Celebs Who've Been Estranged From Their Kids
While some stars have openly chosen not to have kids, others have totally embraced parenthood, ushering in all the positive changes that come with it, and raising kids who are basically their twins. However, there's a big misconception that celebs have it easy when it comes to parenting. The truth is, having money and resources doesn't automatically make it a breeze. As psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo once told E! News, "Our society has become so critical of other people" and that's especially true about folks in the spotlight. She argued that celeb parents are actually faced with an extra layer of stress because the public is constantly scrutinizing them. Indeed, A-listers have had to deal with being called out for just about every reason, from David Beckham letting four-year-old Harper use a pacifier to Pink taking her son Jameson to a zoo.
Similarly, fame doesn't automatically make you a great mom or dad. The celebrity kids below (many of them now celebs in their own right) can vouch for that. Just like in the real world, far away from Hollywood, couples have disagreements, individuals face struggles, and sometimes, families fall apart. Here are all the big celebs who've sadly been estranged from their kids.
Tom Cruise reportedly hasn't seen Suri Cruise in years
Tom Cruise's love for Katie Holmes had him jumping on couches, but the couple's 2012 divorce proved to be even more buzzworthy. Namely, folks couldn't stop speculating about the role Scientology had played in the split and how Cruise's relationship with his six-year-old daughter, Suri Cruise, would be impacted. In 2012, several outlets reported that the actor had abandoned his youngest child, causing Cruise to file (and eventually settle) a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Bauer Media Group, the publisher of Life & Style and InTouch. In court documents seen by TMZ, he claimed, "I have in no way cut Suri out of my life, whether physically, emotionally, financially or otherwise." However, in his 2013 deposition seen by People, he admitted he hadn't seen Suri for 100 days and had missed her first day of school because he was filming in London. "If she had asked me to be there, I would have been there," he argued.
In 2016, a source told InTouch that they hadn't spoken or seen each other in 1,000 days. "He uses his film commitments as an excuse, but the truth is that doesn't hold much weight with Suri anymore," they claimed. Another insider told Us Weekly in 2018 that his custody agreement with Holmes allowed him to see Suri 10 days a month, but "he chooses not to because she is not a Scientologist." As of 2023, the duo was reportedly estranged. A source told Daily Mail, Cruise does "not have a part" in Suri's life.
Elon Musk blames communism for Vivian Musk's estrangement
Elon Musk has famously sung the praises of having a large family and even quipped on Twitter that he was "doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis." Indeed, he became a dad for the 10th time in 2021. Musk's oldest children, twins Griffin and Vivian Musk, were born in 2004 when he was married to his first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson. While they've spent most of their lives out of the limelight, Vivian made headlines in 2022 when, at 18, she filed to legally change her name and be recognized as female. Vivian petitioned the court to change her birth name — Xavier Musk — to Vivian Jenna Wilson, dropping her dad's famous last name and taking her mother's. In doing so, she made her distaste for the billionaire known. In court docs seen by TMZ, she listed her reason for the change as: "Gender Identity and the fact that I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."
Rather than trying to mend their relationship, the Tesla founder told Financial Times, "I have very good relationships with all the others. Can't win them all." He also shared a bizarre reason as to why he thinks Vivian doesn't want him in her life. "It's full-on communism ... and a general sentiment that if you're rich, you're evil," he mused. It may also be because in 2020 he tweeted, "Pronouns suck," then argued, "I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an esthetic nightmare."
Jackie Chan cut all ties with his daughter
Jackie Chan has been married to Joan Lin since 1982 but their union nearly fell apart in 1999 when the actor admitted to having an affair with former Miss Asia Elaine Ng. Speaking with the media, he said his wife forgave him and so did their only child, Jaycee, who was born in 1982. "My son understands," he said, per Entertainment Weekly. At the time, Elaine was seven months pregnant and Chan agreed to a paternity test. "If the child is mine, I'll surely take responsibility," he claimed. Except that wasn't the case. Daughter Etta Ng was born in 1999 and remained with her mother in Hong Kong where she grew up not knowing Chan. In 2015, a 15-year-old Etta told Express. "He is not my dad. I have no feelings for him." Saying she hadn't forgiven him, she added, "He is my biological father but he is not in my life."
