Posted on 11/02/2023 9:35:23 AM PDT by Red Badger
Singer Karen Carpenter passed away 40 years ago at the age of 32. She was anorexic and it killed her. Now author Lucy O’Brien has revealed additional details in her new book, “Lead Sister: the Story of Karen Carpenter.”
According to an excerpt shared by the Hollywood Reporter, Carpenter and her brother, Richard Carpenter, formed the duo “The Carpenters.” They were hit musicians who were even invited to meet then-President Richard Nixon in 1972.
But O’Brien’s book offers a closer look into Carpenter’s struggle with body image. The text detailed how “Anorexia had become a tyrannical force in her psyche, telling her that food was an enemy to be fought.”
The passage went on, “Thoughts of food and the methods to eliminate it had become obsessive, dominating her day and disrupting her sleep. ‘It’s like being haunted,’ she said.”
After struggling with previous treatment methods, Carpenter hired psychotherapist Steven Levenkron in the summer of 1982. He was a “nurturant-authoritative” and considered a controversial aid at the time.
Levenkron moved in with Carpenter and realized she was using laxatives to purge her body of food and stay thin. She also admitted to abusing a thyroid medication to boost her metabolism.
Levenkron confiscated the medication and worked to help her for months. During one breakthrough session, Carpenter is said to have stated, “I don’t need any care,” adding, “I’m successful like this.”
But her doctor would not be deterred. He pointed out, “But you do need care because you are incompetent … because you can’t keep yourself alive.” This shocked and upset her.
She weighed 77 pounds and experienced health issues that required hospitalization. When she was released, she gained 20 pounds and even celebrated Thanksgiving with her family by eating and celebrating her recovery.
She declared herself cured, but Levenkron warned that recovery would take years. Carpenter wanted to get back to work.
Unfortunately, between Thanksgiving, and that following January, her health began to fail. She ended up hospitalized in February of 1983 where she passed away due to her severe anorexia.
Truth and Accuracy
Back in the day I was not a fan of the Carpenters or their style of music. Since I did not follow them I never knew of Karen’s problems until she passed.
She was also an EXCEPTIONAL drummer. Check out YouTube to see her in action.
Anorexia..a mental problem commonly rooted in rebellion against uber controlling parents.
I think Kelly Ripa is the 2023 version of Karen Carpenter. She looks emaciated. Her arms are like toothpicks. Ditto for that actress who played Allie McBeal in the early 2000s.
Karen had a hell of a voice. So pure. “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Close to You” and “Goodbye to Love” are among her best.
The Carpenters used to live in the same general area I grew up but I never knew who they were. Their parents used to shop at the old Gemco in Downey CA.
I don’t think any of this is “new” information.
Just time to recycle it for a few bucks.
A sad story which has been repeated many, many times and while sad, is hardly unique.
I know - She's bat-shit crazy, but that voice!
such a sad loss. she was a very talented woman.
Her voice to me is like nails on a chalkboard.
How much were those food demons a function of the anorexia-crisis-porn awareness campaigns that the media had been producing as its ratings magnet du jour?
Very sad all around.
Was wondering if somebody would post it. She hits the vocal notes just like Karen did.
Was it every established why she suddenly became anorexic? It was supposedly due to an article in Billboard Magazine that called her “the chubby sister”, but apparently, that never happened.
One of my favorites and a great memory maker/reminder.
So, anorexia is a type of dysphoria. It would have been crazy for someone to encourage her to give in to it. But someone who believes that they are trans sexual is a dysphoria we are to accept and encourage.
there was an influence. a music critic of the time commented about Richard Carpenter and his “pudgy little sister”. hoping the twerp critic rots where it’s hot. in the process of real life it only take one stupid and not well thought out comment to hurt someone.
Yes it is.
I knew a girl from the 8th grade through my senior year in High School who went through Anorexia, treatment, some weight gain (junior and senior years) and then weight loss again back to mostly normal, if not a bit skinny again. At our ten year HS reunion, found out she'd gone over to the homosexual dark side. I often wonder if the two are connected somehow through possible abuse when she was a young pre-teen/teenager.
She has the perfect initials to describe her.
Spot on - supposedly we’re supposed to support confused kids who want to mutilate themselves; what do those lefty know-it-alls think we should do with those who are on the way to starving themselves to death?
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