ONE Championship’s Angela Lee admits that the 2017 accident was a suicide attempt. Angela who had been going through severe mental health issues recently opened up about her suicide attempt in 2017 which was back then portrayed as a car crash. In an article published in the Public Tribune Angela made this revelation and talked about the problems she suffered that led her to make such a big decision.
What were the problems that Angela was going through? Was there someone to help her through such a tough time? Why was her suicide attempt covered up as an accident? Continue reading to find out!
At the time, Lee, at 21 years old, had just completed her first two defenses of her ONE Championship atomweight title. She had a scheduled fight in Singapore on November 24, 2017, against challenger Mei Yamaguchi. As the battle approached, Lee increased pressure on herself, putting particular emphasis on gaining weight, which she described as the most important and challenging thing for her.
Lee wrote that she couldn’t stop thinking about the shame that would have resulted if she hadn’t been able to make the fight. She mentioned that as someone who had never missed any competition in her entire life, that fear terrified her. She explained that it had become all-encompassing, and she reached a point where she would rather take herself out of the equation than deal with what might have come. She summarized her state of mind by saying it was a situation of “all or nothing.”
On November 6, Lee claimed that everything had come crashing down, calling it the longest night of her life. She was already attempting to progressively lose weight at home on the Hawaiian island of Oahu by ONE’s hydration tests. And she was struggling.
Lee wrote that she had been attempting to maintain her mental resilience during the fight. She mentioned that she was trying to stay strong, but she sensed herself gradually losing that strength. She expressed that she had felt fear, and exhaustion, and had reached her limit, and she described how various negative and dark thoughts had begun to fill her mind.
Seeing the 12 pounds on the scale made her feel defeated and she felt she had lost.
Lee claimed that in the middle of the night, she went into a restroom and attempted to break her arm and cause a concussion so she could use an injury as an excuse to leave the battle.
Lee wrote that after her initial attempts didn’t yield any results, she decided to get into her car and leave the outcome of the situation to fate.
Lee discovered a place to drive over a cliff by traveling down a road close to her home. Lee claimed that she was hesitant to carry through on her initial attempt and ultimately drove back, slamming on the throttle as hard as she could to crash through the guard rail.
Even though Lee’s car overturned five or six times, she miraculously avoided serious injury, suffering only a concussion and some minor burns. The official narrative at the time and up until she admitted that she dozed off while driving. Lee claimed that her younger sister Victoria Lee served as her inspiration for starting the charity organisation Fightstory earlier this year and for being honest about her recent suicide attempt. Victoria, a fellow former ONE fighter who committed suicide at the age of 18, wasn’t public until now.
Lee wrote that Fightstory is dedicated to the principles of expressing one’s truth, fostering hope, and establishing a community for individuals who are facing challenges related to mental health. She explained that its purpose was to provide healing, raise awareness, promote acceptance, and offer support for those who are navigating their most difficult moments, including their loved ones. She emphasized that no one should have to face these battles on their own.
Were her reasons valid or do you believe she is being too emotional? Could this be for clout and if not there is a high probability of many more fighters going through the same struggle? Who is the one to blame? Do let us know about your thoughts in the comment section!
