In some ways, Shirley Temple is a contradiction in terms. Undoubtedly, she is one of the most well-known child stars ever. Back in the first part of the 20th century, when America most needed a cute, singing-and-dancing young girl, her endearing curls and contagious smile solidified her as a box office draw. According to Newsweek, she also experienced horrendous sexual harassment, including at least one instance when she was 12 years old in which a casting director forcibly exposed himself to her. According to History Daily, as she reached adolescence, her movie career petered out, and she became just another nameless Southern California kid. Then, as an adult, she pursued a profession that is very different from filmmaking by holding various political positions like ambassador to Ghana, according to Politico.
Shirley Temple, as an adult, had one particular habit that she fought heroically to keep hidden from the cameras, in contrast to her spotless youth film career and later roles as a politician and ambassador. And it’s likely that Temple’s habit took her life.
Please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or utilise their live chat services if you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of child abuse.
In American history, smoking was formerly regarded as a socially acceptable behaviour. As of 2018, just about 13% of Americans smoked, down from almost 40% in 1965, according to the American Lung Association. According to The Guardian, cigarette corporations paid actors to promote their goods on-screen while smoking was openly featured in movies. Even Walt Disney, whose corporation produced a lot of stuff targeted mostly at youngsters, was rarely pictured holding a cigarette.