‘Bridgerton’ star slams Netflix, Shondaland after suffering ‘psychotic breaks’ on set

Ruby Barker called out Netflix and Shondaland — the production company of the show’s executive producer Shonda Rhimes — on Saturday after claiming she received no support from either production studio after allegedly suffering two “psychotic breaks” on the set of “Bridgerton.”

“Not a single person from Netflix, not a single person from Shondaland since I have had two psychotic breaks from that show have even contacted me or even emailed me to ask if I’m okay or if I would benefit from any sort of aftercare or support,” Barker, 26, said while appearing on the LOAF podcast. “Nobody.”

According to Barker, her mental health began to deteriorate while filming the show’s first season, saying that her character’s isolation — due to a scandalous pregnancy — began to take a toll on her in real life.

“During filming I was deteriorating,” the actress continued. “It was a really tormenting place for me to be because my character was very alienated, very ostracized, on her own under these horrible circumstances.”

“When I went into hospital a week after shooting ‘Bridgerton’ Season One it was really covered up and kept on the down-low because the show was going to be coming out,” Barker continued.

The Post reached out to Rhimes, 53, and Netflix for comment.

Barker credited the show’s popularity for the “drastic” change in her life.

“In the run-up to the show coming out, I was just coming out from hospital,” Barker explained. “My Instagram following was going up, I had all these engagements to do … My life was changing drastically overnight and yet there was still no support and there still hasn’t been any support all that time.”

She added: “So I was trying really, really hard to act like it was ok and that I could work and that it wasn’t a problem.”

According to the actress, she felt like she was being forced to promote the show despite her poor mental health.

“It’s almost like I had this metaphorical invisible gun to my head to sell this show because this show is bubbly and fun,” the “How To Stop a Recurring Dream” star said. “I don’t want to come out and poo poo on that because then I’ll never work again.”

Previously, Barker had alluded to her struggles after she posted a video on Instagram in May 2022 saying that she had been “struggling since ‘Bridgerton’” and that she had been “really unwell for a really long time.”

“I want to be honest with everyone. I have been struggling,” Barker said in the now-deleted video.

“I am in hospital at the minute and I am going to be discharged soon and hopefully get to continue with my life,” Barker continued. “I am going to take a little bit of a break for myself, and I would encourage others, if you are struggling, please do yourself a favor and take a break. Stop being so hard on yourself.”

The Netflix star explained that some of her trauma was due to the “intergenerational trauma bundled up inside me” and that she was “carrying the weight of the world on my back.”

“… I am at the point where I have a diagnosis, and I will talk to you about that at another time,” Barker continued. “I can’t carry on the way that I’ve been carrying on. I need to change, so that’s what I am trying to do.”

“I want to survive, and I will survive. I am going to.”

Both seasons 1 and 2 of “Bridgerton” are available on Netflix.

Season 3 of the hit Netflix show is expected to debut in 2024.