Doja Cat disclosed publicly for the first time that she has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, sharing the news in a TikTok video posted on March 13. The artist, whose legal name is Amala Dlamini, described the condition as one she has likely been living with for most of her life and said she remains in active treatment.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by unstable emotional patterns, intense interpersonal relationships, and difficulty managing everyday functioning, according to the Mayo Clinic. It often involves impulsiveness and an unstable sense of self.
What Doja Cat said in the video
The video was posted in response to recent footage of Chappell Roan clashing with photographers at Paris Fashion Week. In it, Doja Cat reflected on her own experience with emotional concealment and explained why she identified with what she saw in Roan’s behavior.
She described learning from an early age to mask her genuine feelings and to present a version of herself that appeared content and unbothered. She said that habit eventually caught up with her, and that she believes it always does for people who suppress their inner lives for long enough.
Doja Cat said she has been living with BPD for what feels like her entire life and described the experience as agonizing. She said she has been in therapy for years and expressed genuine pride in how far she has come, while acknowledging that she still makes mistakes. She described the process as one of curing, treatment, and healing spanning approximately eight years.
Her support for Chappell Roan
While Doja Cat was careful to say she was not suggesting Roan has BPD, she spoke about the value she places on Roan’s willingness to be visibly uncomfortable in public settings and to stand up for herself without directing that energy at others in harmful ways.
Doja Cat contrasted Roan’s openness with her own past tendency toward self-deception, saying she spent most of her life lying to herself about how she felt. She said watching Roan be authentically herself in difficult public moments was something she found meaningful and instructive.
Earlier mental health disclosures
This is not the first time Doja Cat has addressed her mental health publicly. In a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, she discussed her struggles with ADHD and explained that the condition contributed to her decision to leave high school at 16. She described feeling stuck while everyone around her appeared to move forward.
Earlier this week, in a separate TikTok video posted March 9, Doja Cat also shared that she may have lipedema, a condition that causes fat buildup in the lower body and which runs in her family. She said she had long attributed what she now suspects was a symptom of lipedema to cellulite, and that no medical professional had raised the possibility with her before she researched it herself.
Fan response
The BPD disclosure drew immediate support across social media, with fans praising Doja Cat for speaking openly about a condition that remains stigmatized and is often misunderstood. Mental health advocates and fellow artists also responded positively to the video.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health condition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-662-4357. Those experiencing suicidal thoughts can call or text 988 to reach a trained counselor at any time.
