Alyson Stoner Reflects on Demi Lovato Punching a Backup Dancer in Memoir

Alyson Stoner reflected on their Camp Rock days in a newly released memoir — and spoke candidly about some highs and lows with former costar Demi Lovato.

In Stoner’s book, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, they recalled becoming fast friends with Lovato, 32, at a Camp Rock audition where they read for the roles of Caitlyn and Mitchie.

“I oriented to Caitlyn’s character profile, quickly memorizing lines and analyzing the beats of the scene,” Stoner wrote in the book, which hit shelves on Tuesday, August 12. “Demi and I went page by page and found an instant rapport like childhood buddies. There was something so innocent about her demeanor, and it brought out the part of me that wanted to encourage her as an industry veteran.”

Stoner noted they were “lock and key” in the rehearsal, which made it easier when standing in front of the casting directors.

“I knew the moment we entered the audition room, Disney would see our magic and cast us: Demi as the lead, and me as the sidekick,” Stoner shared.

Stoner further wrote that they and Lovato had a bond like no other when filming the first Camp Rock movie, which was released in 2008. However, things shifted after Camp Rock 2.

Stoner recalled experiencing Lovato’s addiction and mental health struggles during the 2010 Jonas Brothers: Live in Concert tour. They also detailed the night Lovato punched backup dancer Alex Welch.

Keep scrolling for more about Stoner and Lovato’s relationship:

A Shared Experience

Stoner and Lovato hoped to “support” each other as they both experienced struggles with food and disordered eating.

“A byproduct of policing my own behaviors was inadvertently assessing others’ habits,” Stoner wrote, explaining that they “noticed” Lovato eating “freely” when they went out to dinner but going to the bathroom after every meal. (Lovato has spoken candidly about battling an eating disorder over the years.)

“Nobody else noticed, but something unsettled me. Is she doing something to hurt herself? Would she be mad if I checked on her?” Stoner wrote. “She confided in me that she sometimes purged what she ate through self-induced vomiting. Having never dealt with that, it was scary to hear. From my health research, I knew the damage that bulimia could cause to the body, and my heart ached with care.”

Lovato revealed that she noticed Stoner’s exercise routine, which they wrote “was growing more rigid and strenuous” at the time. “If I didn’t follow the ideal meal plan, guilt and shame sent me straight to the gym until I reached a calorie deficit,” they wrote.

A Shift in Behavior

Stoner recalled Lovato “spinning in a tornado of substances and self-harm” ahead of the 2010 Jonas Brothers: Live in Concert tour.

“Her moods swung unpredictably from euphoric to furious to dejected,” Stoner wrote. “Whereas during the filming of the first Camp Rock she confided in me about her struggles, secrecy had since taken the reins.”

They said Lovato had started to cope with “reckless partying,” which caused Stoner to wonder: “Where is my friend?”

Experiencing the Addiction

Stoner recalled “nearly 20 sober companions” being hired by Lovato’s team to “monitor her behavior around the clock and guide her toward health and well-being.” It’s been widely reported — and confirmed by Lovato herself — that she continued to use substances.

“At the time, she lied straight to our faces,” Stoner wrote. “Because there was no explanation for her behavior (which would later be diagnosed as bipolar disorder, cross-addiction, depression, bulimia, and complex PTSD), there was no medication or treatment protocol in place, and she hadn’t yet become self-aware or set the intention of recovery.”

Demi Punching the Backup Dancer

Lovato’s sobriety journey started after she infamously punched backup dancer Welch during the Jonas Brothers tour.

“Someone revealed that Demi was doing illegal drugs. In reaction to being called out, she coerced the managers into telling her who snitched,” Stoner wrote. “I was standing in the aisle of the plane that would fly us to our next tour stop when Demi charged in, irate. There was a bloodthirsty look in her eyes. She stormed in my direction. My muscles tensed in fear, preparing to be berated.”

Stoner remembered that Lovato “suckerpunched” Welch before “the plane went still.” Eventually, “terror gripped the cabin” with dancers checking on Welch.

“I was a deer in headlights, struggling to grasp the scene unfolding before me,” Stoner wrote. “The jet bridge was redrawn and the flight crew and tour executives began exiting and entering the plane. The rest of us waited in the wake.”

This prompted her first stint in rehab. (Lovato has addressed the incident publicly on various occasions over the years.)

The Aftermath of the Incident

Stoner wrote that fans “made signs demanding we apologize for hurting Demi” after Lovato went to rehab and left the tour.

“For several years, I felt suffocated under the weight of Demi’s power and terrified of her PR team, the extreme remarks from her fanbase, and the way mass media gave a fabricated identity a life of its own,” Stoner admitted. “Real people were finding real comfort in not being alone in their mental health journey. Lives were saved because of her message. I agreed with and supported the message, and I kept hoping some parts of her recovery story were true.”

Lovato later confessed that she had been lying throughout her sobriety journey. She discussed living a “life in recovery” during a Jun 2024 interview.

Stoner and Lovato’s Reunion

Lovato eventually reached out to Stoner ahead of the 2024 Child Star documentary. This was the first time they had seen each other in 14 years — and Lovato apologized.

“It didn’t feel appropriate to go from no-contact to having a complex and intimate reunion filmed on camera, so I requested a preliminary phone call to gauge Demi’s intentions and the heart of the project,” Stoner wrote. “With a mutual commitment to honor each other’s truths, we met for the documentary interview, revisiting the past with more maturity and clarity.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call their hotline at +1 (866) 662-1235. Text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.