Katharine's Secret Struggle

Posted Jul 27th 2006 7:00PM by TMZ Staff

Katharine McPhee: Click to watchThe "American Idol" contestant opens up about her struggle with bulimia in an interview with sister and "EXTRA" guest correspondent Adriana McPhee. After building up the courage to tell her mother about her eating disorder, Katharine joined a program, which she says was overwhelming.

"I remember the first day, my first meal when I sat down with the other girls, I cried at the table," she said, "It was just like going face to face and seeing all the other girls struggling at the table and seeing myself actually wanting to eat as fast as I could to get out of there."

Now that she's fully recovered and back on the "Idol" tour, McPhee is happy to be seen as a role model to those in similar situations.

"If I can help somebody, you know, get help and go work on their eating disorder, that's great. If I can cheer up somebody by going to a concert one night, that's great. That's what I'm in it for." And the best part to McPhee - "I feel like I can eat whatever I want."

Filed under: TV, Music, American Idol

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(Page 4 of 9)Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. She is being such a drama queen! I have suffered through numerous eating disorders and when you have one, you keep quiet. You don't let the whole world know. What is wrong with her? Does she want people to know she has it? Does she even have it? I doubt it. She only wants attention. Too bad she didn't win American Idol then we wouldn't have heard this bullsh*t about her "secret struggle".

Posted at 9:48PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Brie

47. she is a spoiled brat.........im ready for a new season of american idol....they are all pathetic.....BUT YOU CANT BEAT ELLIOTT WAKING UP LATE TO SEE THE PRESIDENT!!!!!!!! HE MISSED THE MEETING AND PICTURES! WHAT RESPECT!
HIS MOMMA "MOMMYS BOY" SAID HE IS A CHRONIC OVERSLEEPER!!! GMAFB DONT OVERSLEEP TO SEE THE USA PRESIDENT!!! WHAT A FRIKIN LOOSER!

Posted at 9:50PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Jen

48. wow Vicky, tell us what you really think. katherine mcFee may have had problems with bolemia but i bet she also got twisted when she lost to Taylor Hicks. Truth be told he is very charasmatic but this American idol year was the worst i've ever seen. I wonder why Vicki is so angry with Katherine ? Jealous ?

Sooki

Posted at 9:51PM on Jul 30th 2006 by sooki

49. Its obvious Katharine has alot more issues than just an eating disorder. Her problems must go much deeper. She should not be doing interviews and she should definitely not be joining the other idols. American idols should be role models. Katharine has lied and let her fans down . When you buy tickets to a concert, you hope to see all of them unless for reasons that cannot be helped. Kat knew she was sick all along!! I agree with the above comment. She is a phony.

Posted at 9:51PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Pat Lombardo

50. Just how many times did Katherine say " YOU KNOW " during the interview?
I sure don't want to listen to it again to count the "phrase."
She is extremely lucky she got as far as she did on American Idol. I just hated it when she could not reach or hold a note and went off on a riff.

Posted at 10:05PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Judy

51. Kat's "secret" is as old as last season's American Idol. Something had to happen to explain why she didn't win..ie: she has this eating disorder. She does have a good voice but I believe she is not as good as SHE thinks. She is a diva and if you remember her "McPhee Day" at her school..she was so arrogant and pompous. That is very telling...in her day to day element.. Anywho, I'm sick of hearing about it. Why doesn't she just try to get famous off her voice? Oh wait...because it sux.

Posted at 10:12PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Tanya

52. Second Place. Tell me this "just happened" after losing Idol. BIG DRAMA "look at me, not Taylor" tactic brought on by publicists. I am not buying it at all. She has had the disease all along....
All of the "recovering" stars are doing is telling young people with eating disorders that it takes fame and fortune to deal with this disease, as well as someone to print it and make it public, therefore embarrasing.. What 15 year old girl with anorexia is going to call the "hotline" and ask to speak to their favorite star??? We all know better. I think we all as a society need to re-visit Karen Carpenter's story. You don't have to like the music in order to understand her story.

Posted at 10:14PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Judy T

53. I think she just wants attention! WHATEVER!

Posted at 10:15PM on Jul 30th 2006 by dee

54. A bunck of BULL is what it is!

Posted at 10:15PM on Jul 30th 2006 by dee

55. Do any of these "stars," and I use the term loosely, have anything normal that happens in their lives. I'm sorry she had an eating disorder, but do we have to read the same story over and over and over and over and over and over again. Take some of that money your earned from IDOL and start a treametn program. I am really sick of hearing about this wannabe singer/bulimic/feelsorryforme/McPhee.

Posted at 10:19PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Shirley

56. I am very proud of her. She has encouraged me even more. I have been anorexic and Bulimic for about a year and a half now... Loosing over 40 lbs last year... I really want help, and seeing how happy she is now... Is amazing...

Posted at 10:19PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Lauren

57. I just read the previous comments... You all suck. America obviuosly sucks... Listen to who you voted for your american idol... I rest my case...

Posted at 10:21PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Lauren

58. Kat is a marginal performer who craves publicity. She didn't win Idol & if her publicity seeking stunts continue, she'll be known as the poor man's Paris. Kat, go home, get a job & a life & stop the insanity.

Posted at 10:22PM on Jul 30th 2006 by carol

59. Those of you who are full of negative comments are just jealous! !
She is very talented and pretty with a great personality.

Posted at 10:23PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Jane

60. The fact that she says now, "I'm TOTALLY recovered" just shows how in denial she still is. I have two daughters, 46 and 41 years old. Bullemia came into focus for the first time when they were teenagers. Since there was five years difference in their ages, they never did do things together. BUT they turned out to BOTH BE BULLEMIC. It is like alcoholic though, YOU ARE ALWAYS bullemic, whether you threw up your last time, TODAY or ten years ago. My daughters are BOTH doing very good, but they assure me that it is a constant battle, they just have to be sure to win everyday. They both work in the medical field and know the problems that this disease causes your body, so made a change early in their 20's. BUT, as they say........it's always there.......LEARN to DEAL with it. The worst part of Katharine's ordeal is that she HAS TO air MAKE HER PRIVATE LIFE for the public. She probably figured if she didn't REVEAL it, reports would uncover it and make it known to the public with a BIG SPLASHHHHH!!!! HOW many girls are destroyed by choosing to be FAMOUS? OHWELL, if you want to continue to be FAMOUS, Katharine you better take care of yourself!!!!!

Posted at 10:35PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Barb

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