The real reason Jennifer Love Hewitt vanished from Hollywood

As one of Hollywood’s hottest young stars of the 1990s, Jennifer Love Hewitt was poised to become a celebrated actor with respectable adult performances for decades to come.

But in 2015, the star of the hit TV show Ghost Whisperer, the “it girl” who tabloids loved, ghosted Hollywood, leaving fans speculating on the reason behind her disappearance.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Jennifer Love Hewitt was one of the biggest teen stars of the nineties. I mean, who didn’t fall for Jennifer Love’s Hewitt?

According to me, she possessed the most captivating smile, and there was something truly heartwarming and genuine about her presence.

After appearing in several TV commercials, Hewitt, now 44, had her big break when she was only 10 with the Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated (1989 to 1991).

The show, about young people who perform in a rock band, served as a launching pad for many celebrities, like Fergie of the Grammy-winning band Black Eyed Peas, Mario Lopez, of Saved by the Bell and Access Hollywood, And Eric Balfour who had starring roles in 24 and Haven.

Of course, also Hewitt, who was later cast as a regular on the popular TV drama Party of Five, where she starred with an ensemble cast of Scott Wolf, Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, and Lacy Chabert.

When Party of Five ended after six seasons in 1999, Hewitt then went on to star in touchstone films of the 1990s like the teen horror franchise I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997 and 1998) and the teen drama Can’t Hardly Wait (1998). 

Jennifer Love Hewitt attends “The Greatest Show on Earth” 125th Edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Opening Night Performance to Benefit Variety – The Children’s Charity on April 27, 1995 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

In 2001, Hewitt starred as the daughter of Sigourney Weaver’s character in the film Heartbreakers, an appearance that Roger Ebert critiqued in his review as Hewitt spending “the entire film with her treasures on display, maybe as product placement for the Wonderbra.”

Hewitt, who’s had a turbulent relationship with the media since she started filling out as a woman, said in a 2018 interview with LA Times, “It wasn’t actually until later, in the time when I took the step back, that I went “ugh.” It’s the worst–that’s not what I want to be remembered for.” She continued, “I don’t want my kid to Google me one day and see ‘She looks terrible’ or ‘She has big boobs and she’s hot.’ I don’t want that to be who I am.”

In 2002, she co-starred with Jackie Chan in the spy parody Tuxedo, where she was mostly covered up, oftentimes wearing the superpower-holding tuxedo.

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ross McCall at the World premiere of ‘The Break-Up’ / Shutterstock

Returning to TV in 2005, she played Melinda Gordon, a woman who communicates with the dead, in Ghost Whisperer.

Though the show failed to earn the respect of critics, it still had a loyal following. Hewitt said she was crushed when Ghost Whisperer was abruptly canceled in 2010, leaving viewers hanging.

“For me, it was a total shock… I thought our next season probably would be the last, just because the show had been on for a really long time,” she said. “It’s hard to come up with new things that will keep people intrigued, but I never thought in a million years that was going to have been our last season.”

In 2012, Hewitt earned her first Golden Globe nomination for her starring role in the Client List, where she plays a single mother, who makes a living as an erotic masseuse to support her children.

Wikipedia Commons / lukeford.net

While filming Client List, Hewitt, also a singer, met her first and only husband, Brian Hallisay, who in the show plays the deadbeat dad to her on-screen children.

In real life, Hallisay is a great husband and father of three. The two married in 2013 and had their first daughter, Autumn, days after they wed. The pair then had Atticus in 2015, and Aiden in 2021.

Having worked tirelessly since she was a child, Hewitt slipped away from the spotlight in 2015, explaining that she needed time to be a wife and mother.

“There was a lot going on in my own life that just felt like I needed some space and some time to kind of be. I’ve really enjoyed the break, and I feel like now, the last few months, having gone back into acting, it’s really done a beautiful thing for me in that it’s made everything that I do in my acting/entertainment life not less important but less like, ‘It’s everything all the time,’ like it used to be.”

Shutterstock

In her time away, Hewitt was also trying to heal from the death of her mother, who was 67 when she died of cancer in 2012, a loss she says still “feels very raw.”

