Joshua Bassett says he had near-fatal septic shock and heart failure during hospitalization

Joshua Bassett has revealed he suffered near-fatal septic shock and heart failure in January.

The actor opened up about his hospitalization earlier this year, telling GQ in a new interview that what he initially thought was food poisoning turned out to be something far more serious.

‘[I] started getting very ill, and it kept getting worse,’ the 20-year-old High School Musical star said. ‘I thought it was, like, food poisoning or whatever. It got worse, it got worse, it got worse, it got worse.’

After experiencing ‘unimaginable pain’ he was admitted to hospital on January 14, the same day his single Lie Lie Lie was released.

Joshua didn’t go into detail about what caused the septic shock but added ‘I’m sure stress had a part in it.’

On the severity of the diagnosis, Joshua recalled the doctors saying he had a ’30 percent chance of survival.’

‘They told me that if I had not checked into the hospital within 12 hours, I would have been found [dead] in my apartment.’

At the time of his hospitalization Joshua posted to Instagram a video of himself in a hospital gown.

‘Welp… not the first place I assumed I’d be on my Lie Lie Lie release day… the ER!!’ he wrote in the caption, adding ‘it’s not Covid.’

‘After an unknown, uncomfortable feeling turned into, times 10, the worst pain of my life, I figured I’d just try to sleep. After multiple, very very ugly days and nights, I had no choice today but be taken to the hospital,’ he explained.

‘Had my first surgery tonight! gonna rest at the hospital and the doctors will see what they see in the morn!’ he added.

On January 19 Joshua updated fans on his health, revealing that he was ‘feeling much better.’

‘Getting very excellent care and definitely on the mend,’ he said in an Instagram Story.

Elsewhere in his GQ interview, Joshua confirmed he is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

‘I’m happy to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community because they embrace all.’

The singer said he ‘wasn’t joking’ about recent comments he made about Harry Styles being ‘hot’, adding ‘I stood behind every word that I said.’

‘Even if there are consequences, I would much rather deal with consequences and live my truth than live in fear,’ the actor noted.

Joshua was asked about whether or not he thinks the younger generation need to ‘come out’ publicly in the same way previous generations have had to, he said: ‘I am anti-coming out in the sense that there’s no need to.’

 However, he said that ‘people are welcome to have boxes if they want them. 

Joshua said growing up his five sisters would dress him up as Snow White, and he said he would hear comments like ‘”When’s he gonna find out he’s gay?”‘

‘People would tell me that I’m straight or [I] can’t be gay because XYZ thing,’ he said.

Joshua said that people wouldn’t believe him ‘either way’ if he talked about his sexuality in any way.’

The Disney star said that ‘there are plenty of letters in the alphabet… Why bother rushing to a conclusion? Sometimes your letter changes, sometimes you try a different one, other times you realize you’re not what you thought you were, or maybe you always knew.’

Adding; ‘All of these can be true. I’m happy to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community because they embrace all. Don’t let anyone tell you love isn’t love. They’re the ones who probably need it the most.’ 

He said that he hopes ‘this generation can feel comfortable, confident, and safe talking about sexuality without needing to be a box and without needing to have it all figured out.’ 

The star said speaking on the subject ‘makes me emotional’: ‘I didn’t necessarily have that when I was younger. I didn’t have a me saying stuff like this.’

Joshua said: ‘I’m very at peace. I’m celebrating Pride all month long.’ 

Last month, the star called Harry Styles ‘hot’ and ‘charming,’ before saying: ‘This is also my coming out video, I guess.’ 

The scrutiny began in early May after he did an interview for Clevver news, answering fan submitted questions.

The fan wrote: ‘When are you collaborating w Harry Styles? That day will be the literal death of me.’

He answered: ‘Why don’t you ask Harry that? I don’t know. I’m just kidding. I haven’t been responding to his calls. He just keeps asking me to do an album and I’m like dude, let’s just do one song and worry about the album.. like calm down,’ he joked. ‘Anyway, one day.’ 

Adding: ‘Let’s manifest it, let’s make it happen.’

Joshua then said out loud: ‘What is it about Harry Styles that I admire?’ to which he said: ‘What I admire about Harry Styles is he is a very classy man and he’s also very well rounded and he does acting, singing, fashion and I think that he’s a nice guy who doesn’t say too much but when he talks, it matters in that sense. He’s just cool, like he’s cool. Who doesn’t think Harry Styles is cool?’

He continued: ‘Also he’s hot. He’s very charming too. Lots of things. Guess this is also my coming out video I guess.’

One day later, the singer/actor shared a heartfelt note addressing his sexuality after facing scrutiny about it following his interview.

The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star sang and played the piano in the clip he shared as he thanked fans that ‘stand for love and acceptance’ and told them to ‘love who you love shamelessly’ and that its ‘ok to still be figuring out who you are.’

In his statement, Joshua preferred not to identify any labels for his sexuality. 

The TV star wrote: ‘My entire life people have told me my sexuality. People have shamed me for things they know nothing about. I want to say thank you to those who stand for love and acceptance.’

Adding: ‘Toxicity, hatred, and negativity say less about the subject, but say far more about those who spew it.’

Joshua continue: ‘It’s 2021, we are the generation of love & growth, it’s time we start acting like it. Whether you love me, hate me, or damn me to hell, I love you all the same.’

He finished off his heartfelt note with: ‘Love who you love shamelessly. It’s ok to still be figuring out who you are. Life’s too short to let ignorance and hatred win. I choose love.’ 

Joshua added six hearts in a rainbow of colors.

In the song, Joshua sings: ‘I’m breaking the spell/I’m mending the cycle/Been going through hell/ Need more than survival/If I don’t work this out I’d probably pass it down again/ The time for change is now/It’s my life/It’s my life.’

Joshua stars on The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series alongside his ex Olivia Rodrigo, 18.

He became a household name after Olivia’s song called Drivers License about him became a huge hit. 

It was reportedly inspired by a new relationship with Sabrina Carpenter, 22.