Drew Starkey would “become delusional” if he spent all of his time on social media.
The 31-year-old actor has amassed five million followers on Instagram since shooting to fame in the Netflix hit ‘ Outer Banks’ but admitted that he tries to stay away from his platforms because he can’t trust what anyone says to him online.
He told Dazed: “You can say anything you want online under the guise of any identity. Even the positive stuff, I don’t know what’s true or not. Because it’s like, would these people say these things to my face? I feel like if I’m on the internet all day it can become delusional, and I don’t want to lose my mind.”
The ‘Queer’ star recalled that the show that brought him fame was a viral hit alongside ‘Tiger King’ at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns and felt that that was a bit of “blessing in disguise” as it allowed him to slowly adjust to his newfound celebrity status.
He said: “It was our show and Tiger King. Hell yeah, I watched Joe Exotic! I think it was a blessing in disguise, just because it sort of eased us into it. I think it was good for our egos too.”
The actor also recalled that sport was his “first love” before suddenly finding performing but found out in an “unconscious” way that he is now on the right path in his career.
He added: “It’s like, you know, basketball was my first love. And then I was like, ‘No, Dad, I want to sing and dance, you know, I’m meant to be an actor.
“You probably have this when you’re writing. Sometimes you can hit a flow where it feels like this is what I’m meant to be doing, and it’s second nature. It’s unconscious in some way. And l feel like that happens, at least for me, very rarely, and striving for that is I think what makes it so addictive.”