’s own career skyrocketed Camp Rock, Sonja with a chanceand her first three albums.
While the sisters both found success, Lovato said she now looks back with guilt for not realizing how difficult the role of Madison could be at such a young age.
“I kind of regret it because I think it was a difficult role for her,” Lovato explained.
“There was a lot of focus on her body on the show and I hate that. But she’s so strong and she’s so amazing. She’s become so amazing and I’m so proud of her. She did an amazing job on that show. She was iconic.”
Lovato, who is about to release her new album It’s not that deep added on October 24 that her family was still adjusting to Hollywood life at the time.
“There’s only so much you can do,” she said, recalling how the family had just moved from Texas to Los Angeles and was still learning the ropes of the entertainment industry.
When hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers reminded Lovato not to have too many regrets, she said she has since gained a better understanding of how the experience affected her sister.
“We talked about it in my Child star documentary, and she then opened up and was vulnerable with me, and I think in that moment I realized the effect the show had on her,” Lovato said.
“But I’ve always been protective of her. She’s my little sister and she always will be.”
De La Garza appeared in Lovato’s Child star documentary earlier this year, in which she spoke candidly about her time Desperate housewives and the public comments about her body took their toll.
She reflected on how those experiences connected to her family’s own struggles.
“I kind of realize it now, but at the time I don’t think any of us really realized that what was happening to us was an eating disorder,” De La Garza said in the film.
“It makes me a little sad that this was something we all struggled with individually while standing next to each other. Especially since that was originally the focus of my role on Desperate housewivesand eventually became the center of my life.”
She also said that she and Lovato missed out on normal brother and sister moments due to their busy schedules.
“We didn’t get to enjoy the summers as sisters,” she said, to which Lovato replied that she hoped they could “make up for lost time.”
Lovato’s reflections offered fans a heartfelt look at her personal growth and her enduring bond with her sister, a relationship shaped by early fame, family challenges and a shared resilience that both women continue to embrace.
