Kate Beckinsale sparked immediate concern among fans Sunday after sharing a pair of cryptic social media messages — then wiping nearly everything from her Instagram account.
The 53-year-old Underworld and Pearl Harbor actress first shared a photo of a rainbow over a road to her Instagram Stories with the message, “Congratulations, you won. I give up.”
Not long after, Beckinsale posted a black image to her main Instagram grid containing just one word: “bye.”
She also disabled comments on the post and removed her previous Instagram content, leaving fans wondering what had prompted the alarming messages. Beckinsale has not publicly explained what she meant, and her representative had not commented as of Sunday.
Her Instagram bio added another troubling layer.
Beckinsale linked to a 2020 BBC article about the death of British TV presenter Caroline Flack, whose suicide prompted widespread discussion about online abuse and the media’s treatment of celebrities.
The posts come just weeks after Beckinsale spoke candidly about living with post-traumatic stress disorder.
In a since-deleted Instagram video shared Sept. 2, the actress said PTSD can be “actually like hell” and described how people dealing with trauma may appear functional while privately struggling with nightmares, intrusive memories and everyday triggers.
She urged people to show more compassion because PTSD is often invisible.
Beckinsale said people dealing with severe trauma can feel deeply isolated even while continuing to go about their daily lives.
Her recent comments came during an especially painful period for the actress.
Beckinsale’s mother, actress Judy Loe, died in July 2025 after battling stage 4 cancer. Her stepfather, director Roy Battersby, had died the previous year. Beckinsale has said that watching people she loved become seriously ill and die had a major effect on her grief, appetite and overall well-being.
She has also publicly pushed back against cruel comments about her appearance and weight loss, saying grief and trauma had affected her appetite.
For now, there is no confirmed explanation for Sunday’s posts, so it would be premature to assume what Beckinsale intended by them.
Still, the combination of “I give up,” the stark “bye” message and the Caroline Flack link has understandably left fans worried and waiting for some indication that she is safe.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the U.S. to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.