Zac Efron Finally Explains Why His Face Looked Different in Last Year's Viral Video
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The 'High School Musical' alum appeared looking noticeably different in a clip from April 2021.
Zac Efron has finally set the record straight regarding the apparent changes in his facial structure, which sent the internet into a frenzy last year.
The actor, 34, appeared in an April 2021 clip to promote an Earth Day special from Bill Nye, and fans couldn't help but point out his jaw line looked noticeably swollen.
In a new interview with Men's Health, published on Wednesday, Sept. 7, The Greatest Showman star shut down rumors that he had undergone plastic surgery to his face, while explaining that he actually suffered a severe jaw injury a few years back.
Efron was running through his house in socks when he slipped and hit his chin against a granite fountain, causing him to lose consciousness and later wake up with his chin bone "hanging off his face."
As a result, the injury made the muscles on the inside of his face and jaw work overtime to compensate, which could explain why his face appeared swollen last year.
While Efron works with a specialist to control the problem, he told the outlet he was in Australia at the time, and hadn't been keeping up with physical therapy when he appeared in the now-viral video.
"The masseters just grew," he explained, adding, "They just got really big."
Men's Health also noted that the High School Musical alum's now appears to be back to normal, as his jaw looked "much as it has always looked," at the time of the interview.
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The Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile star also revealed that wasn't even aware of the social media chatter surrounding his jaw until his own mother asked him if he'd gotten plastic surgery.
Efron himself apparently doesn't pay much attention to internet rumors, as he said he has tried to ignore what the public has to say about him since he was thrust into fame at age 17.
"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 work."
After an Australian sabbatical following the COVID-19 pandemic, Efron has begun his return back into the acting world with projects including the thriller film Firestarter, which was released earlier this year.
He also stars in the brand new movie, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, which premieres on AppleTV+ on September 30.
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