Celebrity family feuds

By Jessica Wedemeyer 7:13am PDT, Sep 27, 2019

Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at some of Hollywood's most notorious family feuds, starting with the fallout between our favorite once-volatile A-lister and his kin… Christian Bale was arrested for assault after allegedly fighting with his mother, Jenny, and sister, Sharon, at the Dorchester hotel in London in 2008. (Christian denied the assault allegations and ultimately, no charges were filed against him.) At the time, media outlets attributed the feud to two things: According to one popular rumor, Christian became irate after his mom and sister asked him for money; according to the other, the fight was sparked by a disagreement between Jenny and Sibi Blazic, Christian's wife. In 2014, Jenny told the Mirror that she and her son had yet to make amends. "It's so sad we have not spoken in all this time," she said. "It's sad for me. It's sad for him too." But Jenny and Christian did patch things up a few years later. In February 2019, Jenny told the Mirror that she and the "Dark Knight" actor were talking again. Now keep reading for more of the biggest Hollywood family feuds…

As far as Kate Hudson is concerned, her mother's longtime partner, Kurt Russell, is "Dad." That's because, according to the actress, her biological father, Bill Hudson, "was sort of in and out" of her life. "[He] doesn't know me from a hole in the wall," she told Vanity Fair in 2000. That didn't sit well with Bill, who accused his daughter of beefing up their family drama to get press. "It's infuriating," he told New York's Daily News. In 2015, the rocker disowned Kate and her brother, Oliver Hudson, during an interview with The Mail on Sunday. "I had five birth children but I now consider myself a father of three," he said. "I no longer recognize Oliver and Kate as my own. I would ask them to stop using the Hudson name. They are no longer a part of my life. … [Oliver] is dead to me now. As is Kate. I am mourning their loss even though they are still walking this earth." In 2018, Oliver revealed on "Larry King Now" that he'd reconnected with his estranged father. "Well, we're trying right now," he said. "We've shot some texts back and forth."

RELATED: Famous behind-the-scenes feuds

Duchess Meghan's older half-sister, Samantha Grant, publicly criticized the actress-turned-royal before and after Meghan wed Prince Harry. Samantha, who for a while was writing a tell-all about Meghan called "The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister," called her 16-years-younger sibling a "shallow social climber" and told the Sun that "the royal family would be appalled by what she's done to her own family." Added Samantha, "The truth would kill her relationship with Prince Harry." A source told E! that jealousy is to blame for the one-sided feud: "This woman who she hardly knows, who has had a lifelong history of lying and manipulation, is setting her sights on her for no reason," the source alleged. "In their very limited contact, Meghan has never been anything but nice to her and for the majority of those interactions, Meghan was just a little girl. This is an old, jealous woman (she is in her 50s! who does this in their 50s?) doing anything she can to take advantage of the situation to sell lies for money and fame." Meghan also has a strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle Sr., whom she's stopped speaking. Just a few days before Meghan's wedding, Thomas staged photographs for a paparazzi photographer in return for money. He's also continued to give numerous paid media interviews and even published a private letter sent to him by Meghan in February 2019. In the letter, Meghan wrote that he had broken her heart "into a million pieces" with his fame-seeking actions.

Jennifer Aniston and her late mother, Nancy Dow, feuded for nearly a decade. (Fortunately, they reconciled before the model-actress died in May 2016 following a lengthy illness.) The trouble started in 1996 when Nancy gave an unauthorized interview about her daughter to a tabloid TV show. Things only got worse from there. In '99, Nancy published "From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir" about her relationship with Jen — but without her daughter's permission or approval. During a 2015 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the "We're the Millers" star called her mom "critical" and "unforgiving" and accused her of being "hysterical" and having a temper. "She would hold grudges that I just found so petty," Jen told THR.

Adele might have been raised primarily by her mother, but she still maintained a relationship with her father, Mark Evans, until around 2011. The Grammy winner cut all ties with her dad — an alcoholic who only saw his daughter on holidays after walking out on her when she was just a baby — after he opened up to the press about their tumultuous relationship. In 2012, the "Someone Like You" singer told Vogue that if she saw her father again, she'd "spit in his face." Then in 2017, during one of her many Grammy acceptance speeches, she memorably said, "I don't love my dad," while thanking her longtime manager for his role in building her career.

