Iyanla Vanzant embarked on a helluva mission when she decided to take on troubled actress Maia Campbell during a recent celebrity version of “Iyanla: Fix My Life.”
In the ’90s, Campbell starred in the hit sitcom In the House with LL Cool J and Debbie Allen. In 1998, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after acting out on set. After having her daughter in 2000, Maia stopped taking her medication and lost custody of her.
Maia then turned to drugs and was arrested multiple times. At her lowest point, a disturbing video of the once vibrant actress looking disheveled and acting erratically circulated on the internet.? She has since been sober two years, while still battling a bipolar disorder.
[READ: The Sad Truth About Maia Campbell]
Iyanla (who happens to have been a close friend of Maia’s mother, author Bebe Moore-Campbell) asks Maia to clear up the misconceptions surrounding her past, but several believe that Iyanla took on way too much with Campbell.
My twitter friend @JustJavier even wrote an open letter expressing his concerns about the episode:
Prior to watching the episode, I had my doubts as well but Iyanla had good intentions and wasn’t actually attempting to tackle or treat Maia’s mental disorder.
Watch the FULL episode of Maia Campbell on Iyanla: Fix My Life and judge for yourself …
Iyanla, Fix My Life: Actress Maia Campbell (FULL VIDEO)
Exclusive Webisode: What Maia Campbell Wants the World to Know About Her
Exclusive Webisode: Why Maia Campbell Says Bipolar Disorder Made Her Feel Ruined
While taking a tour of the residential facility ex-child star Maia Campbell now lives in, Iyanla sees a room filled with clothes and makeup.
Maia says she tries to look good on the outside to cope with feeling ruined on the inside. Watch as Iyanla and Maia have a frank discussion about her bipolar disorder.
Campbell details what she wants people to understand and explains why she believes Iyanla Vanzant is a blessing.
You’ve been a very big help for me. I owe you a lot of thanks. You’ve given me a platform to present my issue and I want to turn it around through you.
I think that you can help me lift up my issue and turn it around because people don’t see me the way they need to see me until you give them a chance to see the whole picture. I think we’ve given them a chance to see the whole picture through you.
Maia seems happy with the platform she was given and it was definitely an emotional video.
What did you think about Maia’s eye-opening episode of Iyanla: Fix My Life?