Stokely Hathaway Committed Himself To Psychiatric Facility Whilst In WWE
AEW star Stokely Hathaway has opened up about his mental health battles during his time in WWE and says he committed himself before he left.
Stokely Hathaway – known in WWE as Malcolm Bivens – left the company in April 2022 amid rumours that he had turned down a new contract. One month later, he made his AEW debut at Double Or Nothing by the side of TBS Champion Jade Cargill.
Speaking on The Sessions with Renee Paquette, Stokely Hathaway spoke candidly about committing himself as he went through a rough patch with his mental health:
“It’s really interesting because I think a lot of people looked at me as if I was the bad guy. I kind of get it, I do get it because I’m sure there are plenty of people who would kill to be in the position I was in. At the time, I just couldn’t do it. I never really said why. I did a comedy show and alluded to it, but the wrong message came across from that show.”
“To be completely honest, in February, I woke up one day and felt miserable. I felt, the right way would be ‘crazy,’ like I didn’t know where I was or what was going on. It kind of went away and kept increasing to the point where it was debilitating. I voluntarily committed myself. It was on a Friday and I got out on Sunday. It was a very interesting experience.”
“In Florida, it’s like prison for the mentally ill. When I went in, I had no idea what I was in for. I was in kind of a cell, no real sheets, a metal frame that you laid on, the sink was one of those sinks that was rigged to motion detection. A little thing of soap and toothpaste. It was literally, couldn’t go into your room until 8 – 9 pm, then wake up at 6 am. Walk the floors, that was it. You walk to kill time. It was three days of that. After, I was like, ‘Maybe I’m not as crazy as I thought.'”
Stokely Hathaway also discussed how he was “hand chosen” to feud with CM Punk who he seemed to indicate is no longer part of AEW.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with their mental health in any way then you can call or text the NAMI helpline at 1-800-950-6264 in the US or contact the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123.