Pop Culture

Kel Mitchell Reveals "Suicidal" Past, Drug Use: "When Britney Spears Shaved Her Head, I Understood That"

"I felt like I'd hit a wall," Kel reveals in a new interview with People, opening up about his post-'Kenan & Kel' years.

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Complex Original

With a particularly internet-breakingAll That reunion and a new Nickelodeon show under his belt, recent Well Rounded guest Kel Mitchell is having a pretty solid 2015. A crucial member of the two most iconic Nickelodeon shows of the network's undeniably prolific90s run, Mitchell has remained busy since his days as Good Burger's lovable doofus, Ed, and Kenan Thompson's orange soda-guzzling best friend on Kenan & Kel. However, a new interview with People reveals the storied comedian went through a decidedly dark time during the post-All That era.

"I felt like I'd hit a wall," Mitchell tells People. "I was like, 'Okay. I need to figure out what I need to do in my life.'" In 2004, with Kenan & Kel firmly in the rearview mirror, Mitchell's six-year marriage to Tyisha Hampton was drawing to a conclusion of its own. "As a young actor, there are ups and there are downs," Mitchell says. "And when you get to that down part, there are times you feel like no one can relate to you. When Britney Spears shaved her head, I understood that."

Mitchell, an outspokenly religious person, attributes his ability to pull through what he describes as a "confusion moment" to his personal faith. According to Mitchell, he felt "suicidal" during this contentious period in his life, even turning to drugs for some form of relief. Mitchell also opened up about this period of his life in a recent blog post, adding that he's seen friends and family lose the same battles:

In case you missed it, check Kel Mitchell's recent appearance on Complex News' Well Rounded:

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