Lola Young Reflects on Her Tumultuous Journey Through Addiction and Recovery Following Onstage Collapse
British singer-songwriter Lola Young recently revisited a harrowing chapter of her life: the moment she collapsed during her set at the All Things Go festival last year. While the incident occurred in the public eye, the behind-the-scenes reality of her struggle remained largely unaddressed—until now.
In a deeply personal Rolling Stone cover story published on March 11, Young detailed the spiraling circumstances that led to what she describes as her “breaking point.” As her breakout single “Messy” climbed the Billboard Hot 100, the mounting pressures of fame—including a relentless schedule of promotion and media appearances—severely hindered her ability to manage her schizoaffective disorder and cocaine dependency.
“The temptation is to say yes to every opportunity because they’re all right there in front of you,” Young explained. “But you have to weigh that against your mental stability. When you’re battling addiction, it’s incredibly difficult to gauge your own limits. I made choices that resulted in self-sabotage, even as I continued to step onto that stage.”
The path to sobriety has been a challenging one for the artist. Following previous stays in treatment facilities in late 2024 and mid-2025, her festival collapse served as a final wake-up call. Shortly after the incident, she announced a hiatus to “work on herself” and entered a rigorous two-month “lockdown” program. This intensive recovery period involved relinquishing her phone and fully committing to therapy. Today, Young is an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and works closely with a sponsor.
Reflecting on her decision to pause her skyrocketing career, Young remains resolute. “There was a lot of noise and criticism, but I had to put that aside,” she said. “The reality was that my addiction was leading me toward a very dark end. I had to choose life over the industry.”
Young also expressed profound gratitude for the “safety net” provided by fellow artists. She revealed that industry icons such as Elton John, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Charli xcx reached out to offer support during her recovery. “It was surreal,” she admitted, “and it made me feel much less alone in the process.”
Her resilience was rewarded this past February at the Grammy Awards. In a poetic comeback, Young took the stage not just as a survivor, but as a winner, taking home the trophy for Best Pop Solo Performance for her hit, “Messy.”
