During Haley Joel Osment’s extended break from Los Angeles, he managed to avoid the “predatory” and “aggressive” tabloid culture.
Now 36, Osment rose to fame at the age of 5 by playing Forrest Junior in the Oscar-winning movie “Forrest Gump.”
“When I first started out in this industry, my parents told me, ‘If it’s ever not fun, you can quit tomorrow,'” Osment shared with E! News. “And as I got to college age, I had the opportunity to study theater and really contemplate whether I wanted to pursue this as my career.”
“At every juncture, my answer has always been yes,” he stated. “It’s a job that I genuinely enjoy, despite the challenges of not being able to plan my life too far in advance.”
HALEY JOEL OSMENT REVEALS HOW HE TRIED TO AVOID BEING RECOGNIZED AFTER CHILDHOOD STARDOM
Haley Joel Osment revealed the reason for his Hollywood break in a recent interview. (Getty Images)
Osment took a hiatus from Hollywood in 2006 to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York City.
“During those years, celebrity culture in Los Angeles was quite tense,” Osment remembered. “There was a very invasive, aggressive type of coverage by certain tabloids.”
“At that time, I was relieved to not be living in Los Angeles,” he added.
Haley Joel Osment’s time in New York City shielded him from Hollywood’s paparazzi culture. (Getty Images)
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After working on “Home of the Giants,” which was filmed in 2005 but released in 2007, Osment took a break from acting. He returned to the screen in 2012 with a role in “The Misadventures of the Dunderheads.”
Since then, he has been consistently involved in various movies, TV shows, and video games.
The actor resided in New York City for 15 years before relocating to Los Angeles, where the paparazzi scene has calmed down.
“We are in a different era now than before,” Osment remarked.
Haley Joel Osment resided in New York City for 15 years. (Getty Images)
Social media has altered the paparazzi culture. Osment shares photos and videos on his Instagram, satisfying fans’ curiosity.
“There is an interesting shift in dynamics,” he observed. “At this point, I am comfortable with it.”
“In this vast media environment, it is a way to promote your projects and keep people informed about your activities while maintaining a level of privacy,” Osment added. “I resisted it for a long time, but now it’s enjoyable to make some posts.”
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Haley Joel Osment on the set of “Pay it Forward.” (Getty Images)
Osment rose to fame with his role in “Forrest Gump” and continued his successful career into adulthood with notable films such as “The Sixth Sense,” “Pay it Forward,” “Secondhand Lions,” and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.”
“When I started in this field, the Internet existed but was not as prevalent as it is today,” Osment reflected. “I admire the younger actors today who can navigate the TikTok-Instagram-social media landscape because it was not something I had to deal with at their age.”
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