Zac Efron Gets Candid and Opens Up About Near-Death Experience and Responds to Plastic Surgery Claims

The year 2021 witnessed a viral frenzy on social media as people noticed a significant change in Zac Efron’s appearance. Many speculated that he had undergone plastic surgery, as his jaw looked wider than usual, and his face seemed unrecognizable. However, after more than a year of speculations, the High School Musical celebrity finally put an end to the rumors and proved that jumping to conclusions can be misleading.

Why Zac Efron stayed silent for so long.

Zac Efron is opening up about the traumatic incident that left him with a shattered jaw and a near-death experience. During an interview with ET’s Rachel Smith at the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday, the actor discussed the painful accident and shut down rumors of plastic surgery ahead of the release of his latest movie, The Greatest Beer Run Ever.

In September 2022, Efron finally answered the fans regarding the frenzy. He clarified that he avoids the Internet and hence, was not aware of the situation. As he mentioned in an interview, “My mom told me. I don’t really read the Internet, so I don’t really [care].”

The truth behind Zac Efron’s face changes.

Putting an end to more than a year of speculation, the actor finally revealed the truth behind the uncomfortable situation. Efron disclosed that his jaw transformation occurred due to an accident at his home, where he slipped while running and severely injured his chin. The recovery process was challenging, and as a consequence, his masseter muscles, which play a significant role in chewing, grew and “got really, really big,” as he explained.

Although Efron went through a difficult accident and had to deal with uncomfortable rumors during his recovery, he stayed positive and didn’t pay much attention to his fans’ speculations. As he put it, “It was funny. It sucks. I almost died, but we’re good.”

Despite handling the rumors with grace, the incident only strengthened Zac Efron’s conviction to avoid online opinions. He clarified that if he were to value others’ opinions to the extent that people may assume, he wouldn’t be able to continue his work. He stated, “If I valued what other people thought of me to the extent that they may think I do, I definitely wouldn’t be able to do this work.”

But the journey doesn’t end there. Zac Efron’s story is just beginning, and his courage and honesty pave the way for others to follow in his footsteps. Recently, Elliot Page has also been vocal about his transition and the challenges he’s faced along the way.