'Pretty Little Liars' star Lindsey Shaw reveals she was fired from the show when she was struggling with eating issues and drug use

• "Pretty Little Liars" star Lindsey Shaw said she got fired from the show because of her weight loss.
• Shaw spoke about her eating and drug issues on the "Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide" podcast.

"Pretty Little Liars" star Lindsey Shaw opened up about why she left the show during the fifth season.

Shaw joined the series in the first season, and her character Paige eventually became a central figure due to her relationship with one of the leads, Emily (Shay Mitchell). However, in the fifth season, Shaw's character left the show, moving to California to get away from all the drama.

During the latest episode of "Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide," which Shaw hosts with her former Nickelodeon costars Devon Werkheiser and Daniel Curtis Lee, Shaw revealed she was "let go" from "Pretty Little Liars."

Shaw said that at the time she was struggling with eating issues which led to a "drug problem" and substantial weight loss.

"When I had my drug problem and I was in between working on stuff, I would never have to address my relationship with food because it was like, I could always just go get more Adderall and be okay with it," Shaw said.

"I got basically let go from 'Pretty Little Liars' in season five because of the weight that I had lost, and it was really an embarrassing thing," she continued. "I didn't look good too skinny and then when I started to put the weight back on, I couldn't handle being too heavy, so it kind of played into this dumb cycle."

Shaw recalled that, eventually, series creator I. Marlene King asked her to leave the show and suggested she get help.

"It was so bad. I got called into 'Pretty Little Liars' creator's office," Shaw said. "And she was just like, 'So we're gonna let you go.' She was like, 'It's not because of your acting, but do you have anybody to talk to?' And I was like, 'No.' She's like, 'Well, find somebody,' and 'We have to let you go now.'"

Shaw added that she was "so much happier" now.

"There are things that I enjoy so much about my body now that I can't put words to," the 34-year-old actor said. "I'm starting to be able to, like, step away from or forgive and appreciate and accept. That was a wild time, and it kind of brought me here to where I am now. And for better, for worse, whatever happens in the future, like, this is the only life that I can be living."

Shaw also said on the podcast that she was grateful that the "Pretty Little Liars" writers brought her back in the final season to bring closure to her character and the relationship between Paige and Emily.

"It was really sweet, because they brought me back in season seven," she said. "It was so lovely of that writing team to just see that relationship and that character out. But that was rough."

She added: "They did me so right bringing me back for season seven and just letting me say goodbye. I will never forget that."

Representatives for I. Marlene King did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.