Courtney Love and Frances Bean Cobain have had a rocky relationship over the years, to say the least. The rocker battled drug addiction and legal troubles throughout Frances' childhood, which made the artist — whose father is late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain — feel "f–king bitter and angry and upset and resentful for a really long time." In 2019, Frances told RuPaul that Courtney was "highly self-destructive," adding, "Some kids were like, 'f—, I didn't do my essay,' and I'd be like, 'f—, I had to call the paramedics to get my mom's stomach pumped last night' … just a different set of priorities." She went on to add that her mother is now on a "healthy path" and a "really good person" who is mending their relationship.

All is not well between Mariah Carey and her estranged older siblings: sister Alison, who lived with their father after their parents split, and brother Morgan, who grew up with the singer and their mother. ("My father and I had a good relationship for a minute there, right after the divorce," Mariah told People magazine back in 1993.) Alison, who was arrested for prostitution in 2016, has addiction and mental health issues, has been homeless at times and is HIV-positive. Following her arrest, Alison released a video imploring her little sister for financial aid: "Mariah, I love you, and I desperately need your help. Please don't abandon me like this," she said. Though a source told People that the superstar "takes care of her entire family," Morgan told Inside Edition that the diva "doesn't care about anyone other than herself." Added Morgan, "It's always been that way. I would hope Mariah could find it in her heart to forgive Alison for her transgressions and step up, create a trust, let's make sure Alison's needs are met." In 2012, the National Enquirer reported that the "Touch My Body" singer, who has not publicly discussed the matter, has actually supported Alison off and on for years: "She also helped pay for Alison's drug rehab as well as her treatment when she was diagnosed with HIV in the 1990s," said a source. "But a vicious dispute over the responsibility and care of [Alison's] children, her call-girl lifestyle and Alison's attempt to write a scathing tell-all book about Mariah and the Carey family has led to an estrangement of many years." Two sides to every story!

Angelina Jolie's tumultuous relationship with her father, Jon Voight, played out in the headlines for years. The Oscar-winning actress felt that the Oscar-winning actor abandoned her and her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, when Angie was a small child, and though the duo co-starred in 2001's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," they've suffered several lengthy periods of estrangement since then — mostly due to the actor's tendency to over-share with the media about his daughter's personal life. But following Angelina's bitter split from Brad Pitt in 2016, she welcomed Jon back into her life. "He's been very good at understanding [my kids] needed their grandfather at this time," she told Vanity Fair in 2017. "I had to do a therapy meeting last night and he was just around. He knows kind of the rule — don't make them play with you. Just be a cool grandpa who's creative and hang out and tell stories and read a book in the library."

Tatum O'Neal and her father, Ryan O'Neal, were estranged for more than 25 years. Their relationship deteriorated after Tatum began abusing drugs at 14. The actress also alleged in her 2004 autobiography, "A Paper Life," that Ryan physically and emotionally abused her while battling his own drug addiction issues. Ryan denied his daughter's claims, saying, "It is a sad day when malicious lies are told in order to become a 'bestseller.'" By 2011, Tatum and Ryan had reconciled: They starred together on OWN's "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals," a reality TV show showcasing their reconciliation process and mended relationship.

Tommy Lee and son Brandon Thomas Lee spent most of 2018 despising each other. The drama kicked off when the two got into a physical altercation in March 2018. Police were called to Tommy's home and the rocker reportedly had to go to the hospital. He later tweeted, "My fiancée and I were in bed when my son busted into the room and assaulted me. I asked him to leave the house and he knocked me unconscious. He ran away from the police. THAT'S the truth." Brandon denied the allegations in a statement to People magazine: "I'm devastated at the events of the last several days that have been a result of my father's alcoholism. I've worked tirelessly organizing an intervention and it's incredibly upsetting that it never came to fruition. I wanted my dad's hopeful sobriety and recovery to be a private family matter but, as a result of his accusations on social media, I feel forced to speak out." The two then went back and forth on social media throughout year with Tommy claiming that Brandon was playing the "victim," "doesn't know the value of things," and doesn't have "morals," while Brandon charged that Tommy "should have showed up to a few more BDays and baseball games" and "couldn't raise a man" like Brandon. Eventually, the assault case was dismissed and the two reconciled in 2019. Tommy posted a photo on Instagram of the pair hugging with the caption, "I love you son," and Brandon replied, "Love you Dad."

