KJ Dillard opened up about a serious mental health crisis during Part 1 of the Summer House Season 10 reunion, revealing that he was hospitalized last fall after experiencing self-harm and later diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. The 28-year-old reality star became emotional while speaking with Andy Cohen, saying that co-stars Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese visited him nearly every day during his weeklong stay in the hospital. Dillard said the support he received from friends and fans helped him through a difficult period and that he is now in therapy and taking medication.
During the reunion, Dillard said he had spent months in recovery and was finally able to focus on himself. He explained that for much of his life, he avoided confronting his problems directly, choosing instead to distract himself from emotional struggles. That pattern, he said, changed after his hospitalization and diagnosis. Dillard described the experience as life-changing and said he is grateful to be alive.
In a separate interview with Ebony published on May 27, Dillard spoke more about the pressures he faced as the first Black man to appear on Summer House. He said the role came with heavy expectations and added stress at a time when he was already dealing with financial instability. After filming wrapped in the fall, he said modeling opportunities slowed and money became tight, leaving him without stability. He said those struggles affected his mental health, his relationship with Dara Levitan, and his friendships.
Dillard said he tried to hide his distress and appear strong while carrying the responsibility of representation. He explained that he felt pressure not to show weakness as the franchise’s first Black male cast member, especially amid broader backlash against diversity efforts in television and film. He said that internal pressure eventually became overwhelming and led him to seek psychiatric care.
Reflecting on his recovery, Dillard said he has learned the importance of self-care, self-love, and honesty about emotional pain. He hopes his openness will encourage other men, especially Black men, to speak more freely about mental health and to seek help when they need it. Dillard said that strength does not mean suppressing emotions, but rather acknowledging them and refusing to carry everything alone.
His comments come as the Summer House reunion continues to spotlight both cast tensions and personal stories, with Dillard’s disclosure standing out as one of the most serious and vulnerable moments of the special.
