- Child star Amanda Bynes was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold, TODAY reported on March 20.
- A TikTok of Bynes has since gone viral, leading to an outpouring of support from viewers.
A TikToker who posted a clip of Amanda Bynes that she said she filmed days before the actor was hospitalized following a psychotic episode has led to an outpouring of support for the actor.
Bynes, who rose to fame starring in the 1999 Nickelodeon hit "The Amanda Show" as a teenager, was spotted walking through downtown Los Angeles on March 19, during which time she waved down a car, told the driver she was coming down from a psychotic episode, and called 911 before she was subsequently taken to a local police station, TMZ reported.
Bynes, who has been open about living with mental illness in the past, was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold, TODAY reported on March 20.
On March 21, a TikToker who goes by @kaitlynhotfox posted a video that showed her walking down a street with Bynes who could be seen holding onto the TikToker's arm. At the beginning of the clip, the TikToker said, "Amanda say what's up," to which Bynes responded, "What's up."
@kaitlynhotfox #amandabynes ❤️❤️ happy shes getting the help she needs. she was sweet, gave her some money and talked. sometime ppl just sb to talk to. #fyp #goviral #foryoupage ♬ original sound - kaitlyn
In the 10-second upload, the TikToker said she spotted Bynes walking the streets of Hollywood on St Patrick's day, March 17, and decided to say hello. At the end of the video, a subdued Bynes laughed and waved at the camera.
The caption of the upload included the hashtag #amandabynes followed by two hearts and read, "happy shes getting the help she needs. she was sweet, gave her some money and talked. sometime ppl just sb to talk to."
The TikTok was viewed 8.9 million times and received over 12,800 comments. Some viewers said they didn't recognize the actor at first, but many expressed overwhelming support for the former child star and wished her well in the future.
"My heart goes out to her. no judgment just love. this worlds hard enough. i love you Amanda Bynes," one comment read and received over 25,000 likes. "Ugh my heart hurts for her. So many of us grew up watching her and she gave so much and I dont think she had enough people protecting her," another top comment read.
Multiple comments asked the TikToker for an explanation video with more details on the encounter with Bynes, but the creator has not published a follow-up video to date.
In the comments section of an unrelated video posted on March 21, the creator responded to a viewer who asked what she and Bynes had spoken about, writing, "life." The TikToker did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Bynes was scheduled to appear at an event called '90s Con in Connecticut on March 18 alongside former cast members of the TV show "All That" but didn't attend. This was set to be Bynes' first public appearance since she ended her conservatorship under her mother Lynn Bynes in March 2022, which was put in place due to Bynes' bipolar diagnosis and substance abuse, Us Weekly reported.
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