"I Don't Consider Him A Son Anymore": 12 Famous Families With Heartbreaking, Messy, And Difficult Pasts

Note: This post mentions eating disorders and physical and emotional abuse.

1.In May 2018 — a week before the royal wedding — TMZ reported that Meghan Markle's father, Thomas, would no longer be attending due to the fallout over selling pics of himself to the tabloids. He said that he "decided not to go because he doesn't want to embarrass the royal family or his daughter."

In June, Thomas appeared on Good Morning Britain for his first TV interview where he shared conversations he'd had with his daughter and Prince Harry. Over the next month, he did several increasingly negative interviews. He told the Daily Mail, "What riles me is Meghan's sense of superiority. She'd be nothing without me. I made her the duchess she is today. Everything that Meghan is, I made her."

Meghan didn't publicly address all the mess until her interview with Oprah last year. After the TV host asked if Meghan felt betrayed after she discovered her father had worked with the tabloids, she said, "If we're going to use the word 'betrayal,' it's because...we called my dad, and I asked him, and he said, 'No. Absolutely not.' I said, 'You know, the institution has never intervened with anything for us. But they can try to go in and kill this story. But if they do this once, we're not going to be able to use that same leverage to protect our own kids one day.'"

2.In 2014, TMZ obtained and published the infamous video of Solange attacking Jay-Z in an elevator following a Met Gala afterparty. In the video, she swung at him multiples times. After someone who looked like a bodyguard restrained her, she kicked at her brother-in-law a few times before Beyoncé stepped in between them. Then, as everyone exited the elevator, Solange got in a few more shots.

Though they've never revealed exactly what caused the fight, the trio released a joint statement 10 days after the incident. "Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."

3.Lindsay Lohan and her father, Michael, had a tumultuous relationship for many years. After reports that he wanted to place his daughter in a conservatorship in 2009, Lindsay tweeted, "My father is a lunatic & doesn’t even deserve such a title since he’s never been around in my life other than when he’d threaten me & my family. He should be where he has always put himself after verbally abusing and physically abusing people all my life – behind bars."

After her father spoke about her in a 2016 interview, she told the Daily Mail, "My father is known for talking to the press and selling stories. He loves the attention. In the past, he’s said I’ve done drugs, he put my number on the internet. Who does that? Some of the stuff he’s done proves to me he doesn’t care about me."

Two years later, the father and daughter seemed to be in a better place. On an episode of The Wendy Williams Show, Lindsay said, "I think that in life, parents have their things together, and sometimes, the children are immersed in it, and you just have to really step back and let your parents do what they do and figure out everything for themselves. And we all have a great relationship now so it’s nice...it’s much simpler that way."

4.In 2011, Leighton Meester sued her mother, Constance, for misuse of money. Leighton said she sent her mom $7,500/month to cover her brother Alexander's medical expenses, but Constance spent that money on cosmetic procedures, including plastic surgery, Botox, and hair extensions. Leighton also said that her mother threatened to sue her if she didn't raise the monthly allowance to $10,000.

Constance filed a countersuit for $3 million claiming that she had "sacrificed her happiness" to support her daughter's career. She said that Leighton had broken several agreements, so she was owed the money. Constance also argued that Leighton's brother required 'round-the-clock care, and without Leighton's payments, there were "no funds to feed and care for Alexander."

Leighton filed a demurrer that shut down some of Constance's claims, including one that her mom was the victim of dependent adult financial abuse (meaning the traditional mother-daughter roles were flipped and Constance was financially dependent on Leighton). Constance ended up withdrawing her claims, and the judge ruled in Leighton's favor, ensuring Constance was not entitled to her daughter's money.

5.Last year, several documentaries increased public scrutiny of Britney Spears' conservatorship and social media posts. Fans noticed that she appeared to make digs at Jamie Lynn. In July, the younger sister shared an Instagram post with the caption: "May the peace of the Lord be with you and your spirit." Shortly after, Britney shared a post with the caption: "May the Lord wrap your mean ass up in joy today."

When Britney was released from the conservatorship in November, she naturally became more outspoken online. After discovering that Jamie Lynn's new book alleged that Britney locked them in a room with a knife, Britney said, "You've stooped to a whole new level of LOW...Please stop with these crazy lies for the Hollywood books! NOW and only NOW I do know only a scum person would make up such things about someone."

After more back and forth, Britney's lawyer sent Jamie Lynn a cease-and-desist letter stating "Britney was the family’s breadwinner and she also otherwise supported you" and "Britney will no longer be bullied." A week later, Britney shared interview clips of Jamie Lynn promoting her book and wrote, "The timing of your book was unbelievable Jamie Lynn, especially knowing the whole world had no clue what was really done to me. My whole family including you is saying YOU DIDN'T KNOW...Bullshit!!!"

6.Growing up, Macaulay Culkin was managed by his dad, Kit, who was known throughout Hollywood as an aggressive bully. On numerous occasions, Macaulay has spoken out about his father's physical and mental abuse.

When the child actor was 16, his parents separated and battled in court over custody of their seven children and Macaulay's money. "I had millions and millions of dollars in the bank, and my mother couldn’t pay the rent because she was spending all of her money on lawyers," he told New York Magazine. "We were about to get evicted from our apartment. The only way I could get access to that money was to take my father’s name off it, but I didn’t want to make it messy, so I figured I’d take both their names off."

Kit never showed up to the final day of the trial, and Macaulay hasn't had any contact with his father since. In 2016, Kit told the Daily Mail, "I don't consider him a son anymore."

