Lindsey Shaw: The Untold Truth Behind Her Shocking Exit from ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Amidst Battling Body Image and Addiction

Lindsey Shaw attributed her departure from Pretty Little Liars to her personal life, explaining that she was let go from the show due to her significant weight loss. The 34-year-old actress candidly discussed this experience on the "Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide" podcast, revealing that she found it embarrassing. Shaw admitted that she didn't feel good when she was too skinny, and when she started gaining weight back, she struggled with feeling too heavy, which created a challenging cycle for her.

Shaw portrayed one of Emily Fields' love interests on the popular teen drama, which aired on Freeform from 2010 to 2017. Despite leaving the show in its fifth season, she made a return for a few episodes in season 7.

The former star of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide revealed that her struggles with body image were intertwined with her drug use. During her podcast discussion with cohosts Devon Werkheiser and Daniel Curtis Lee, Shaw shared that she would avoid addressing her relationship with food by relying on Adderall due to her drug problem.

Shaw recounts being informed of her departure from PLL during a meeting with show creator I. Marlene King. The decision was made with her well-being in mind. "[I. Marlene] said, 'It's not because of your acting,' she said, 'But do you have someone to talk to?' And I said, 'Um, no.' And she said, 'We'll find someone, and we have to let you go for now,'" she tearfully remembered. "It was really heartwarming because they brought me back for season 7, and the writing team wanted to conclude that relationship and character. But it was a tough time for me."

Lindsey Shaw, known for her role in Nickelodeon, mentioned that Mitchell, age 36, supported her during a challenging period by providing her with protein power. They both visited the same nutritionist. Shaw revealed, "I let go of everything that mattered to me, and I'm not sure if I have ever regained the same level of success I had prior to that conversation, meeting, or entire season of substance abuse."

Nowadays, Shaw said she’s in a “much happier” place than she was at the time of her PLL exit and is pleased to witness the evolving landscape surrounding body image in the entertainment industry. “There are aspects of my body now that bring me immense joy, which are difficult to articulate. Previously, there was a certain expectation for it to be traditionally thin or conform to conventional standards of beauty for the camera to capture any angle in a flattering way."

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Before launching her rewatch podcast for Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide with Werkheiser and Lee in February, Shaw faced criticism for allegedly mocking a popular dance trend on TikTok that was created by Black creators. She posted a now-deleted video on her TikTok page, captioned with, "Hey, are we OK? What the f—k is this?" She later deleted her TikTok account in June 2021.

Shaw apologized for her comments through her Instagram Stories. In a video posted in June 2021, she clarified, "I didn't mean anything in any kind of way. I am continuously learning, just like everyone else. Hate like this needs to disappear from the world, no matter who it's directed towards. These are genuine emotions coming from me."

Werkheiser came to the defense of his ex-costar in a personal video, asserting, "For those who are personally acquainted with Lindsey, they are aware that she holds negative attitudes towards various groups - regardless of their race, ethnicity, or popularity. She tends to be easily provoked and defensive. However, it's important to recognize that she also possesses a kind-hearted nature and is facing personal struggles and hardships that remain unknown to all of you."