Celebrities Who Treat Their Family Like Trash
Throughout the history of Hollywood, we most likely have seen how fame can bring out the worst in people. For some, that can be through how they treat their co-workers, fellow artists, or even fans. For others, they turn on those who were with them before they were famous — their own families. Some actors and musicians do this by refusing to speak to or help out their families once they have become successful, while others do so by publicly bashing their clans and/or airing their dirty laundry for others to judge.
In some cases, the families may even seem to be deserving of this cruel treatment, with the celebrity detailing the reasons behind their actions, whether it be because of a troubled upbringing, abuse they faced, or how fame changed their dynamic with their former loved ones. However, there are often two sides to every story, and we usually get the side of the person who is in the spotlight more.
So whether you agree with the stars' approach to their families or not, let's break down the celebrities who seem to treat their families like trash.
Caitlyn Jenner bashed or ignored her family
Fans of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians” know that the family feels that Caitlyn Jenner has thrown them under the bus, specifically her ex-wife Kris Jenner. Not only did Caitlyn reveal on the "Literally!" podcast in 2020 that she and Kris had "so many other bigger issues" outside of her true identity, but she also told Vanity Fair in 2015 that "20 percent was gender and 80 percent was the way I was treated" as the reason for their split.
Khloe Kardashian called out Caitlyn on "KUWTK" (per E!), saying, "We're just not a family who goes and bashes the other one publicly." Kim Kardashian also defended her mom, telling Caitlyn, "You got the fame, but you're losing your family ... you don't have to bash us on your way up." The family also wasn't pleased with how they were portrayed in Caitlyn's memoir. Kim explained on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "She's saying all these things...I just feel like it's unfair; things aren't truthful."
But it's not just the Kardashians that Caitlyn mistreated; it's her sons, too. Both Brandon and Brody Jenner have been open about how they barely saw their dad growing up. Brandon even dished (via People), "the infrequent exchanges felt more like staged photo opportunities than real bonding," and that "After Dad met and married Kris, family became a business for him." Brody seemed to agree, saying on "The Hills: New Beginnings" (via ET), "what I've learned is to not expect too much from her."
Demi Lovato didn't respect their parents
Demi Lovato didn't always treat their parents with respect, apparently since they were the one making the most money. The former "Sonny With a Chance" star would often rebel against their rules, explaining on "4D with Demi Lovato" podcast, "When they would try to ground me at 17, I would say, 'I pay the bills.'" She continued, "And I cringe now when I think about that attitude ... you kind of think that you could do no wrong."
Lovato's mother, Dianna De La Garza, seemed to agree, explaining in her memoir "Falling With Wings" (via People) how, as a teen, Lovato took advantage of that and would often stay out all night, likely drinking and doing drugs. She wrote, "Every night I'd set an alarm for 2:00 a.m...I called her until she walked through the front door," adding, "What do you say to your child when she is the one paying most of the bills?"
Lovato was tough on their father, too, even after his death. They explained in a YouTube video, "I was very conflicted when he passed, because he was abusive." They added, "He was mean, but he wanted to be a good person." While they acknowledged that their dad did suffer from mental health issues, they admitted on Instagram (via ET) that they still never felt empathetic enough to call him on Father's Day. They even wrote, "I'm proud of myself for holding my boundary because I was doing what was best for me."
If you or someone you know is struggling 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.
Justin Bieber distanced himself from his mother
While Justin Bieber seemed super close with his mother, Pattie Mallette, growing up, it appears that Bieber's increased fame and bad behavior led to him cutting ties with her for a few years. Mallette hinted to People in 2013 that it was getting harder to connect with her son, especially as his behavior became more controversial. She dished, "I've had to let him go a little bit and let him be independent."
Eventually, the talking stopped altogether, with Bieber telling Billboard in 2015 that their relationship was "pretty non-existing." He seemed to take the blame for it, though, admitting, "I was distant because I was ashamed. I never wanted my mom to be disappointed in me and I knew she was." He clarified, "We spent some time not talking."
While Bieber expressed interest in rebuilding his relationship with his mom, he didn't seem to make it a priority, and by that next year, he told GQ, "We don't talk often, but we're cordial," which came off pretty cold. It probably didn't help that he revealed, "I'm a lot closer to my dad than I am to my mom," despite his father reportedly being mostly absent during Bieber's childhood. Yet the "Sorry" singer expressed that he apparently outgrew both parents. "You don't need them as much ... you're doing your own thing, and you don't need them, and you don't value their opinion the same, either," he said.
