Disney Star Recalls Blackout at Kevin Bacon’s House: ‘My Worst Memory’
Former Disney Channel actor Joey Bragg is opening up about what he calls his “worst memory” — a night he blacked out at the Hollywood Hills home of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. The incident, which Bragg shared on Instagram, offers a cautionary tale about alcohol and celebrity culture, but also ties back to Iowa through the show that brought him there.
Bragg starred alongside Sedgwick in the ABC sitcom Call Your Mother, a show about an Iowa mother who moves to Los Angeles to be near her adult children. The series, canceled after just 13 episodes in 2021, featured Sedgwick as a single mom from the Hawkeye State. Bragg played one of her sons.
“Boy, oh boy, I was excited to have a party, and I have a hard time drinking and not blacking out,” Bragg said in his video. “I know that’s like a problem and probably means I have an issue, but I’m not willing to tackle that yet.”
What Happened at the Wrap Party?
Bragg said the cast gathered at Bacon and Sedgwick’s home for a wrap party after the show’s cancellation. He arrived at the same time as actress Sherri Shepherd and immediately struggled to find the front door.
“We could not find a front door to this house in the Hollywood Hills. We were looking everywhere and then all of a sudden, a garage door starts to open,” Bragg recalled.
Out stepped Kevin Bacon, dressed in “ashen leather boots, tight faded blue jeans, a belt buckle that in my imagination says X-Men: First Class, and a tight denim button-up shirt.” Bragg described Bacon as “kind of short, but anyway. It was really cool. He’s a really nice guy.”
The Mandolin Moment That Ended the Night
Bragg said the evening was going well until Bacon pulled out a mandolin and asked if anyone could play it. Bragg, overconfident after a brief lesson from his brother on R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion,” volunteered.
“He handed me the mandolin, and as soon as he handed me the mandolin, I was like, ‘This feels alien to me. I’ve never held one of these ever before,’” Bragg said. “And I was like, ‘One second,’ one more sip of my drink, and — gone, blacked out. Do not remember the rest.”
The actor said he has no memory of what happened after that moment. He also noted that both Bacon and Sedgwick unfollowed him on Instagram after the show ended.
Iowa Connection Through ‘Call Your Mother’
For Iowa readers, the story carries local resonance. Call Your Mother centered on a character from Iowa who relocates to Los Angeles, highlighting themes of family, independence, and the culture clash between Midwestern values and Hollywood life. The show’s cancellation after one season disappointed some Iowa viewers who appreciated seeing their state represented on network television.
Bragg’s story serves as a reminder that even in the glitz of Hollywood, personal responsibility matters. While Bragg joked about his drinking, his comments about “blacking out at B-list celebrities’ houses” underscore the dangers of alcohol abuse — a message relevant to families everywhere, including in Iowa.
“I will tell you this, after my show got canceled, both Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon unfollowed me on Instagram,” Bragg said, suggesting the incident may have strained relationships.
What This Means for Iowans
While Bragg’s story is a celebrity anecdote, it reflects broader issues of accountability and personal conduct. For Iowans who value community and responsibility, it’s a reminder that actions have consequences — even in the entertainment industry.
The Call Your Mother connection also highlights how Iowa often serves as a symbol of heartland values in Hollywood storytelling. The show’s premise — a mother leaving Iowa to chase her children to California — resonated with themes of family sacrifice and the tension between rural roots and urban ambitions.
Bragg has not commented further on his drinking or whether he has sought help. His Instagram video, however, has sparked conversations about alcohol awareness and the pressures of Hollywood life.