Amy Schumer is opening up about her battle with Cushing syndrome, after weeks of fielding commentary about being “puffier than normal.”
Shortly after slamming critics for fixating on her appearance during her press tour for season 2 of Life & Beth, the actress revealed her diagnosis in Friday’s edition of Jessica Yellin’s “News Not Noise” newsletter.
“I feel reborn. There are a few types of Cushing. Some that can be fatal, require brain surgery or removal of adrenal glands,” Schumer told Yellin. “While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show, I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up.”
She continued, “So finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I’m healthy was the greatest news imaginable. It has been a crazy couple weeks for me and my family.”
Noam Galai/Getty
Sometimes called hypercortisolism, Cushing’s syndrome is a “fairly rare” hormonal disorder, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. It occurs when too much cortisol (the primary stress hormone) is produced, and is known to cause weight gain, high blood pressure, and bone loss. Treatment can involve medication, radiation therapy, or surgery.
After acknowledging that the frequent commentary about her appearance was an additional source of stress, Schumer admitted that “having the internet chime in” is what pushed her to seek treatment.
“Thank God for that,” she said. “Because that’s how I realized something was wrong. Just like when I realized I had named my son something that didn’t sound so good. The internet is undefeated, as they say.”
Jamie McCarthy/Getty
When asked why she was willing to share “personal medical information” with the public, Schumer explained that she wants to “advocate for women’s health.”
In her initial response to remarks surrounding her appearance, Schumer hinted to Instagram followers about the “medical and hormonal” issues she has been grappling with, but also stressed that she is not obligated to reveal those personal details.
“I also believe a woman doesn’t need any excuse for her physical appearance and owes no explanation,” she wrote. “But I wanted to take the opportunity to advocate for self love and acceptance of the skin you’re in. Like every other women/person some days I feel confident and good as hell and others I want to put a bag over my head. But I feel strong and beautiful and so proud of this TV show I created.”
Her dramedy series Life & Beth launched in early 2022 and was immediately renewed for a second season, which is now streaming on Hulu. Along with Schumer in the lead role, the series stars Michael Cera, Jennifer Coolidge, and Amy Sedaris.
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly’s free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Related content: