Dove Cameron is sharing one of the most painful experiences of her life and how it quietly shaped everything that followed.
During a candid Feb. 4 appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, the singer and Disney actress revealed that the murder of her childhood best friend when she was just 9 years old altered the way she sees the world to this day.
Cameron said the loss was something she rarely speaks about, not because it is off-limits, but because it is not often brought up. Still, she explained that the trauma has stayed with her and continues to affect how she processes relationships, safety and trust.
A Childhood Loss That Left a Lasting Mark
Cameron recalled growing up on Bainbridge Island, Washington, where she met her best friend Hayley as a toddler. The two were inseparable, forming one of those early friendships that feels immediate and effortless. According to Cameron, Hayley’s home life later became complicated as her parents went through a difficult divorce.
She remembered spending time around Hayley’s father in the months leading up to the tragedy and sensing something was wrong even at a young age. Cameron described him as an angry presence and said the environment felt dark.
The actress said she learned about Hayley’s death while home sick from school in third grade. She overheard a phone call between her parents and Hayley’s preschool principal, who explained that Hayley and her sister had been killed by their father, who then took his own life. Cameron said she made a sound that alerted her parents she had heard the news, and the family stayed in bed together for days afterward.
Cameron described the moment as impossible to process. She said her parents tried to put her in therapy, but the realization that someone she loved could be capable of such violence deeply disturbed her. Cameron shared that the experience changed how her brain works and added that she still struggles with lingering effects from the trauma.
How Trauma Shaped Fame, Love & Healing
As Cameron grew older, those unresolved wounds followed her into her career and personal life. She previously told People that she experienced panic attacks while rising to fame as a teenager on Disney Channel’s “Liv and Maddie,” which aired from 2013 to 2017. At the same time, she was also grieving the death of her father, who died by suicide just before she began filming the show.
Cameron said the emotional whiplash of attending a funeral and then quickly becoming a global star made it difficult to process her grief. She later realized she did not know how to handle public attention, which only intensified her anxiety.
On “Call Her Daddy,” Cameron also connected her past trauma to unhealthy romantic patterns. According to Us Weekly, she said several of her previous relationships were rooted in what she called trauma bonds, where she ignored red flags and stayed in situations that were not safe or healthy.
“Some of them were trauma bonds and me choosing to continue on that path and not seeing all the red flags,” Cameron said.
After those relationships ended, Cameron intentionally stepped away from dating for more than two years to focus on healing. She said that time alone changed how she approaches love and helped her feel ready for a healthier relationship, which eventually led her to her current fiancé, Damiano David.
Reflecting on her journey, Cameron said, “From a healed and healthy perspective, I would agree.”
