British food activist and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, a learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading, in childhood. In a video interview with Made by Dyslexia, Oliver spoke about the challenges he faced in school as a result of these conditions.
“Who said education is what we say it is? Like a couple of dudes from 500 years ago sort of set up the structure of it — English, maths, science. Okay, so if you’re not good at black-and-white and traditional academia … you have no value,” Oliver said. “So, for me personally, I’ve always been passionate since leaving school about different types of intelligence, and everyone has the ability to be brilliant.”
According to a tweet from the ADHD Foundation, Oliver advocates for healthy eating habits as a way to help manage ADHD symptoms.
The Takeaway
ADHD does not solely affect children. Many adults — including household names like Simone Biles, Trevor Noah, Justin Timberlake, Adam Levine, and more — have opened up about having and living well with the condition. When celebrities with ADHD talk about their condition, it helps decrease stigma and start conversations around mental health.
Additional reporting by Christina Vogt.