Amy Schumer is embracing the positive aspects of online trolling.
The comedian and actress attributes her discovery of an unexpected health issue to the comments made by internet users.
During the January 22 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Schumer, 43, revealed that she was unaware of her Cushing syndrome diagnosis until she faced criticism regarding her appearance online.
“A year ago, the Internet really came for me,” she recounted to host Alex Cooper. Initially, she dismissed the remarks about her puffy face, saying, “I was like, ‘Okay, everybody, like, relax.’”
However, the situation shifted when medical professionals began commenting on her posts, providing their assessments based solely on her looks. “Doctors were chiming in in the comments and they were, like, ‘No, no … something's really up. Your face looks so crazy,’” Schumer remembered.
Cushing syndrome, as explained by the Mayo Clinic, occurs when cortisol levels remain elevated in the body for an extended period, often due to long-term steroid use. This condition can result in weight gain, acne, and a distinctive round face known as “moon face.”
“At first, I was like, ‘F—k off,’” Schumer admitted. Yet, she eventually recognized that there might be some validity to the comments.
“Wait, I have been getting steroid injections for my scars,” she noted, referring to treatments she received following her breast reduction and Cesarean section.
Schumer, who has a 5-year-old son named Gene with her husband Chris Fischer, disclosed her diagnosis in February 2024. She expressed her surprise: “So I got these … steroid injections, and so it gave me this thing called Cushing syndrome — which I wouldn't have known if the Internet hadn't come for me so hard.”
The timing of her diagnosis added to her anxiety, as she was preparing to star in the Netflix comedy Kinda Pregnant, set to premiere on February 5.
She shared her concerns about filming while managing the condition. “I learned I had this condition, and that I had something called moon face, and I’m starring in a movie — and there’s a ca.
While many offered her reassurance about her appearance, one friend candidly remarked, “Your face looks a bit off.”
Schumer mentioned that she eventually managed to overcome the issue, explaining that it “just needed time to resolve itself.”
Prior to filming, however, she faced significant challenges with her self-confidence. “I was really struggling with my self-image before I began shooting this movie … I was having a hard time reconciling how I could take on a leading role with this situation.”
It was her friend, director Lorraine Caffery, who provided the necessary encouragement to lift her spirits.
“She said, ‘You know, I think you look absolutely fantastic.’ I just needed that one person to boost my confidence,” Schumer shared.