During this challenging period in her life, Jennifer made the decision to leave Twitter as well. For some reason, she faced a great deal of hate on the platform.

Being pregnant, she couldn’t handle all the negativity and hostility, so she chose to step away from Twitter, which caused quite a stir.

”Unfortunately with all the negativity people choose to send on twitter as well as threats to their own well being I’m sad to say Twitter is no longer for me,” Jennifer wrote in 2013.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is seen on October 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by SMXRF/Star Max/FilmMagic)

Since starting her career in 1989, Jennifer Love Hewitt has embarked on an incredible transformation journey, both physically and emotionally.

Unfortunately, she has also experienced the downsides of Hollywood, celebrity status, and objectification by tabloids. Some online media outlets went too far and made some really derogatory and harsh comments when bikini photos of Jennifer were leaked, highlighting her weight gain. Some of these outlets commented on her bikini pictures, saying things like “I know what you ate last summer.”

Jennifer could handle the tough comments, but she worried about how the pictures and headlines were impacting other girls struggling with their body image.

Jennifer Love Hewitt arrives at the FOX Summer TCA 2019 All-Star Party at Fox Studios on August 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)

In a powerful response, she directed a message to all the ”girls with butts, boobs, hips and a waist” and instructed them to “put on a bikini, put it on, and stay strong”.

The Ghost Whisperer star encouraged them to proudly wear a bikini, stay strong, and embrace themselves as they are. Jennifer has gone through several weight journeys, sought the help of personal trainers, and strives to live a healthy lifestyle.

Today, she “never looks at the scale” and she doesn’t count calories. The 90’s star looks healthier than ever and remains active on social media and regularly shares updates about herself on her Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Kenneth Choi in the Breaking Point episode in 2020 / Getty Images

In 2020, following a three-year hiatus, Hewitt returned to work with “renewed energy and vigor,” appearing in the TV series 9-1-1, that follows the lives of first responders.

Starring as Maddie Buckley, a former nurse turned 911 operator, the show–now in its eighth season–gave Hewitt a platform to develop her profile, from one where she was earlier typecast as a symbol, to a mature, seasoned actor.

jenniferlovehewitt/Instagram

“I also feel like I have new things to pull from as an actress that I didn’t have before. I think it’s so odd as actors that we, especially kid actors, which I was, we’re expected to pull from all these life experiences that so many of us haven’t had,” Hewitt told the LA Times. “I feel like I acted for a lot of years from my heart, but not really, truly understanding some of the things that I understand now.”

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 25 years since we fell in love with Jennifer Love Hewitt’s infectious smile on Party of Five!

As the mother of three, it’s great she’s found the balance between work and family life, and we look forward to seeing her in even more mature roles in the future!

Entitled Couple on Plane Demands I Cover My Face Because My Scars ‘Scare’ Them — Flight Attendant & Captain Put Them in Their Place

When Carla boards a flight, her healing scars become the target of a cruel couple’s disgust, igniting a tense confrontation in the cabin. What begins as silent endurance soon escalates as the couple demands action, forcing the crew to step in.

The airport felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just the way people stared. I kept my head down, gripping my boarding pass like it was the only thing holding me together.

A woman prepared to board a plane | Source: Pexels

A woman prepared to board a plane | Source: Pexels

The scar across my face was still healing, but it already felt like it had carved itself into my identity. People didn’t see me anymore, they saw the scar first.

The injury happened a month ago in a car accident. I had been a passenger, and when the airbag deployed, a shard of glass sliced deep into my face. The doctors were quick to act, stitching me up with precision, but they couldn’t prevent the jagged line from forming.

Doctors at work | Source: Pexels

Doctors at work | Source: Pexels

My dermatologist called it “early scar tissue,” raw, shiny, and red. It stretched from an inch above my hairline, down my brow, cutting across my cheek, and ending near my jawline. Part of my eyebrow would never grow back, and my cheek had an indentation where the cut had been deepest.

For weeks, my face was covered in bandages. At first, I couldn’t bear to look in the mirror. But as the wounds closed and the bandages came off, I had no choice but to face it.

