Actress Felt ‘Humiliated’ During Walk of Fame Moment

Christina Applegate is opening up about one of the biggest milestones of her career — and why it felt far more painful than celebratory behind the scenes.

In her new memoir, You With the Sad Eyes, the actress reveals that receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022 was an emotional and deeply uncomfortable experience. It marked the first time she had been seen publicly since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, and she says she barely recognized the person staring back at her.

Applegate admits the day was supposed to be a crowning achievement, a career-defining honor she compared to her own version of winning an Oscar. But instead of feeling confident, she says she felt exposed.

She writes that she was embarrassed by how different she looked after undergoing steroid treatments, which changed her body in ways she struggled to accept. According to Applegate, she hated how she looked that day and felt overwhelmed by how much the illness had taken from her.

The actress also shared that finding something to wear added even more stress. She believed she would have to settle for an off-the-rack outfit for the ceremony — something she felt was practically unheard of in Hollywood — until designer Christian Siriano stepped in and made her a custom look.

Even with that support, the moment was still painful.

Applegate says the public appearance left her feeling humiliated, devastated, and painfully aware that she no longer had the control she once had over her life or her image. For years, she says, she had been able to present herself exactly how she wanted. After her diagnosis, that changed.

She also reflects on how different public attention feels now. Applegate says there was a time when people looked at her for one reason, but after her diagnosis, she felt they were staring because she was disabled, using a cane, and living in a body that no longer fit Hollywood’s narrow expectations.

That fear of being judged, she suggests, made every appearance harder.

The Dead to Me star says seeing photos from that period still makes her feel sick, adding that she associates those images with sadness and embarrassment. She recalls believing that everyone was focused on how dramatically her life and appearance had changed.

Still, Applegate says she has been forced to adapt to a “new normal.” She pointed to a later appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where host Jimmy Kimmel acknowledged that it can be shocking for audiences to see her using a cane. Applegate responded by making it clear that this is simply her reality now.

Her memoir also dives into the physical toll her illness has taken beyond mobility challenges.

Applegate says severe stomach problems connected to MS led to drastic weight loss. At one point, she says she lost 50 pounds or more in just seven months, leaving her so shaken that she avoided looking in the mirror for a year. She admits the dramatic weight loss sometimes upset her even more than the disease itself.

The actress also reveals that her digestive issues have become so serious that eating certain foods can send her to the emergency room. She describes feeling constantly hungry while also knowing that giving in to cravings could trigger another painful health episode.

Applegate was diagnosed with MS in 2021, and since then, she has spoken candidly about the emotional and physical battle she has faced. In her memoir, she paints a raw picture of what it means to lose control of the life and body you once knew — even during moments that are supposed to feel triumphant.

For Applegate, what should have been a shining Hollywood celebration became a heartbreaking reminder of just how much had changed.