LaKeith Stanfield Suffered "Crippling Anxiety" While Filming "The Harder They Fall"

BY Erika Marie 9.8K Views
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LaKeith Stanfield
The actor stars in the Jay-Z-produced film and explained being in a "pretty bad space mentally."

This week, The Harder They Fall hit Netflix, and to celebrate, Jay-Z joined Instagram. The Roc Nation mogul acted as one of the film's producers and in addition to amassing millions of followers on Instagram in less than 24 hours, Hov hosted a party to celebrate the movie. The Harder They Fall stars Idris Elba, Regina King, and LaKeith Stanfield, and each of the entertainers has been posting about their anticipated feature. 

Earlier today (November 4), Stanfield shared a video of himself on set where he was connecting with one of the horses. In the caption, he detailed his personal journey and being in a "bad space mentally" during production.

Charley Gallay / Stringer / Getty Images

"I couldn’t see what life had in store to teach me about myself that i needed to know," the actor wrote before detailing his experiences with the horses on set. "One day 'magnolia' (that wasn’t the horses name but i refused to not call him that in my head) bucked me off, and in that moment i heard him loud and clearly. BE STRONG OR GET OFF. I took control of the reigns and eventually we bonded so much so that it was emotional for me to leave the farm once i wrapped."

He admired how the animals didn't judge him and were "reliable and unconditional."

Now all i had to do was learn to take control of my life in the same way. What better team to create such a profound memory with in J and the talented cast. There is a sadness in me if you look closely into the eyes of Cherokee. Everyday on set i was experiencing crippling anxiety and suffering silently inside. I would drink every night after work and try to laugh off my pain. The real Cherokee made me keep Fighting as i thought about how he had to fight to survive. How the youth in Chicago has to fight everyday to survive. Here’s to fighting through the trauma to get to myself. Here’s to almost 6 months sober. Here’s to the fact that the bigger the goal God has for them, the taller they stand and, The Harder They Fall.

Watch Stanfield's video below.



About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.