I’m with Disney, now I’m doomed: From Amanda Bynes’ most recent freakout and why you should care

By Erin Fogerty
STAFF WRITER

This past weekend, former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes decided to shave half of her head. The actress tweeted two pictures of her new hairstyle and wrote “This is the new me. I love it”. The impulsive buzz cut is reminiscent of Britney Spears’ infamous meltdown in 2007. Although Bynes only shaved half of her head, the actress seems to be continuing down the same downward spiral as Britney, Lindsay Lohan and a series of other child stars.

Last April, Amanda Bynes was arrested for a DUI in West Hollywood. The actress tried to pass a police car and ended up sideswiping the vehicle. Bynes was taken into custody and her mug shot soon made its way to TMZ, The Hollywood Reporter, and other celebrity news wires. When Bynes was released on bail, she took to Twitter to profess her innocence. The star even tweeted at President Barack Obama saying, “Hey @BarackObama I don’t drink. Please fire the cop who arrested me. I also don’t hit and run. The end.” President Obama never responded to the tweet nor was the cop ever fired. By August of last year, Bynes was at it again. The star rear-ended a driver in Los Angeles and proceeded to drive away. On September 4, 2012, Bynes was charged with a hit-and-run in connection with both the April and August accidents. Bynes’ license was suspended but that did not stop her from driving. Back in 2007, Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail for repeatedly driving with a suspended license.

Besides all of her legal issues, Amanda Bynes’ behavior has become more and more erratic over the past few weeks. Before shaving her head, the star already had pierced both of her cheeks, blown up her lips with injections and confessed to having an eating disorder. The star, who currently lives in New York, was kicked out of a W hotel for walking around naked and asked to leave a gym class at NYC’s Chelsea Piers. Bynes reportedly showed up to an adult gymnastics class in fishnet tights, a wig and was spinning in circles and muttering to herself. When Bynes burst into tears after attempting to do a cartwheel, she was asked to leave the class.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, Amanda Bynes was the queen of Nickelodeon. Bynes was a regular cast member on “Figure it Out” and “All That”. By 1999, she got her own sketch comedy show called “The Amanda Show”. Amanda was one of the most successful child stars on television at the time and was a role model to many young girls. After “The Amanda Show” was cancelled in 2002, Bynes went on to star in The WB sitcom “What I Like About You” from 2003 to 2006. Bynes’ first leading role in a film was in 2003’s “What a Girl Wants” alongside Colin Firth. Bynes’ went on to star in “She’s the Man” (2006), “Sydney White” (2007) and “Easy A” (2010). After “Easy A,” Bynes’ announced her retirement from acting. At the young age of 24, Bynes claimed that she was not in love with acting anymore and that she wanted to focus on fashion.

The only thing that Amanda Bynes seems to be focusing on now is her Twitter account and her appearance.