Toni Braxton speaks up about lupus diagnosis: ‘I was ashamed'

Toni Braxton candidly discussed her 2010 lupus diagnosis followed by the career trajectory she experienced.

Appearing in the latest episode of women’s health podcast SHE MD, the Twist of Fate actress opened up about her health concerns and revealed that she struggled to land a job in earlier days.

“Lupus can be very challenging”, the actress said before confessing that it took her ‘10 years’ to get a proper diagnosis.

“No one could find out what was wrong with me”, shared Braxton, “I felt like a hypochondriac. Like I'm just telling people, 'I don't feel well,' and no one's listening”.

Confessing that she ‘hid’ her condition for a long time, Braxton added, “I was ashamed. Especially being a performer. So I would make light of it”.

The Un-Break My Heart crooner then revealed that she was told by her management to hide the disease due to work complications.

“You would not get work”, she said, “People get scared around sick celebrities. And I couldn't get insured”, recalling that the moment she unveiled her diagnosis, she “didn’t get work at first”.

"No one wanted to put me on a stage. ‘Well, suppose she collapsed on stage, and the insurance, how are we going to do that?’ And so I couldn’t, at first I did not work”.

It is notable to mention that apart from Braxton, Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez have also been vocal about their experience with this chronic illness, in which the body’s immune system attacks its own organs and tissues.