A woman with bandages covering her face | Source: Midjourney

A woman with bandages covering her face | Source: Midjourney

My friends tried to cheer me up, calling it badass, even sexy in a mysterious way. I tried to believe them, but it was hard when strangers stared or looked away too quickly.

The healing process was slow and uncomfortable. Every morning, I applied the creams and ointments the dermatologist recommended, ensuring the skin stayed clean and hydrated.

A woman with cream on her face | Source: Midjourney

A woman with cream on her face | Source: Midjourney

But no amount of care could change the shiny, slick appearance or the harsh red lines that seemed to scream for attention. I knew they’d fade over time, but the thought of them never disappearing entirely sat heavy in my chest.

Now, as I walked to my seat on the plane, I could feel every pair of eyes on me. I dropped into the window seat, my heart racing.

A woman settling into her window seat | Source: Pexels

A woman settling into her window seat | Source: Pexels

At least I’d boarded early, avoiding the crowds. I slipped my headphones on, letting the music drown out my worries. Closing my eyes, I prayed for a peaceful, uneventful flight.

I woke up to voices. Loud ones.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” a man grumbled. “These are our seats?” His tone was sharp, like he was angry at the world.

A close-up shot of a grumpy man | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of a grumpy man | Source: Pexels

“Row 5B and 5C,” a woman’s voice replied, clipped and impatient. “It’s fine. Just sit down.”

The couple settled into the seats next to me with a lot of huffing and shuffling. I kept my eyes closed, hoping they’d leave me alone. The man had a rough, gravelly voice. “I don’t believe this. We pay for this flight, and this is what we get? Last-minute seats next to —” He stopped.

A grumpy couple on a plane | Source: Midjourney

A grumpy couple on a plane | Source: Midjourney

“Next to what?” the woman asked, her voice rising. “Oh.” I felt her eyes on me. My skin prickled. “You’ve got to be joking.”

I stayed still, my heart pounding. Please just stop talking.

“Hey, lady!” the man barked. I opened my eyes slowly and turned toward him. He flinched, then scowled. “Can’t you cover that up or something?”

Young woman with scars on her face | Source: Midjourney

Young woman with scars on her face | Source: Midjourney

I blinked, too stunned to speak.

“Tom,” the woman hissed, covering her nose with her sweater sleeve. “That’s disgusting. How did they even let her board like that?”

“Exactly!” Tom leaned forward, pointing a finger at me. “This is a public place, you know? People don’t need to see… that.”

A disgusted couple | Source: Midjourney

A disgusted couple | Source: Midjourney

I felt my face flush. The words caught in my throat. I wanted to explain, to tell them it wasn’t something I could help, but no sound came out.

“Are you just going to sit there?” the woman said, her voice sharp and nasally. “Unbelievable.”

Tom leaned into the aisle and waved down a flight attendant. “Hey! Can you do something about this? My girlfriend is freaking out.”

A flight attendant in the isle | Source: Unsplash

A flight attendant in the isle | Source: Unsplash

The flight attendant approached, her expression calm but serious. “Is there a problem, sir?”

“Yeah, there’s a problem,” Tom said. “Look at her!” He jabbed a thumb in my direction. “It’s upsetting my girlfriend. Can you move her to the back or something?”

The attendant’s eyes shifted to me. Her face softened for a moment before she turned back to the man. “Sir, all passengers are entitled to their seats. Is there something I can help you with?”

Flight attendant talking to the passengers | Source: Unsplash

Flight attendant talking to the passengers | Source: Unsplash

“I just told you!” Tom snapped. “She’s sitting there looking like that. It’s gross. She should have to cover it up or move.”

The woman added, “I can’t even look at her. I’ll throw up.”

The flight attendant straightened, her tone cool and firm. “Sir, ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to lower your voices. This kind of behavior is not acceptable.”

An angry middle-aged man talking to a flight attendant on a plane | Source: Midjourney

An angry middle-aged man talking to a flight attendant on a plane | Source: Midjourney

Tom scoffed. “Behavior? What about her behavior? It’s inconsiderate! She’s scaring people!”

The attendant ignored him and crouched slightly toward me. “Miss, are you okay?”

