Drew Barrymore Says She Regrets Being an ‘Exhibitionist’ in Her Youth, ‘Playboy’ Cover

In her post, which she titled “Phone Home,” referencing E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Barrymore reflected on how she was “around plenty of hedonistic scenarios” at home and at parties, which she says caused her “tremendous shame.” Now, as a mother of two, she wants to make sure her children are protected from access to this exposure in their youth.

“How are we allowing kids to just have this much access? For brains that are not fully developed? And group texts?” she wrote. “These texts can get so toxic, and we must protect our children from being put in scenarios where they cannot always control the rhetoric of the multiple-party dynamics that get put on record on a cloud only to potentially haunt them.”

Barrymore reflected on how she “wanted to disappear” as a teenager when she “messed up” at 13 and was on the cover of numerous tabloids. (The actress was addicted to cocaine and tried to commit suicide at 14.)

“I thought that would be my narrative forever. I wanted to disappear from the planet and never show my face again. But I put one foot in front of the other and put my life back on track, only to make many more mistakes along the way, but that is life,” she wrote. “We make mistakes. And people have been so kind to me. Forgiven me. And cheered me on as I grew up.”

“So, yeah, it is also my karma and life’s work to cheer people on right back!” she added. “We all fall and rise. Over and Over. Life’s a roller coaster. and what a beautiful ride it is.”