In 2017, Etta came out as gay and married Andi Autumn in 2018. That year, the couple posted a since-deleted video (via People) claiming, "We've been homeless for a month due to homophobic parents." In addition to being spotted at a food bank, Etta alleged, "We pretty much slept under a bridge." Indeed, it seems Chan made a clean break from Etta. In his 2018 memoir, "Never Grow Up," he wrote about speaking with his wife and son about the affair once in 1999 and "it was never mentioned again." The next day, he changed his will to leave everything to Joan.
Cher's bond with Elijah Blue Allman has been rocky
The same year that Cher's high-profile marriage to Sonny Bono came to an end, the singer said "I do" to Gregg Allman. It was 1975 and, just nine days later, she wanted to call it quits because of his addiction. However, they stayed together and had son Elijah Blue in 1976 before splitting in 1977.
Elijah would grow up to be a musician like his parents, starting metal band Deadsy, but like his dad, he'd also battle substance abuse. "I was smoking dope, taking a lot of pills, any pain killer we could get and drinking," he told Daily Mail. After getting sober in 2008, he was dealt another blow when he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. While seeking treatment, his mom supported him but it wasn't quite enough. "You absolutely need unconditional parental love in those dark hours, that was lacking from that direction," he shared. Elijah also admitted to having unresolved issues with Cher that stretched back decades. "When you go to boarding school at 7 years old, it's kind of hard to feel like you're not being shunned," he told ET.
What's more, Elijah told Daily Mail they'd previously gone years without talking and alleged that his 2013 marriage threw a wrench in their already rocky relationship. After his mom failed to even congratulate him, he eloped. "I've always been the black sheep of my family," he mused. "We just have different value systems and we just have a different mentality and that clashes a lot."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Anthony Hopkins has no relationship with his only child
Sir Anthony Hopkins is an incredible actor, but he hasn't been an incredible family man. He married Petronella Barker in 1966 and they had one daughter, Abigail Hopkins, in 1968. The first-time dad struggled and started drinking and self-destructing. "I see young kids today freak out and I suppose I was like that," he once admitted, per Daily Mail. When Abigail was just 14 months old, he left. "I would see him, but maybe once a year," Abigail told The Telegraph in 2006. When she was 16, they had their worst fight yet over something Anthony said about her mom. Their estrangement grew and, at 18, Abigail began struggling with drug addition and suicidal thoughts. "The root cause was the fact that my father and I had an intermittent relationship when I was young," she said. "I was angry and there was a lot of grieving going on."
They briefly reconciled in 1990 but eventually cut all ties. In 2002, Anthony told Howard Stern (via Hello!), "I guess we are estranged." In 2018, he told The Times, he doesn't know if he has grandkids. "I don't care one way or the other," he slammed. "It is cold, because life is cold." Later speaking with The Sunday Times in 2021, he said he does have regrets, but concluded, "You have to get on with life." Abigail took a similarly stoic approach, telling The Telegraph, "There is a little bit of sadness but I have to get on with my life."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Was Rosie O'Donnell an absentee mom?
Rosie O'Donnell is a mom of five who told People in 2022 that adoption has "made my life worth everything." However, her oldest daughter, Chelsea Belle (whom the comedian adopted with her first wife, Kelli Carpenter) didn't always feel the love. In 2015, a 17-year-old Chelsea ran away from home. She was found just a few hours after being reported missing and Rosie's rep told People, "Chelsea, like millions of people, lives with mental illness."
Well, Chelsea didn't appreciate that. Speaking with Daily Mail, she clapped back, alleging she was told to leave. "Rosie knew I was planning to leave, that's why I think she kicked me out," she said. Revealing she was "pretty much raised by nannies," Chelsea accused her mom of being an angry person — "Rosie's fuse was really short with me and she would yell" — as well as an uninvolved parent. "She would either just be in her room, not engaging with us, or watching documentaries," she recalled. As for those mental health claims, she told the mag she began struggling with depression and anxiety after her parents' divorce, but "putting out there that I am mentally ill was really hurtful."