In November 2014, Kendra Wilkinson reconnected — in front of the "Kendra on Top" cameras, of course! — with her father, Eric, after two decades of estrangement. (Eric walked out on the reality TV star, her mother and brother when Kendra was just a child.) But not everyone was on board with the reunion. Kendra's mom, Patti, griped on Facebook about her daughter's renewed relationship with her dad, "I continue to be hurt and disrespected by my daughter." Ouch! In the past, the former star of "The Girls Next Door" has accused her mother of leaking information about her personal life to the media. Patti, meanwhile, has accused Kendra of being mean and calling her names.

Rihanna cut ties with her father, Ronald Fenty, after he dished to the media about her troubled relationship with Chris Brown in 2009. "My dad went to the press and just told them a bunch of lies," the pop star told Vogue. "He never called to find out how I was doing, if I was alive, nothing. He just never called. He went straight to the press and got a check." They eventually patched up their relationship — Rihanna even reportedly dropped $1.8M in 2016 on a mansion for her father in their native Barbados. But their harmony proved to short-lived when Ronald began using their last name, Fenty — which his beauty and fashion-brand mogul daughter had trademarked — for his entertainment company in 2019. The pop star sued her dad for allegedly exploiting her brand name and misrepresenting himself and his business partner as her reps in order to "solicit millions of dollars" from people. The lawsuit is headed to a jury trial in 2020.

At least two of Madonna's seven siblings have spoken out against her over the years. One of her two older brothers — alcoholic Anthony Ciccone, who's been homeless — made it seem like his sister was somehow to blame for his troubles during a 2011 interview with the Michigan Messenger: "My family turned their back on me, basically, when I was having a hard time," he said. "You think I haven't answered this kind of question a bazillion times; why my sister is a multibazillionarie, and I'm homeless on the street?" Later, Anthony admitted that Madge actually paid for him to go to rehab and issued a standing offer to pick up the tab if he ever went back. But he still accused her of having no family loyalty (and resorted to calling her names) during an interview with the Daily Mail: "We hated each other — sibling rivalry, I imagine," he said of their childhood. "She was a b—-, just like she is now. She remains true to form. You have to give her credit for consistency." Things have been much worse between Madonna and one of her younger brothers, Christopher Ciccone, who once served as her assistant, artistic director and right-hand man. Their relationship soured after she fired him and he released the 2008 memoir "Life with My Sister Madonna." During a 2017 interview with the New York Post, he dished on how "horrifying" Madonna can be and accused her of sabotaging his career — though he also said they're on better terms now than they were a decade ago.

In late 2012, Ariel Winter filed a restraining order against her mother, Chrisoula "Crystal" Workman, on grounds of emotional and physical abuse. Ultimately, the Department of Children and Family Services found evidence that Crystal had in fact emotionally abused the "Modern Family" actress, and after a bitter court battle, custody of Ariel was granted to her adult sister. Since then, Crystal has frequently disparaged her daughter in the media.

Lindsay Lohan and her father, Michael Lohan, have never shied away from discussing their rocky relationship in public — the former Wall Street trader even served as the inspiration for his daughter's 2005 single "Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)." Their worst moment came in 2012 when Lindsay accused her dad of recording a private phone call and releasing it to the media. "[He] doesn't know what it means to be a father. He doesn't want to be a dad," she raged to TMZ during the fallout.

You don't have to be a super-fan to know that Eminem and his mother, Debbie Mathers, have a particularly rocky relationship. Debbie has served as the inspiration for some of Slim Shady's angriest rhymes: He's accused her of being a drug addict, threatened to kill her and worse. So it's no surprise that in 1999, Debbie filed a $10 million lawsuit for slander against her son. (They settled for $25K, though all but $1,600 went to her lawyer.)

Rob Kardashian has struggled to get along with certain members of his famous family — none more so than big sis Kim Kardashian West. On an August 2012 episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," Rob called Kim "literally the most selfish person" during a family therapy session with his three older sisters and mom Kris Jenner. "All she cares about is herself," he yelled. "My anger, a lot of it stems from the working environment, because they all put this cloud on me like I'm a loser," he added. "I blow up later because when there's a business opportunity, all my mom obviously cares about is the three girls." Two years later, he bailed on Kim and Kanye West's wedding at the last second, and the following year, he made headlines for an Instagram post in which he compared Kim to Rosamund Pike's character (murderous sociopath Amy Dunne) in "Gone Girl." A source explained to Us Weekly that the post "was about how [Kim] seems caring in public, but he feels ignored." The duo are on better terms now that they're facing a common enemy: Rob's ex-fiancée and baby mama, Blac Chyna.