I nodded stiffly, barely holding back tears.

The attendant stood tall again. “I’ll be right back,” she said, her voice steady. “Excuse me for a moment.”

A flight attendant confronting an angry passenger | Source: Midjourney

A flight attendant confronting an angry passenger | Source: Midjourney

As she walked toward the cockpit, Tom leaned back in his seat, muttering under his breath. The woman beside him folded her arms and glared out the aisle. I stared at the window, wishing I could disappear.

The cabin was quiet except for the low hum of the engines. I kept my eyes on the seatback in front of me, trying not to cry. A few rows back, someone whispered. I imagined they were talking about me.

A sad woman with a scar | Source: Midjourney

A sad woman with a scar | Source: Midjourney

The intercom crackled. The captain’s voice came through, calm but firm.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’ve been made aware of behavior that does not align with the respectful environment we strive to maintain on this flight. Let me remind everyone that harassment or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. Please treat your fellow passengers with dignity.”

The pilots of the plane | Source: Pexels

The pilots of the plane | Source: Pexels

The announcement sent a ripple through the cabin. Heads turned, passengers shifting in their seats as they glanced toward row 5. I caught sight of someone across the aisle shaking their head in disapproval, and my stomach twisted.

The flight attendant returned, standing tall and composed. She leaned into our row and addressed the couple directly. “Mr. and Ms., I’ll need you to move to seats 22B and 22C at the back of the plane.”

A flight attendant talking to passengers | Source: Midjourney

A flight attendant talking to passengers | Source: Midjourney

The man looked stunned. “What?” he barked. “We’re not moving!”

“Sir,” the flight attendant said firmly, “this is not negotiable. Your behavior has disrupted the flight, and we need to ensure a comfortable environment for all passengers.”

“This is ridiculous,” the woman snapped, pulling her sweater tighter around her. “Why are we the ones being punished? She’s the one causing the problem!”

A young woman shouting at flight attendants | Source: Midjourney

A young woman shouting at flight attendants | Source: Midjourney

The flight attendant didn’t flinch. “Ma’am, your new seats are ready. Please gather your belongings.”

The man scowled, his face flushed red with anger. “This is insane,” he muttered, yanking his bag from under the seat. The woman followed, grumbling loudly as she snatched her purse. Passengers nearby watched silently, their expressions ranging from disapproval to quiet satisfaction.

A dissatisfied couple walking | Source: Midjourney

A dissatisfied couple walking | Source: Midjourney

As the couple shuffled down the aisle, someone clapped. Then another. The sound grew, scattering applause throughout the cabin. I bit my lip, trying to hold back tears. Not from embarrassment this time, but from the strange, unexpected comfort of the gesture.

The flight attendant turned to me, her expression soft. “Miss, I want to apologize for what happened. No one should have to experience that.”

A nice flight attendant talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

A nice flight attendant talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“We have an open seat in business class,” she continued. “We’d like to move you there as a gesture of goodwill. Would that be okay?”

I hesitated. “I don’t want to cause trouble.”

“You’re not causing trouble,” she said, her voice kind. “Please. Let us take care of you.”

An unsure woman on a plane | Source: Midjourney

An unsure woman on a plane | Source: Midjourney

I nodded, murmuring, “Thank you.”

As I settled into my new seat, she brought me a cup of coffee and a small bag of cookies, then left me to relax. I stared out the window, the clouds a soft white blur against the endless blue. My breathing slowed, the knot in my chest loosening.

A woman with a book and a coffee in a window seat | Source: Freepik

A woman with a book and a coffee in a window seat | Source: Freepik

For the first time in what felt like weeks, I let myself cry. Quiet tears slid down my cheeks. I thought about my friends’ words, how they’d told me I was still me, scars and all. “You’re still beautiful,” one had said. “You’re just fierce now too.”

I looked out the window again. The clouds seemed endless, stretching far into the horizon. My tears stopped. I took a deep breath, the air filling my lungs like a promise.

A woman looking at her phone on a plane | Source: Pexels

A woman looking at her phone on a plane | Source: Pexels

As the plane glided forward, I felt something I hadn’t in weeks: hope.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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