Things took a sudden turn for the better in 2018 when a 20-year-old Chelsea became pregnant. Rosie told People, "We have reconnected." However, Chelsea isn't the only one to have called out Rosie's parenting. In 2022, Vivienne told TikTok, "I'm so incredibly, incredibly thankful for her, but one thing she's not done is normal."
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Jon Voight thought Angelina Jolie had 'mental problems'
Angelina Jolie has had a rocky relationship with dad Jon Voight, to say the least. Voight married actor Marcheline Bertrand in 1971 and they had two kids, James Haven and Angelina, before calling it quits in 1976. After that, his relationship with both children crumbled. "I had an affair and there was a divorce," he admitted, per Express. "There was a lot of hurt and anger." However, he appeared to put some of the blame on them, saying the rift "comes from their inability to let go of years of programmed anger from their mother."
However, Voight's connection with Jolie really fell apart in 2002 when he told Access Hollywood (via Entertainment Weekly) that she needed help for "mental problems" after her split from Billy Bob Thornton. Jolie responded by legally removing his last name and proclaiming, "I have determined that it is not healthy for me to be around my father." Jump to 2004 and she told Premiere, "My father and I don't speak." She revealed, "When I had the final argument/disappointment with my father — we've had many off and on — I had thought we were breaking ground, and I realized we simply weren't."
The feud continued with Voight saying he learned about Jolie's double mastectomy online and revealing he wasn't invited to her and Brad Pitt's wedding. However, things thawed around 2017 when Jolie told The Hollywood Reporter, "Through grandchildren now, we're finding a new relationship, and it's very, very nice."
50 Cent publicly disowned his son
50 Cent is a dad of two, but as of 2012, he considers himself a dad of one. The rapper welcomed his first child, son Marquise Jackson, with Shaniqua Tompkins in 1996. He was devoted to his little boy, getting his name tattooed and proclaiming, per VH1, "My priorities changed because I wanted to have the relationship with him that I didn't have with my father." Unfortunately, things deteriorated after he and Shaniqua split in 2008. In 2012, Radar learned that the rapper had texted his 16-year-old son, "If I died today would it matter to you? I'm changing my will." He then wrote him out. In another text tirade in 2013, he slammed, per Radar, "I don't have a son anymore."
Jump to 2020 and 50 Cent told XXL (via The Shade Room), "I didn't think success would cost me my firstborn but it's the situation it is." He blamed Shaniqua for being entitled and making Marquise feel the same. "While being a privileged child, he feels deprived," he accused. Saying he no longer loves his son, he slammed, "If it rattles like a snake, if it slithers like a snake, is it a snake or do you need to be bit?" Meanwhile, Marquise wrote on Instagram in 2022 that he doesn't want clout but a relationship. "I have no phone number for you & you've had me blocked on social media for years so I can't DM you personally," he revealed. "I'm ready when you ready to sit down & talk."
John Drew Barrymore didn't show up for Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore has made no secret of her wild child ways. She began drinking heavily at 11 and abusing drugs at 12 because, as she told Daily Mail, "I didn't have parents, I was the parent to them." Drew's relationship with her party-loving mother, actor Jaid Barrymore, fell apart when she became her momager. Meanwhile, her connection with her dad, actor John Drew Barrymore, was fraught from the beginning. In 2022, Drew told "The Shop: Uninterrupted," "My dad was a drug addict and he didn't wear shoes and he was really crazy, but like, awesome." She appreciated his mystique but soon realized, "Oh, this guy's not capable of s***, so let's just love him for who he is and not expect anything from him." Indeed, she didn't rely on either parent and, at 14, was emancipated by the courts.
