Sylvester Stallone alleges attack by fellow patient in psych ward

Inside the Alleged Teen Psych Ward Stay

Stallone detailed the experience in a profile published Saturday by The New York Times, explaining that students at Devereux Manor High School who misbehaved were sent to a facility known as Park Lodge or the Snake Pit. According to the actor, the location resembled a Tudor home on the exterior but housed what he described as the heart of insanity inside.

“On the outside it looked like a big, old Tudor home from the ’20s, and then you walked inside and you entered the heart of insanity,” Stallone told The New York Times. He spent approximately two weeks remanded to the psychiatric ward as a teenager.

The Bathroom Assault and Guard Response

During his stay at the facility, Stallone stated he was attacked by another patient he identified as Jay Bird. The actor described the individual as a large, bald, naked man with rotten teeth.

“And I go into the bathroom on the way to the food mess hall, and he comes in and comes around me and he’s like ripping on my throat and he is going into my pants and grabbing my groin,” Stallone recounted. The actor claimed that two guards intervened by beating the attacker with razor straps. When Stallone questioned the guards about the inmate’s behavior, they reportedly told him, “You’re in a crazy house, boy. Nothing’s wrong with him. He’s crazy.”

School Response and Lasting Resolve

Following his return from the facility, Stallone recalled an interaction with his high school principal regarding whether he had learned his lesson. The action star told the principal he learned a better lesson: that he could not be broken.

When reached for comment by The New York Times regarding the memoir’s claims, a spokesperson for Devereux stated that while they had not read the book, they respected Stallone’s right to tell his story and apologized for any trauma he remembers experiencing.

Broader Revelations in The Steps

Beyond his account of the psychiatric facility, Stallone’s memoir and the accompanying profile address other turbulent periods of his life. The actor described his mother, Jackie, as lacking a nurturing presence, while characterizing his father as unpredictable and violent.

Stallone also addressed his physical preparation for 1982’s Rocky III, admitting to struggling with bulimia and abusing steroids as his fitness regimen for the Rocky and Rambo franchises became an obsession.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Sylvester Stallone’s memoir being released?

The Steps hits bookstores on September 29.

What school did Sylvester Stallone attend?

Stallone attended Devereux Manor High School in Pennsylvania.

How did the school respond to the allegations?

A spokesperson for Devereux stated they respect Stallone’s right to tell his story and apologized for any trauma he remembers experiencing.