Bret Easton Ellis recently shared a deeply personal story of his boyfriend, Todd Michael Schultz, who was committed to a psychiatric ward after being arrested for burglary. Ellis admitted that for a long time, he was blind to the severity of Todd’s mental health and addiction issues, despite signs that had been present for the past decade. The situation escalated to a drug-induced psychotic breakdown that led to Schultz’s arrest in February.
In a brave move, Ellis shared that in 2021, he kicked Schultz out of their condo and insisted he enter a recovery facility for three and a half months. However, he soon realized that strong-arming Todd into treatment was not helping the situation. Despite living together, Ellis confessed that due to their age difference, they led somewhat separate lives, each with their own interests and routines, unaware of the full extent of Schultz’s struggles.
Schultz seemed to be doing well after leaving rehab in early 2022, but Ellis noted that something gradually started to unravel, leading to a manic episode fueled by mental health issues and drugs. Ellis acknowledged that he had heard concerns about Schultz’s behavior in the past, but chose to deflect and ignore the warnings, consumed in his own world. He now hopes that with the proper support and treatment, Todd can reclaim the person he once knew back in 2010.
Ellis reassured his fans that Schultz has a strong support system in place and will be transitioned to a long-term dual psychiatric-rehab facility once released from the psych ward. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, Ellis remains optimistic that it’s not too late for Todd to find his way back to a healthier state. He shared his desire to see the man he initially met, hinting at the hope for a brighter future.
This revelation from Bret Easton Ellis sheds light on the complexities of mental health and addiction struggles that can often go unnoticed or untreated. It serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and addressing these issues early on to prevent them from escalating to dangerous levels. Through his honesty and vulnerability, Ellis has opened up a dialogue about the challenges many individuals face in navigating mental health and addiction, highlighting the need for compassion, support, and understanding in these situations.