On Aug. 19, after a 10-day rest from an 80-plus-date stadium-headlining tour, 5 Seconds of Summer was playing to more than 20,000 in Auburn Hills, Mich., when guitarist-vocalist Michael Clifford started to mumble into the microphone. “I was fixing some problems with my mental health,” he offered. “I just saw a therapist on the break we had.” He sheepishly cut himself off before charging into another song, but clips of his digression immediately popped up on social media. Soon the hashtag #WeLoveYouMichael trended worldwide. Two days later, on Good Morning America, the 19-year-old was asked about his therapy on national TV.
“I wasn’t expecting that reaction,” admits Clifford more than a month later. He’s the most gregarious of the four 5SOS members, the one whose hair is always changing color. “But it’s cool. Sometimes you just need to get it out.”
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