In 2011, Leighton Meester sued her mother, Constance, for misusing money she sent to her family to pay for her sick brother's medical care. The actress accused her mom — who once served as her manager — of blowing through $7,500 a month on cosmetic procedures for herself rather than on care for her son. Constance responded by filing a countersuit accusing Leighton of breaking financial promises — and of attacking her with a bottle during a heated argument in late 2010. Ultimately, the court sided with the "Gossip Girl" star.

Bethenny Frankel and her mother, Bernadette Birk, have had a strained relationship since Bethenny's childhood, according to the reality TV star. "I never had a true childhood," Bethenny told People magazine in 2010. "There was a lot of destruction: alcohol abuse, eating disorders and violent fights." She went on to describe her mother as a "beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer lookalike" who was "extremely volatile" and "always drinking" and "smashing things: dishes, pictures, the TV-anything she could see." The Skinnygirl brand mogul added, "She was never a mother to me." Bernadette didn't take too kindly to Bethenny's words and later said her daughter was dead to her.

Macaulay Culkin and his father, Kit, have been estranged since the mid-'90s, when Macaulay's mom, Patricia, accused Kit of alcoholism, infidelity and physical abuse during the bitter battle for custody of their kids — and for the right to manage their careers! Patricia also blamed the stagnation of Macaulay's career on his father — and on Kit's reputation for being difficult to work with. In 1997, a 16-year-old Macaulay had his parents' guardianship of his $17 million fortune terminated. The former child star didn't completely cut ties with his family, though: He bought a Manhattan apartment for his mother and siblings.

Heather Graham has been at odds with her parents, Jim and Joan, since 1997 when she portrayed a porn star in "Boogie Nights." According to the actress, her devoutly Catholic parents took issue with her part in the raunchy film. But Heather's folks have denied that "Boogie Nights" was to blame, telling WENN in 2013: "To this day, we honestly don't know [what went wrong]. Every time we read these supposed reasons for why we are not part of Heather's life, it gets more and more frustrating as they are simply not true."

The brothers behind the band Oasis, guitarist Noel Gallagher and lead singer Liam Gallagher, have feuded publicly for years. Even though they called it quits on their professional relationship in 2009 following a major blow-up before a concert in Paris, they continue to take jabs at each other during interviews and on social media. The source of their issues can be attributed to a simple clash of personalities: Noel is a teetotaler, while Liam tends to lead more of a stereotypical rock 'n' roll lifestyle. They've proven over the years to be literally incapable of agreeing on anything.

Tori Spelling and her mom, Candy Spelling, feuded for around a decade, though they've been on good terms in recent years. According to People magazine, the trouble started in 2006 when Tori produced and starred on a VH1 sitcom loosely based on her life. Candy was offended by the portrayal of herself as an abrasive shopaholic (played by actress Loni Anderson) on the show. Then in 2009, Candy wrote an open letter to her daughter lamenting that her "grandchildren have become reality show props."

Drew Barrymore spent most her life harboring animosity toward her father, John Barrymore. Back in the 1980s, Drew was a very young child star with little to no supervision. She became addicted to drugs, went to rehab at 13 and attempted suicide by 14. When she was 15, Drew petitioned for emancipation from her parents and got her life on track. In 2001, John — who'd split from Drew's mother, Jaid Barrymore, when Drew was young — was diagnosed with cancer and Drew decided to reconcile with her father. The "Charlie's Angels" actress reportedly took care of him during his last few years until he died in 2004.

Christina Aguilera hasn't seen her dad, Fausto, in more than 15 years. That's because, according to the singer, he emotionally and physically abused her mom, Shelly. In 2009, Shelly told E! that her ex-husband once assaulted Christina as well, but Fausto maintains that he never laid a hand on his daughter.

Everything may be love in the Knowles-Carter family today, but back in 2014 there was some serious drama. Beyonce's sister, Solange, was captured on video physically attacking Bey's hubby, Jay-Z, in an elevator after the Met Gala. The clip was released to the public and the gossip was instantaneous. At the time, the family released a simple statement: "Our family has worked through it." Beyonce later hinted at the infamous fight in a remix of her song "Flawless," singing "of course sometimes s— go down when it's a billion dollars on an elevator."

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