ezra miller gets treatment for 'complex mental health issues'

the actor apologized to the people they've 'alarmed and upset' following a period of erratic, violent behaviour.

by maija kappler

published aug 16, 2022

last updated aug 17, 2022

3 minute read

join the conversation

3 minute read

join the conversation

ezra miller will seek treatment for 'complex mental health issues'

miller was lauded as a promising young talent after a breakout role as violent teen in 2011's 'we need to talk about kevin.' (photo by tristan fewings/getty images)

actor ezra miller, 29, has sought treatment for “complex mental health issues” following months of erratic and violent behaviour and several arrests. miller, who uses they/them pronouns, issued a statement to variety on monday evening.

“having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, i now understand that i am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” they said. “i want to apologize to everyone that i have alarmed and upset with my past behaviour. i am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”

miller was lauded as a promising young talent after a breakout role as violent teen in 2011’s we need to talk about kevin. they went on to high-profile projects like the harry potter spinoff series fantastic beasts and where to find them, and the dc comic adaptions justice league and the flash. but their work has been overshadowed by a pattern of alarming behaviour over the last few years.

in 2020, a video went viral that appeared to show miller attacking a woman at a bar in iceland. the video depicted someone who looked like them placing a woman in a chokehold and shoving her to the ground. earlier this year variety spoke to the woman, who confirmed that miller had attacked her. the outlet also spoke to a woman in germany who said that after she invited the actor to her berlin home, they verbally attacked her and refused to leave until she threatened to call the police. she filed a criminal complaint, but the actor was never charged.

in early 2022, the parents of 18-year-old environmental activist tokata iron eyes told insider that they believed miller was grooming their daughter. “ezra uses violence, intimidation, threat of violence, fear, paranoia, delusions… to hold sway over a young adolescent tokata.” in june, they obtained a temporary protective order which stopped miller from having contact with tokata.

the teen denies the allegations, telling insider that iron eyes’ parents are part of “a disgusting and irresponsible smear campaign” against miller, who has “in multiple cases has done the right thing and stood in protection of others.”

insider also spoke to the mother of a nonbinary 11-year-old, who told the outlet that miller “showed an inappropriate interest” in her child. she, too, got a temporary harassment-protection order against the actor.

and in the spring, miller was arrested twice in hawaii over the span of less than a month — first for harassment and disorderly conduct, then for second-degree assault. they pleaded no contest and paid about $500 in court fees.

last week, miller was charged again in vermont, this time with felony burglary, after allegedly stealing several bottles of alcohol from a home where no one was present.

earlier this year, a hawaii man told rolling stone that he was concerned for the safety of his three young children, who were staying with their mother at miller’s vermont home. the magazine reviewed video allegedly from the home, which showed “at least eight assault weapons, rifles, and handguns lying around the living room, with some weapons propped up next to a pile of stuffed animals.” the woman disputed her ex’s version of events: she told rolling stone that he is abusive, and that miller provided a “safe environment” for her to flee.

following the rolling stone article, local vermont police tried to serve an emergency care order to the woman, but were unable to locate her or the children. miller told authorities the family had left weeks earlier.

as all these cases took place, there’s been scrutiny against warner bros., which produces the justice league movies. the flash, a standalone film centred on miller’s character, is due out next year. after the studio announced it would no longer release the upcoming batgirl movie earlier this month due to cost-cutting measures, some fans wondered if miller’s behaviour would similarly impact their movie’s release. but the company’s chief executive, david zaslav, has said he’s committed to its release.