“farmen kjendis” Star Jonas lihaug Fredriksen Opens Up About On-Air Anxiety Attack
Norwegian reality television personality Jonas Lihaug Fredriksen experienced a severe anxiety attack during the premiere episode of “Farmen kjendis” (“The Celebrity Farm”), revealing a vulnerable side to the comedian known for his boisterous persona. The incident, wich unfolded shortly after Fredriksen prepared breakfast for his fellow contestants, has sparked conversation about mental health and the pressures of reality TV.
The 36-year-old described waking up with a feeling of dread before the episode’s events. “Woke up with a lump in my stomach,” he shared in the episode,foreshadowing the emotional turmoil to come. While interacting with other celebrities on the farm, Fredriksen found himself overwhelmed by a sense of emptiness and confusion.
“I don’t quite know where it comes from, but it reminds me a lot of when I had existential anxiety as a 10-year-old,” he confessed, visibly distressed. He questioned his own feelings, asking himself, “What the hell, do I have anxiety? What is happening?” before breaking down in tears.
Speaking to VG the day before the episode aired, Fredriksen detailed the physical and emotional experience. “I started struggling to breathe and stuff like that,” he explained. “And when I put the feelings into words, it fully exploded for me. Then I stretched out for 30-40 minutes with a total anxiety attack, as there is no point in trying to make TV all at once.” He credited the production team with providing support, noting a “fantastic psychology session” with the director during the crisis.
Fredriksen clarified that the televised clips of his breakdown occurred after the initial wave of anxiety subsided. Several factors contributed to his emotional state, including a new relationship with girlfriend Jannicke Kvisle, which began just two or three months prior to filming, and the prospect of being away for six weeks. He also admitted to struggling to find his footing within the group dynamic.
“Everyone knows the loud and goofy Jonas,” fredriksen told VG. “But realizing that no one really knows and understands me while I was feeling these negative feelings, it was a bit scary.” He described a “maelstrom of difficult emotions” fueled by a lack of sleep – contestants reportedly averaged onyl three to four hours of rest per night.
The episode depicted Fredriksen collapsing after distributing breakfast notes, feeling that his efforts were not fully appreciated. A subsequent clip showed the other contestants consuming the notes and expressing their gratitude, a moment Fredriksen said was presented out of sequence.
A turning point came with the support of fellow contestant Fritz Aanes, a wrestling coach and TV personality. Aanes approached Fredriksen and simply asked, “Hey, you! What do you do for a living?” Fredriksen believes this was Aanes’s way of reaching out and offering care. “I am absolutely convinced that he had picked something up,” Fredriksen said. “That it was his way of grabbing hold of me and taking care of me.”
Fredriksen,previously known for his work with the humor collectives “4ETG” and “FlippKlipp” on NRK,and recognized as “YouTuber of the Year” in 2016,emphasized the importance of discussing his feelings with others. He noted that opening up helped him navigate the challenges of the reality game.
While the initial experience was deeply unsettling, Fredriksen says he has since processed his emotions. “Now that it has been a very long time, I am left with positive and nice thoughts,” he stated. “But it took me quite a while. There were probably a few months when I was just depressed about the whole situation.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the emotional toll reality television can take on participants, even those accustomed to public life. It also highlights the importance of mental health awareness and the power of human connection in navigating difficult times.
