“Cheetos? I don’t want any Cheetos. Well, I wasn’t, so I cried.”
We’ve all heard stories of addiction dragging celebrities from grace to disgrace, but few are as heartbreaking as Maia Campbell’s.
“Come get your knees, bro. Your knees develop, Ariel.”
Back in the day, Maia Campbell was truly something special. She landed her first role as Lucky’s cousin in “Poetic Justice” and went on to star in 90s hits like “Thea,” “South Central,” and “Beverly Hills 90210.” But her standout role was alongside Debbie Allen and LL Cool J in “In the House.” She was stunning, one of the most beautiful women of the 90s.
Sadly, Maia’s story took a dark turn. She started using heavily, and her life spiraled out of control. She was constantly getting arrested and appeared in numerous viral videos looking strung out. Her family tried to help her; her stepdad even released a statement in 2009, saying:
As a family, we’ve been struggling with Maya’s illness for quite some time. We continue to hold fast to our faith and hope that someday she’ll realize that healing will begin when she decides to reach out and accept the help and treatment that have been offered to her.
Maya’s mother, Bebe Moore Campbell, wrote a book titled 72-Hour Hold. Although it was a fictional story, it mirrored a lot of what Maya has gone through. Maya was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teenager, and she refused to take the prescribed medications meant to help her, including psychotic drugs and mood stabilizers. Instead, she turned to alcohol, marijuana, and other substances, which led to addiction.
Things got really bad in 2010 when Maya was arrested for theft and sent to a mandatory mental health facility in California. Later, she voluntarily stayed at a residential treatment center, hoping to transition to living on her own. She did well for a while. In 2012, Maya appeared on Iyanla: Fix My Life with her stepfather, daughter, and ex-husband, who all expressed their willingness to help her. She seemed to want to get better and shared some touching moments with her loved ones.
“I’m a young, strong, and gifted person who has faced a lot of challenges and is currently dealing with an illness. I’m coping with it, relying heavily on my faith and trusting God with many of my struggles.
For those who may not know, I married Elias Gutierrez in 1998, and in 2000, we joyfully welcomed our daughter, Elizabeth Alicia Gutierrez. Sadly, due to my refusal to treat my bipolar disorder, I lost custody of Elizabeth the following year. This decision caused deep heartache for both me and my daughter.
‘I miss you so much, and I wish we could spend more time together,’ Elizabeth once told me.
After my heartfelt conversation with Iyanla, it seemed like I was finally on a path to healing. Despite the pain in my past, I’m committed to working through my issues, especially for the sake of my daughter. I even confronted my past mistakes head-on:
‘You no longer have the right to control my life. You can’t stand in the way of my honest living, my relationship with my daughter, or my chance at a better life. You can’t tarnish my reputation and turn my name into shame.’
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Sadly, Maya’s difficulties continued over the years. In 2015, she found herself in trouble after an incident at a Burger King in Atlanta where she got into a heated confrontation with a family, accused a child of stealing from her, and used harsh words toward the police officer who arrested her. That same year, she was also arrested for causing a disturbance at a Waffle House in Riverdale, Georgia. Witnesses claimed she was intoxicated and refused to leave peacefully, resulting in her being handcuffed.
Then in 2017, a troubling video surfaced online showing Maya in a vulnerable state, clad only in her undergarments, pleading for drugs. She talked about wanting crack and recounted unsettling stories, including one involving Bill Cosby, alleging he took advantage of her. This revelation sparked concern and controversy.
Responding to the video, LL Cool J took to social media to try and locate Maya, urging his followers to help. He criticized those who filmed Maya’s distress instead of offering help, emphasizing the importance of compassion and support in such situations.
In response to the backlash for not helping Maya, T Hood took to a video to defend his decision, suggesting that criticism stemmed from racial bias:
“People wouldn’t be so mad if she was a white girl. But because she’s a well-known black actress from back in the day, you know, we all know her from Rita and she’s been around the block. We’ve been through this. She’s always been a bit wild.”
Maya herself seemed unconcerned with the drama, responding a couple of days later in a YouTube video:
“I don’t need help. What I really need is a mental health benefit concert. Please, don’t slide into my DMs.”
It seems you can’t really assist someone who isn’t seeking help. And in 2020, Maya’s situation hadn’t changed much, as evidenced by another video that went viral showing her asking for cash:
“Hey, can you spare a dollar? I need about eighty over there.”
“Anyone who’s got talent and wants to learn, give, be a blessing, stabilize… help people stay afloat.”
During the same year, a Facebook user named London shared her encounters with Maya in Atlanta on social media. She often ran into Maya at a Texaco gas station, where Maya would ask for money and rides without realizing who she was talking to until later. Despite the requests, their exchanges were generally pleasant. Maya would compliment London and even encourage her to pursue a career in entertainment. Initially, London found Maya familiar but couldn’t quite place her. However, she was certain Maya didn’t fit the stereotype of someone begging for money.
It wasn’t until Valentine’s Day that London bumped into Maya at a different location and finally recognized her. London recalled how Maya casually mentioned seeing her on TV shows and music videos from the 90s, initially teasing London until she showed old photos of herself before her struggles began. London also shared that Maya, feeling uneasy due to being high that day, asked not to be photographed, expressing frustration over her past videos being online. In a candid moment, Maya confided in London about her ongoing challenges in the tough entertainment industry and life itself.
Since then, updates on Maya have been sparse. One can only hope she’s received the support she needs and is planning her comeback. She was undeniably talented and breathtakingly beautiful. What do you think? Share your thoughts on her career downturn and, if you wish, send some encouraging words. Maybe she’ll realize how much her fans want to see her back in action.
