Amidst the global enthusiasm surrounding pop culture, society tends to glorify the lives of people in the public eye to a point at which they are represented as superhuman. While being held to unrealistic ideals in the minds of many, celebrities are subject to perfectionistic standards to which no individual can entirely conform . This establishes a desire to adhere to the unrealistic standards that are set by the public and the media. Demi Lovato goes into depth about such issues in her docuseries Dancing with the Devil.

For the majority of their life, Lovato has been in the public eye: beginning their career on Barney during their childhood, starring on Disney Channel throughout their adolescence, and being a prolific singer during adulthood. Their success as a singer has oftentimes cost them the opportunity to lead their life without the excessive standards of being in the spotlight and the overwhelming scrutiny of the media, the public, and their management. 

In a series of interviews, the docuseries provides a candid account of Lovato’s struggles from their perspective and from the perspectives of those close to them. It covers their overdose that occurred almost three years ago and the challenges that led up to it, including the pressure that their previous management put on them and their refusal to allow Lovato to seek the help that they needed. The docuseries touches on a variety of topics surrounding mental health, such as addiction and eating disorders, which were ultimately a major part of their journey to self-acceptance.

In addition to Lovato’s recount of their experiences, the docuseries contains music from their newest album, Dancing with the Devil: The Art of Starting Over. It includes live footage of the premiere of the docuseries in which Lovato performed several songs that harnessed their extraordinary talent. Throughout their performance, they maintain a significant degree of power and character as they tell their story in the form of music.

The pure honesty within the documentary starkly sets it apart from the media’s depictions of the lives of celebrities. During the moments that externally seemed to be peaks in Lovato’s career, they were presented with extreme challenges that they struggled to cope with in a healthy manner. They discuss their personal path to regaining control over their life and to growing more content with their identity, where they are no longer ashamed of who they are.

This docuseries is a must-watch, with its captivating story of overcoming immense obstacles to developing a healthy relationship with oneself. It is found exclusively on YouTube, where music from Dancing with the Devil: The Art of Starting Over can also be found.