Celebrities Who Cut Ties With Their Family Members, and the Reasons Behind It

Rihanna

Rihanna’s estrangement from her father, Ronald Fenty, stems from his drug addiction, abuse of her mother, and multiple betrayals. She once said, “Like, what do I even mean to him?” In 2019, she even sued him for using the family name in business without her permission.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson has long considered Kurt Russell her true father, not biological dad Bill Hudson. In 2015, Bill disowned both Kate and her brother Oliver, saying they were “dead to me.” Kate responded with compassion, saying forgiveness, not bitterness, was her goal.

Keanu Reeves

When Keanu Reeves was just three, his father, Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr., left the family. By 13, Keanu and his siblings were completely cut off. “I think it’s definitely traumatizing,” he told The Guardian. Samuel briefly reached out in the mid-1990s, but Reeves never responded. “I just didn’t,” he said simply. Samuel passed away in 2018, leaving their relationship unresolved.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston’s difficult relationship with her mother, Nancy Dow, was so public that Dow even wrote a tell-all memoir about it. Aniston described her mom as “critical” and “unforgiving.” Although they reconciled before Dow’s death in 2016, Aniston admitted the tension haunted much of her life.

Macaulay Culkin

One of Hollywood’s most famous child stars, Macaulay Culkin endured years of alleged abuse from his father, Kit Culkin. “Do good or I’ll hit you,” Kit would warn, according to Culkin. At 14, Macaulay sued his parents to gain control of his earnings. He later said his father’s jealousy fueled much of their conflict: “Everything he tried to do in life, I excelled at before I was 10.”

Leighton Meester

Born while her mother was serving prison time for drug trafficking, Leighton Meester had anything but a conventional upbringing. Raised by her grandparents, she later feuded with her mother in court over misused money meant for her brother’s medical care. Still, Leighton insists she tries to see her childhood in a “nice light.”

Jennette McCurdy

Former ‘iCarly’ star Jennette McCurdy revealed in her bestselling memoir ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ that her mother was emotionally abusive, forced her into acting, and introduced her to eating disorders. Their toxic relationship shaped much of her early life and career until her mother’s passing in 2013.

Cole Sprouse

In 2023, Cole Sprouse opened up about being estranged from his mother, Melanie Wright. “My mother was, still is, the tortured artist type,” he explained, noting her battles with addiction and narcissism. Courts eventually awarded custody to his father, Matthew Sprouse, whom Cole calls “an incredible guy.” Still, he admits his mother’s behavior left lasting scars.

Ariel Winter

Far from her ‘Modern Family’ character’s cozy home life, Ariel Winter fought for emancipation from her mother, Crystal Workman, citing physical and emotional abuse. At 17, she was legally freed, crediting her sister Shanelle Workman as her biggest support system. “It’s been much better for me emotionally and physically,” Ariel said.

Brie Larson

Brie Larson hasn’t spoken to her father, Sylvain Desaulniers, in years. After her parents divorced when she was seven, she quickly cut ties. “I don’t think he ever really wanted to be a parent,” she told Elle. She’s since admitted the absence shaped her independence.

Adele

Adele had little relationship with her father, Mark Evans, who left when she was young. When Evans later sold childhood photos to tabloids, Adele cut him off completely. While accepting a Grammy, she declared: “I love [my manager] like I would love my dad. I don’t love my dad.”

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has often spoken about his “complicated relationship” with late father Rocky Johnson. In a 2023 Father’s Day post, he admitted they had fought a month before his dad’s sudden death. “I never reconciled with him or even had a chance to say goodbye,” he wrote, urging fans to make peace with their fathers before it’s too late.

Eminem

Eminem has long rapped about his absent father, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. Though his dad once tried reaching out through an open letter, the rapper refused. “If my kids moved to the edge of the Earth, I would find them,” Eminem told 60 Minutes. “No money, no nothing—I would find my kids.”

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie’s rocky relationship with her father, Jon Voight, has been an ongoing saga in Hollywood. Their estrangement began in the early 2000s after Voight claimed Jolie had “serious mental problems” during a TV interview. The actress cut him out of her life for years, even legally dropping “Voight” from her name. Though they reconciled in 2010 for the sake of her children, Jolie has admitted that boundaries are essential in maintaining any contact. “Families are complicated,” she once said, hinting at the delicate truce between them.

Kelly Rowland

Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland didn’t meet her biological father until she was 30. Their reunion in 2018 was emotional, with Rowland admitting she carried feelings of abandonment for years. But forgiveness changed everything: “Since this time, we have spoken every day,” she revealed, calling their relationship one of her life’s most “pivotal moments.”

Britney Spears

Britney Spears’ family drama has played out in public for over a decade, largely tied to her conservatorship. After years of her father Jamie Spears controlling nearly every aspect of her life, Britney fought back, describing the arrangement as “abusive.” In 2021, the conservatorship was terminated, but the pop star has remained estranged from much of her family, including her father and sister Jamie Lynn. In her 2023 memoir ‘The Woman in Me,’ Britney revealed that the lack of protection from her loved ones cut deeper than the paparazzi harassment. “They should have been my safe place,” she wrote, making it clear the wounds remain raw.

Matthew McConaughey

At the height of his fame, McConaughey cut off his mother for eight years after she leaked private details to the press. “Mother wasn’t answering the phone. A fan of my fame was answering the phone,” he said. The two eventually reconciled in 2004.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato’s father, Patrick, was abusive and largely absent. When he died in 2013, Lovato felt conflicted. “He was mean, but he wanted to be a good person,” they shared. Years later, Lovato wrote him a gratitude letter to find closure, finally freeing themselves of “daddy issues.”

Kristin Cavallari

Kristin Cavallari has been brutally honest about her father. “My dad is a narcissist. Typical narcissist. It really is disgusting,” she said on ‘Bunnie XO’s Dumb Blonde’ podcast. She cut him out of her life entirely, calling it the “best thing I’ve ever done.” Cavallari also revealed her childhood was marked by divorce, stepfamily struggles, and sexual trauma.

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera has been open about the abuse she endured from her father. Though she once allowed him back into her life briefly, she quickly realized it wasn’t healthy. “Maybe one day we can do lunch,” she said, but for now, she keeps her distance.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey’s memoir revealed two fractured family ties: a violent older sister and a complicated relationship with her mother, Patricia. “I have reserved some room in my heart… but with boundaries,” she admitted, noting that protecting herself comes first.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan’s rise to child stardom was shadowed by family turmoil. Her parents, Dina and Michael Lohan, had a notoriously volatile relationship, marked by divorce, public fights, and Michael’s legal troubles. They sometimes used Lindsay’s fame as a battleground. At the height of her struggles with addiction, Lindsay admitted her father’s chaotic presence only made things worse. Still, in recent years, she’s cautiously rebuilt ties with both parents, especially after becoming a mother herself in 2023. “We’ve been through a lot,” Lindsay has said, “but family is family.”

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins hasn’t spoken to his daughter Abigail in decades. When asked about the estrangement, he simply said: “Life is life. You get on with it.” Abigail, meanwhile, has described their relationship as “intermittent,” saying it contributed to her struggles with depression.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore grew up in chaos—partying with her mom at age 7, battling addiction at 10, and institutionalized by 13. By 14, she legally emancipated herself. While empathetic toward her mother, Barrymore admits they can’t be in each other’s lives: “It’s the hardest subject in my life.”

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle’s fractured relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, has played out in tabloids worldwide. After staging paparazzi photos ahead of her royal wedding and selling private letters, Thomas has been publicly estranged from Meghan. He continues to comment on her life from afar, a painful betrayal for the Duchess of Sussex.