During Ending Youth Homelessness: A Benefit for My Friend’s Place gala in Los Angeles over the weekend, Halsey shared a super emotional speech about living on the streets when she was just 19-years old and revealed she’d considered prostitution as a means to survive.

 

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oh she big mad

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During a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Halsey explained how she ended up homeless after her parents kicked her out of the house when she made the decision to quit community college.

 

This is Halsey’s story:

 

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2002

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“When I was living in New York, I was a teenager. My friends were picking out decorations for their dorms, and I was debating on whether or not I should let a stranger inside of me so I could pay for my next meal.  It wasn’t because I did something bad. It wasn’t because something was wrong with me, and it wasn’t because my parents didn’t love me — because they did very much. But a series of unfortunate circumstances led me to be in that position, and it can happen to absolutely anyone.”

 

Halsey then explained how her life turned around the day she met Jeremy Vuernick of Capitol Music Group.  Jeremy was the one who signed Halsey and gave her a shot at music, “When I met him, I had crazy hair, I had one demo in my pocket and I was carrying a grey duffle bag. Sat down in his office, at his cubicle, and he asked me, ‘What’s in the bag?’ I looked him dead in the eyes and I said, ‘This is my house.’”

 

Halsey continued, “I need you guys to realize that and while it’s very exciting that I am a record-selling, show-playing pop star, when I tell people that story, they go, ‘Oh my gosh, you went from being homeless to being a pop star, that’s amazing, we should help these people because we don’t know what they could become.’  Wrong. We shouldn’t help because we think there’s a chance that they could turn into a celebrity. We shouldn’t help because they could really make something of themselves — because they are something right now.  I know better than anyone how important having a creative outlet is when you’re in a time of need, but this is so much bigger than arts and crafts. This is life or death, and I hope that you take it very, very seriously. I really do.”

 

 

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thank you @iheartradio : @ashleyosborn

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A few weeks back, Halsey posted these two photos on Instagram, one from the very beginning of her career and the second, in the present.  Halsey writes, “The first picture is from my first tour ever.  The second is from my most recent tour.  These pictures were taken around 3 or 4 years apart.  I felt compelled to share these today as a reminder that there is no telescope for your growth.  You’ll never “know” if something is the right choice.  If it’s the right move.  But if you believe it and manifest and make the decisions that are true and authentic to you, the universe will repay you with kindness no matter how tough it seems along the road.  To blossom is a dark and lonely process that arrives at great emotional reward. I love you.”

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