Halsey revealed she was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder in 2022
Halsey revealed she was diagnosed with a form of lupus and another rare disease two years ago.
On June 5, the pop star — who uses she/they pronouns — shared the health update on Instagram after detailing that they’ve been suffering from serious issues in “The End” — the first new single from their forthcoming fifth studio album.
“Thank you guys for the unbelievable amount of love for ‘The End’ and the support you’ve shown me since its release,” the 29-year-old wrote. “I realize everyone is catching up with news I’ve held in for a very long time, and I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to share. You’ve all been so kind so I want to share a bit more.”
“In 2022, I was first diagnosed with Lupus SLE and then a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Both of which are currently being managed or in remission; and both of which I will likely have for the duration of my life,” Halsey continued.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakes healthy tissues as foreign invaders and attacks them rather than targeting the bad bacteria and viruses. It causes inflammation that can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. There is currently no cure for the disease.
Lymphoproliferative disorders are a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled production of white blood cells called lymphocytes, according to Healthline. T-cell disorders include leukemia and lymphoma.
Halsey explained that despite a “rocky start,” she was able to slowly get their health under control with the help of her doctors.
“After 2 years, I’m feeling better and I’m more grateful than ever to have music to turn to,” they ended. “I can’t wait to get back where I belong: With you all 🤍 Singing and screaming my heart out.”
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On June 4, Halsey released “The End,” sharing photos and videos in an Instagram carousel of the singer-songwriter receiving medical treatment and recording.
She captioned the post, “long story short, i’m Lucky to be alive. short story long, i wrote an album. it begins with The End. out now. @lupusresearchalliance @llsusa.”
Halsey will donate proceeds from “The End” to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as the Lupus Research Alliance, tagging them in their social media posts as well.
Halsey Releases New Single ‘The End’ as She Reveals Secret Health Struggle: ‘I’m Lucky to Be Alive’
The pop star shared that the haunting new single is the first from their forthcoming fifth studio album
Halsey is “lucky to be alive.”
On Tuesday, June 4, the pop star, 29, shared “The End” — the first new single from their forthcoming fifth studio album — along with a caption revealing that they’ve been suffering from serious health issues.
She captioned an Instagram carousel “long story short, i’m Lucky to be alive. short story long, i wrote an album. it begins with The End. out now. @lupusresearchalliance @llsusa.”
Alongside the release of the track, the social media post Halsey — who uses she/they pronouns — shared featured photos and videos of the singer-songwriter receiving medical treatment and recording.
In the first video, the “Colors” singer can be seen massaging their legs saying, “I feel like an old lady. I told myself I’m giving myself two more years to be sick. By 30 I’m having a rebirth, and I’m not gonna be sick, and I’m gonna look super hot and have lots of energy and I’m just gonna re-do my 20s in my 30s. Seriously.”
Halsey shared a photo of themselves with a mask on during “day one” of treatment, a text conversation with someone featuring their new single, a clip of them in the dark playing acoustic guitar and recording “The End,” and a highlight reel of their emotional highs and lows during treatment and the making of her new song.
Written by Halsey and produced by the singer-songwriter, Michael Uzowuru and Alex G, “The End” is a haunting, gritty folk number carried by their raw vocals and acoustic guitar.
In the song, the MaXXXine star references the confusion of their ailments singing, “Every couple of years now, a doctor says I’m sick / Pulls out a brand new bag of tricks / And then they lay it on me / And at first, it was my brain, then a skeleton in pain / And I don’t like to complain, but I’m saying sorry.”
Later, Halsey explains “there’s poison in my brain and in my blood.”
At the end of the track, she addresses her own mortality: “When I met you, I said I would never die / But the joke was always mine ’cause I’m racing against time / And I know it’s not the end of the world, but could you pick me up at 8? / ‘Cause my treatment starts today.”
Halsey will donate proceeds from “The End” to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as the Lupus Research Alliance and tagged them in her social media posts as well. She did not disclose a specific diagnosis in her initial post, but in a follow-up Instagram on Wednesday, Halsey wrote that she “was first diagnosed with Lupus SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) and then a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder,” adding that both are “currently managed or in remission.”
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In May 2022 Halsey revealed they had been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome and POTS (postural tachycardia syndrome). They have also been open about their struggle with endometriosis.
In April 2023, she cut ties with her longtime record label, Capitol Records.
“After 8 great years the decision to leave Capitol is bittersweet, but we are excited about exploring a new partnership and sharing new music with fans,” Halsey’s managers, Jason Aron and Anthony Li of Anti-Pop, told PEOPLE in a statement.
The “Lilith” artist released their last album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power — a visual album produced by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross — in 2021.
Halsey’s fifth studio album will be their first on Columbia Records, per Rolling Stone.