Dove Cameron shared a deeply personal story on the February 4, 2026, episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, recounting the murder of her childhood friend Hayley at age 9 by her father, Steve, in Bainbridge Island, Washington. The two girls met at age 2 and bonded over their similarities, but Hayley’s parents’ messy divorce created a tense home environment. Cameron, then 8, sensed “dark energy” from Steve during summer stays there.
One day in third grade, home sick, Cameron overheard a call from their preschool principal on the family landline: Hayley, her sister Kelsey, and Steve were all gone—Steve had killed the girls before taking his own life. The news left Cameron’s family in shock; they stayed in bed for two days. She described it as “impossible to process,” fracturing how she views the world and leaving lasting issues, even after her parents pushed therapy.
This trauma echoes other challenges Cameron has discussed publicly. In an April 2025 Armchair Expert episode, she revealed full panic attacks during her Disney Liv and Maddie years, compounded by her father’s suicide at age 15—just before filming started. She struggled to reconcile grief with sudden fame, like signing autographs at The Grove months after his funeral on Bainbridge Island.
Cameron’s openness highlights how early losses can reshape a life, influencing her mental health and career. It’s a raw reminder of childhood trauma’s long shadow.
