Disney’s Debby Ryan Responds To Drunk Driving Arrest, Apologizes To Young Fans

“Jessie” star Debby Ryan issued a statement via Twitter after she was arrested for drunk driving in Los Angeles last week. The former Disney star apologized for her indiscretion, acknowledging she’s a role model for “millions” of young people.

“Over the last few days I have had the chance to think about my actions, and I wish I had used better judgement,” she wrote in an elongated Twitter response Wednesday. “I recognize that I am a role model and have always worked hard to set a good example for my millions of fans. I am so sorry to disappoint everyone.” The message was shared scores of times by her 4.09 million followers.

Ryan, 22, crashed her 2016 Audi into a Mercedes while she was trying to make a left turn, according to TMZ. After the star failed a field sobriety test, police discovered she had a blood alcohol level of .11, above the legal limit of .08. She was charged with felony DUI by the LAPD Tuesday, Us Weekly confirmed. The Disney star posted $100,000 bail. The charge was later dropped to a misdemeanor.

The actress is a self-described “nerd” who grew up in Europe because of her father’s military career. "I did professional theater on the American base in Germany," Ryan told People magazine in 2009. "When we moved back to Texas [in 2003], I told my mom I wanted to do it for real."

She landed a coveted gig with Disney when she was cast as a supporting character in “The Suite Life on Deck” in 2008. She landed a leading role in 2011 with the show “Jessie.” It ran until 2015.

Ryan isn’t alone in her actions. Click here to read about six other Disney stars who were arrested.

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