Ruby Barker called out Netflix and Shondaland — the production company of the show’s executive producer Shonda Rhimes — on Saturday after claiming she received no support from either production studio after allegedly suffering two “psychotic breaks” on the set of “Bridgerton.”
“Not a single person from Netflix, not a single person from Shondaland since I actually have had two psychotic breaks from that show have even contacted me and even emailed me to ask if I’m okay or if I might profit from any type of aftercare or support,” Barker, 26, said while appearing on the LOAF podcast. “No one.”
In keeping with Barker, her mental health began to deteriorate while filming the show’s first season, saying that her character’s isolation — resulting from a scandalous pregnancy — began to take a toll on her in real life.
“During filming I used to be deteriorating,” the actress continued. “It was a extremely tormenting place for me to be because my character was very alienated, very ostracized, on her own under these horrible circumstances.”
“Once I went into hospital per week after shooting ‘Bridgerton’ Season One it was really covered up and kept on the down-low since the show was going to be coming out,” Barker continued.
The Post reached out to Rhimes, 53, and Netflix for comment.
Barker credited the show’s popularity for the “drastic” change in her life.
“Within the run-up to the show coming out, I used to be just coming out from hospital,” Barker explained. “My Instagram following was going up, I had all these engagements to do … My life was changing drastically overnight and yet there was still no support and there still hasn’t been any support all that point.”
She added: “So I used to be trying really, really hard to act prefer it was okay and that I could work and that it wasn’t an issue.”
In keeping with the actress, she felt like she was being forced to advertise the show despite her poor mental health.
“It’s almost like I had this metaphorical invisible gun to my head to sell this show because this show is bubbly and fun,” the “How To Stop a Recurring Dream” star said. “I don’t want to come back out and poo poo on that because then I’ll never work again.”
Previously, Barker had alluded to her struggles after she posted a video on Instagram in May 2022 saying that she had been “struggling since ‘Bridgerton’” and that she had been “really unwell for a extremely very long time.”
“I would like to be honest with everyone. I actually have been struggling,” Barker said within the now-deleted video.
“I’m in hospital on the minute and I’m going to be discharged soon and hopefully get to proceed with my life,” Barker continued. “I’m going to take a bit of little bit of a break for myself, and I might encourage others, in case you are struggling, please do yourself a favor and take a break. Stop being so hard on yourself.”
The Netflix star explained that a few of her trauma was resulting from the “intergenerational trauma bundled up inside me” and that she was “carrying the burden of the world on my back.”
“… I’m at the purpose where I actually have a diagnosis, and I’ll discuss with you about that at one other time,” Barker continued. “I can’t carry on the way in which that I’ve been carrying on. I would like to vary, in order that’s what I’m attempting to do.”
“I would like to survive, and I’ll survive. I’m going to.”
Each seasons 1 and a pair of of “Bridgerton” can be found on Netflix.
Season 3 of the hit Netflix show is anticipated to debut in 2024.