‘Today I Was Me’: Why Christina Applegate Went Barefoot During Her Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony

In August 2021, Christina Applegate shared on Twitter that she has multiple sclerosis (MS), a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system, and she just made her first public appearance since her diagnosis. Applegate, 50, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and she showed up barefoot to celebrate the achievement—something she later acknowledged and explained on Twitter.

“Barefoot,” she wrote. “For some with MS the feeling of shoes may hurt or make us feel off balance. So today I was me. Barefoot.”

Many people responded by cheering her on, while other people with MS shared their own experiences of struggling with footwear. “I was diagnosed with MS at 28 after the birth of my first daughter. I worked in corporate and wore heels every day,” one person wrote. “I was adamant on wearing heels, even when my legs were shaky, just to feel like I was fighting back against my crappy health. Thank you for bringing awareness to MS.”

Applegate was also photographed at the event with a cane, something that she mentioned she would be doing in a tweet she shared in late October. “Walking sticks are now part of my new normal,” she wrote.

Dina Jacobs, MD, clinical director of the Penn MS and Related Disorders Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, tells SELF that she “right away” had suspicions about why Applegate was barefoot, and figured that “she was having symptoms from her MS and that she was uncomfortable.”

In an emotional speech during the ceremony—which Applegate kept short as she couldn’t “stand for too long”—the actor tried to keep things lighthearted: “Oh, by the way, I have a disease,” she said, as People reported. “Did you not notice? I’m not wearing shoes.” 

This isn’t the first time Applegate has talked candidly about her MS symptoms. In a recent interview with The New York Times, the Dead to Me actor shared what it was like to grapple with the neurological condition on set. She told the publication that she felt off-balance while filming a dance scene and then later had trouble playing tennis. Eventually, she couldn’t ignore the numbness and tingling she felt in her extremities. Sometimes she had to use a wheelchair while filming, and, at one point, a crew member had to physically hold up her legs so she could stand during certain scenes.

These are all “very common” symptoms of MS, and balance issues are often a “big problem” for people living with the condition, Dr. Jacobs says. “It can lead to a risk for falls, and it’s something that we are very concerned about.”

“MS can hit the systems that help you feel and move,” Amit Sachdev, MD, the director of the division of neuromuscular medicine at Michigan State University, tells SELF. “Balance requires feeling the position of the body and adjusting the position. When both feeling and moving are damaged, balance can suffer.”

Because of this, Dr. Jacobs says she will often recommend physical and occupational therapy for her MS patients. “Both can offer a lot in terms of your physical stance,” she explains. As for foot pain, Dr. Jacobs says MS can impact sensory pathways in the body, which can trigger a “misinterpretation of sensations.” That can lead to burning and pins-and-needles sensations or even itchiness.

While going barefoot can help temporarily alleviate certain symptoms, it’s not always practical. That’s why Dr. Jacobs says she urges people with MS to get “comfortable shoes with a good foundation,” making sure to avoid things like “very high heels” when possible. Customized orthotics can also be helpful for added support and potential pain relief, Suhayl Dhib-Jalbut, MD, the chair of the department of neurology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, tells SELF.

Outside of wearing supportive footwear, using compression socks, and trying various forms of physical therapy, Dr. Jacobs says practicing yoga is also “tremendously helpful for balance.”

Applegate later shared on Twitter that she was “incredibly honored” to receive her star. During her speech, she said the support of her loved ones, especially her daughter, has been vital since her diagnosis. “I am blessed every day that I get to wake up and take you to your school,” she said tearfully. “You are my everything. Thank you for standing beside me through all of this.”

Related:

• 5 Ways I Take Care of My Mental Health While Living With MS
• Selma Blair Worried Her Body Would Freeze During Her First DWTS Performance
• I Was Diagnosed With MS at 20—After My Doctor Completely Dismissed My First Symptom