Zac Efron didn't even know people were speculating about his face and having work done until his mother told him.
In a new cover story with Men's Health, the "High School Musical" star said his mother, Starla Baskett, called him in 2021 and asked if he had had work done because of things she'd seen swirling online. Rumors began to turn up after he appeared on an Earth Day special in April of that year, his face looking swollen.
Turns out, he shattered his jaw running through his house with socks on. He smacked his chin on the corner of a stone fountain and passed out. When he woke up his "chin bone was hanging off his face." During the injury some muscles in his face had to work harder to compensate for others that were injured, so he entered physical therapy to work on everything.
In response to the cover story's writer asking him about said rumors, the "Beach Bum" star shrugged them off saying, "The masseters [muscles] just grew. They just got really, really big." This after taking some time off from his facial physical therapy.
Efron hadn't heard the rumors because he steers clear of social media in general, unless promoting projects. "If I valued what other people thought of me to the extent that they may think I do," he said. "I definitely wouldn't be able to do this."
Throughout the rest of the article, the "Baywatch" star discussed many other injuries like a dislocated shoulder, torn ACL, to a broken wrist. He talked the rigorous training he underwent to get his "Baywatch" beach bod but now focuses on more mindful exercise and yoga to feel comfortable in his body.
Talking about his role opposite Dwayne Johnson in "Baywatch," Efron told Men's Health it "burned him out" and even had him suffering from a "dark depression."
In lighter news, the actor also gamely chatted about his upcoming role in "The Greatest Beer Run Ever" opposite Russell Crowe and Bill Murray. It premieres September 30 on Apple TV+.
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