John was the son of legendary actor John Barrymore and struggled to be taken seriously in Hollywood. He turned to alcohol and drugs and was repeatedly arrested, according to the Los Angeles Times, for everything from DUI to abusing his first wife. Drew reflected on their relationship in a 2020 Instagram post, calling him "a mad poet hedonist man child" and admitting, "I think I would have liked to have a dad who didn't look so out there. Or who stayed. Or was capable of anything really." When John was diagnosed with cancer, they reconciled and Drew took care of him for three years until his death in 2004.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Nancy Dow inflicted a lot of trauma on Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston is the daughter of two successful actors, John Aniston and Nancy Dow, but although she chose to follow in their footsteps, their relationship wasn't exactly perfect. Jennifer was actually estranged from her mother for 15 years, not even inviting her to her wedding to Brad Pitt. The pair stopped talking in 1996 after Dow gave a tell-all interview about her daughter and things totally fell apart in 1999 when Dow published "From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir" in which she detailed their estrangement.
However, their issues were rooted much deeper. As she told Elle, she had a "challenging upbringing." Her parents split when she was nine and she felt lost and alone. "I was building houses with shoe boxes and toilet paper and felt," she recalled. "It was always about finding a home that felt safe." After her dad left, she was raised by a mom who took much of her anger and resentment out on her. "I think my mom's divorce really screwed her up," Jennifer told Allure. Speaking with Elle, she recalled how critical her mom would be, repeatedly telling her, "Honey, take better care of yourself,' or 'Honey, put your face on.'"
Eventually, Jennifer forgave her mom, even telling The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, "We're all fine." However, when Dow died in 2016, InTouch learned she allegedly left Jennifer out of her will.
Bill Hudson said Oliver and Kate Hudson are dead to him
Goldie Hawn has been with Kurt Russell since 1983 and Oliver and Kate Hudson consider him their dad, but their biological father is actor Bill Hudson. Bill and Hawn were married from 1976 to 1982 and, as Kate told Howard Stern in 2016, "He was around when we were young, it sort of teetered out." She and her brother understood that the divorce wasn't their fault, but "anybody who has had an experience with a parent that is absent, it's going to manifest." Therapy helped, as did forgiving him. Even so, his departure left scars. "I have a great family, I have a beautiful mother, I have a stepfather who stepped in and played a huge, huge part in sharing what it is to have a dependable father figure in our life," she told Today. "But it doesn't take away from the fact that we didn't know our dad."
Oliver agrees. On Father's Day 2015, he posted a photo of him and Kate with Bill and captioned it, "Happy abandonment day." That sent Bill over the edge. He told Daily Mail that his kids stopped talking to him and that it was their mom's fault. "Goldie wanted to create this myth of a perfect family with Kurt and she wanted me out," he alleged. Then, he disowned them. "I had five birth children but I now consider myself a father of three," he slammed. Telling them to stop using his last name, he concluded, "[Oliver] is dead to me now. As is Kate."
Brad Pitt allegedly got physical with Maddox
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie made headlines when they married, then they made even more news when they parted ways. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, shortly after an alleged altercation on a private plane that reportedly got physical. In September 2016, the couple and their six kids were in the air when Pitt and Jolie are said to have gotten into a fight. Then, according to a source who spoke with People, "there was a parent-child argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should have." However, they were adamant that while "Brad made contact with Maddox in the shoulder area, and there was absolutely no physical injury to him." Pitt was investigated by the FBI on allegations of verbal and physical abuse, per TMZ, but no charges were filed. In 2017, Pitt admitted to GQ Style that he had an issue with alcohol. "I was boozing too much," he said. "It's just become a problem." And so, he gave it up.
However, it was too little too late. His marriage ended and it seems his relationship with Maddox may be done for good too. In 2019, a source told Us Weekly that Jolie tried to help orchestrate a truce, but "Maddox hasn't been receptive." Meanwhile, an 18-year-old Maddox told InTouch he's not fussed about a reconciliation. "Whatever happens, happens," he said. In 2020, a source told Us Weekly, "That relationship continues to be nonexistent."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.