7.On a 2020 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim implied that Kourtney's work ethic was not as strong as hers and Khloé's. "You act like I don't do shit," Kourtney responded. "You have this narrative in your mind. I will literally f*ck you up if you mention it again. Literally, shut the f*ck up. Change the narrative in your mind! I work my f*cking ass off."

Kourtney threw her water bottle at Kim before lunging at her. Kim threw a punch at her sister and yelled, "Don't you ever come at me like that! I swear to god, I'll punch you in your face." Kourtney dug her nails into Kim's arms as Kim kicked at her. After Khloé broke it up, Kim and Kourtney slapped each other in the face several times while screaming at one another.

At the end of the episode, Kourtney shared that she'd be taking a step back from filming the show. On Twitter, she wrote, "I realize that a lot of the conversation right now surrounds my work ethic, and I feel like I need to just make one thing clear: raising children is a job as well...I don't judge anyone who chooses a different route, and I hope that everyone can appreciate my choices as well."

8.In 1989, Gary Coleman sued his manager and parents for misappropriating $3.8 million of his assets. His parents countersued and tried to place him in a conservatorship where they would control the personal, medical, and financial aspects of his life. The following year, a judge ruled that Gary did "not come close" to the standard necessary for a conservatorship.

Three years later, Gary won the lawsuit and nearly $1.3 million, much of which went to lawyer fees. He remained estranged from his parents until his death in 2010. His parents planned to take his body back to his boyhood home until they learned about his will which did not leave them anything.

9.Earlier this year, Jennette McCurdy released a memoir called I'm Glad My Mom Died detailing her complicated relationship with her mother, Debra. The actor revealed that her mom forced her into acting when she was six years old as Debra had always dreamed of being famous. As Jennette grew up, Debra allowed her to eat a maximum of 1,000 calories a day and weighed her every Sunday.

While Jennette was secretly dating a coworker, the couple was photographed by paparazzi while on vacation. In an email, Debra wrote, "You used to be my perfect little angel. Now you are nothing more than a little slut, a floozy, all used up...You're an ugly monster now. I told your brothers about you, and they all said they disown you just like I do. We want nothing to do with you. Love, Mom — or should I say Deb since I am no longer your mother? PS — send money for a new fridge; ours broke."

Several years after Debra died, Jennette realized she needed to take a break from acting. Years of living with eating disorders and the effects of her mom's abuse had taken its toll. Now, Jennette is speaking out about her healing journey. On a recent episode of Red Table Talk, she said, "I worked toward forgiveness for a really long time. And my therapist said to me one day, 'What if you don't have to work toward forgiveness?' And I wept. I knew that that was what I needed to hear."

10.At 14 years old, Corey Feldman asked about his career earnings and how much remained. He was told that he'd made about $1 million, but there was only $40,000 left. The following year, he was granted emancipation from his parents. However, his father demanded the last $40,000, and Corey paid it, putting him in debt at 15.

"Child stars have nothing," he told ABC News. "They have no choice... I was never taught how to have a family. I was never taught how to raise a child because I wasn't raised properly. I was never taught how to care for somebody because I was never shown genuine love. I knew how to read a contract by 10 years old, but I didn't know what it meant for somebody to come in and tell me they loved me and kiss me goodnight. That's a problem."

11.50 Cent's relationship with his son, Marquise, soured during a messy divorce and custody battle with ex-wife Shaniqua Tompkins. In 2018, Marquise posted a photo on Instagram of himself dining alone beside an empty chair with the caption: "Father’s Day Lunch lol."

A few months later, it was reported that Shaniqua would be involved in an upcoming reality TV show. 50 Cent shared a mocking post on Instagram alleging that she had signed agreements that prohibited her from doing reality TV. Marquise commented, "And y’all wonder why I don’t respect him as a father. You had a good run but it’s over big fella lol it’s been a decade. You’re 40+ you can grow up any day now."

Last month, Marquise said the $6,700 that 50 Cent paid in child support every month while he grew up wasn't enough. After he received backlash for that, he offered his father the same amount to spend the day with him. Marquise told TMZ that he wanted to mend the father-son relationship and learn 50 Cent's perspective.

12.And finally, Tori Spelling was married to Charlie Shanian when she met costar Dean McDermott, who was also married. In 2006, she divorced her husband and eloped with Dean a month later. During this time, she wasn't speaking to her family — who disapproved of her new marriage — but she did visit her father, Aaron, a few weeks before he died. Tori's mother, Candy, later told 94.7 WMAS-FM, "My daughter one day decided that she wasn’t speaking to my husband, myself, and my son, and that’s how it’s continued for the last, oh gosh, four or five years. And it was sad. That’s what killed my husband, actually."

Tori — who only inherited $800K of her father's estimated $500 million estate — has said that she found out about her father's death not from her mother, but from a friend via email. In 2009, Candy was upset when she received the invitation to the first birthday party of Tori's daughter (who she hadn't met yet) as it would be featured on Tori's reality TV show. Candy wrote an open letter to Tori and sent it to TMZ. "A big party wasn't how I envisioned meeting my granddaughter for the first time; but, hey, this is Hollywood, and my grandchildren have become reality show props, too."

In her 2014 memoir, Candy wrote, "Tori and I are a work in progress and probably always will be. I notice that the more my self-esteem expands, the less patience I have for the pursuit cycle she creates when she shuts me out. We have a pattern, and until we can break it hand-in-hand, this is going to be the little dance she and I do together."

But it seems like the mother and daughter are finally on the same page. Last month, Tori appeared on Jeff Lewis Live on SiriusXM and said, "We've had a good relationship, but it's like next-level right now. Really close...We text every single day. It's really, really good."