Doja Cat is offering a rare glimpse into some of the personal struggles she has faced away from the stage, including a past battle with cocaine and problems involving alcohol.
In a series of social media uploads, the singer discussed how substance use, unresolved mental health issues, and social media became intertwined during difficult periods of her life.
She also pushed back against harsh labels surrounding her while acknowledging that some parts of her past remain complicated.
Doja Cat’s most striking revelation in August 31 TikTok videos came when she addressed her history with drugs, making clear that cocaine was something she had struggled with in the past but no longer uses.
The 30-year-old revealed that the experience occurred roughly eight years ago, placing it well behind her as she continues what she described as an ongoing healing journey.
“I have struggled with cocaine, I think could have been like eight years ago, but I’m well past that so thank God,” Doja said.
She also distinguished her experience with cocaine from what she described as her broader relationship with substances.
According to the singer, she never experienced severe drug problems beyond weed, but alcohol became an issue for her. She said she was never an alcoholic while acknowledging that drinking had caused problems.
“Alcohol is something that I definitely have had a problem with. I was never an alcoholic, but I definitely had problems,” she noted in another video.
Doja explained that alcohol and social media could work together in particularly unhealthy ways for her. She described using the internet to validate negative thoughts that had already been intensified by drinking.
Rather than presenting the revelation as an excuse, the rapper noted that she wanted others to learn from her experience, particularly from the combination of alcohol and online validation.
Doja Cat’s confession was also about what happened psychologically around those experiences. The star explained that people online had interpreted aspects of her behavior and imagery as evidence that she is “demonic,” but she offered a different explanation for some of the perceptions surrounding her.
Doja connected those perceptions to the combination of alcohol, drugs, “undiagnosed” mental illness, and the internet.
She explained that social media became a place where negative thoughts could be reinforced rather than challenged, particularly when alcohol was involved.
She encouraged people to think carefully before directing harsh judgments at others online, questioning whether their comments actually reflected reality or were instead projections of their own thoughts and feelings.
Doja Cat Pushes Back On Claims About Her Identity
Doja Cat also used the TikTok series to address accusations that she dislikes herself or holds racist beliefs.
In another clip, she connected those claims to her childhood experiences as a biracial person, explaining that moving to a “predominantly white neighborhood” at age eight affected how she understood her identity.
She explained that growing older eventually helped her appreciate aspects of her appearance, including her hair, while rejecting the characterization that she hates herself.
“I don’t hate myself. I’m not racist. I’m not a white supremacist. I’m not a Nazi,” Doja shared.
The “Woman” singer indicated that she intends to revisit the subject in greater depth but felt compelled to speak about it at that moment. Rather than attempting to resolve every issue in the videos, she described the posts as something she needed to release after carrying the thoughts with her.
“And I will talk about this more in the future, but I’m going to do it in a different way,” Doja said, adding, “I just felt like this TikTok was like necessary and I needed to get this shit off of my chest. Today felt like the right day.”
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Doja Gets Support From Fans
Doja Cat’s candid TikTok posts prompted a wave of supportive reactions from people who said they could relate to her discussions.
Rather than focusing solely on the difficult parts of her confession, several commenters thanked the singer for being willing to speak openly about substance use, mental health and the pressure created by online spaces.
One person shared their own experience, writing, “I’m getting clean for meth, with a ADHD + Depression diagnosis, so it’s kinda warming to see artists to talk about it.”
Another commenter pushed back against the negativity surrounding the singer, arguing that the amount of support she receives is greater than what is sometimes portrayed online.
“There’s more support than hate but the media pushes the hate to create this horrible illusion that everyone views you in a bad light or that you’re this or that. Keep being you babe!!! Fk the internet,” they wrote.
Others thanked Doja for sharing her experience, with one fan saying, “thank you for sharing this maybe it’ll motivate people who struggle with that problem to try to stop, you’re very strong we love you.”
Doja Cat Opens Up About Her ‘Agonizing’ Struggle With BPD
As Doja continues to speak candidly about the experiences that have shaped her healing journey, she has previously offered an even deeper look at the mental-health struggles behind some of those experiences.
In March, The Independent reported that the Grammy winner revealed she had been struggling with borderline personality disorder, describing the condition as “agonising” and saying she believed she had dealt with it for “probably forever.” She also discussed years of therapy and the progress she believes she has made.
Doja made the revelation while discussing fellow singer Chappell Roan and the intense scrutiny artists can face when they establish boundaries in public. She explained that, from a young age, she had learned to conceal her genuine feelings and present herself as though everything was fine.
“I’ve learned from a very young age to pretend that I like stuff, to pretend that I’m happy, to pretend that I don’t like stuff that I do, to appear like everything is okay,” she said. She continued, “I’ll get it done. And it caught up with me, and I think it always does for people. I’m now struggling with BPD.”
Rather than portraying the diagnosis as something she had immediately overcome, Doja emphasized the lengthy nature of her treatment. “I’ve been in therapy for years now, and I am so relieved and so proud of myself,” she noted, adding, “I’ve made it so far, and I still make mistakes, but it is an eight-year process of curing, treatment and healing.”