Selena Gomez fired her mom
Like her ex Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez has had a rocky relationship with her mother, Mandy Teefey, as well. The "Spring Breakers" star's resentment toward her mom seemingly began when Gomez was just a child since she admitted in an E! special (per Daily News) that she solely "blamed" Teefey for her parents' divorce. She recalled, "I remember just being really angry with my mom." Teefey added, "I would kind of just let her vent and yell at me."
As Gomez got older, things with her mother got even more complicated. In 2014, she fired Teefey and her step-dad as her managers despite them handling her career since her start on "Barney." According to E!, they two didn't speak for an "entire year" after that, with an unnamed source saying, "It caused a huge rift in their relationship."
That wouldn't be the last time Gomez got into it with her mother, though, and by 2017, they were on the outs again. This time they even unfollowed each other on Instagram, per People. This beef was rumored to be caused by Gomez hanging out with her reportedly toxic ex, Bieber, against her family's wishes. Yet an insider clarified, "It's more complicated than just fighting over a guy. Mandy and Selena have had their ups and down before." Gomez decided to "give her mom some space," seemingly choosing Bieber over her. When it comes to how Gomez treats her mom, a source said, "When they fight, they fight hard."
Ariel Winter took her mother to court
"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter has accused her mother, Crystal Workman, of being the worst kind of a "stage mom" while she was trying to become a child actor. At age 14, Winter took her mom to court and was placed in the care of her older sister after Winter claimed that Workman physically and emotionally abused her. Winter told The Hollywood Reporter that Workman would also restrict food and dress her in a sexualized manner. She explained, "People thought I was 24 when I was 12."
Workman denied those accusations, telling E!, "I want to say the horrible, untrue accusations are false and ridiculous...I have my doctor's letter that my daughter's never been abused." Winter's brother, "The Addams Family" actor Jimmy Workman seemingly agreed, saying, "That stuff didn't happen." He also blamed the whole situation on Winter dating 18-year-old actor Cameron Palatas when she was 14. He dished at the time, "This is stemming over a boy that is overage, dating my little sister."
Two years after Winter became emancipated, Workman attempted to reach out to her daughter to "fix [their] relationship," saying on "Inside Edition," "Every girl needs her mom and every mom needs her daughter." It seems Winter not only had no interest in speaking with her, but didn't help her through a rough patch either, despite her financial success. Workman revealed, "I lived in a storage space. There was no heat, there was no air ... my daughters knew I was living there."
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
Leighton Meester cut off her family
"Gossip Girl" actor Leighton Meester was another young TV star whose fame seemingly ruined her relationship with her own mother, Constance Meester. While Meester didn't have the easiest upbringing, with both her parents doing prison time, she did tell Marie Claire, "There were happy, fun times," in her childhood and that she "was loved." Meester even detailed how her mother moved with her to New York City and then Hollywood so she could pursue her goal of becoming an actor, despite them barely being able to make ends meet.
However, it seems things took a turn when Meester got famous, and by 2011 the "Monte Carlo" star not only fired Constance as her manager but was also suing her over money. According to TMZ, Meester claimed that Constance was using the $7,500 a month Meester was sending her to care for her sick brother, Lex, for her own cosmetic procedures instead. Constance countersued her daughter, claiming (per ABC News) that Meester had "repeatedly hit her with a bottle" during a 2010 fight. She also alleged that Meester became so berserk that her brother had to intervene in the assault but later dropped the suit.
By 2014, Constance claimed to InTouch that Meester had totally abandoned her family even though they couldn't even "afford food." Constance dished, "I was looking at homeless shelters, and Lex showed me photos he'd found of a million dollar house she bought in LA and said, 'Mom, how can she do this to us?' "
Lindsay Lohan publicly disparaged her parents
Lindsay Lohan has never had the best reputation for how she treats others, and her parents seem to fall into that. Like other young stars, Lohan's success seemingly made it so she didn't have to listen to anyone and could even tell her parents what to do. A former boyfriend revealed to Vanity Fair, "Lindsay was her mother's boss," adding, "If Lindsay threw a tantrum, Dina [Lohan] would do whatever she wanted her to."
There was also Lohan and Dina's infamous 2012 limo fight, where Lohan was recorded by TMZ calling her mother "the f**king devil" and accusing her of doing cocaine. The feud reportedly stemmed from Lohan wanting money she had lent Dina back. The "Mean Girls" star even told her mother, "This is what you do. You ruin people." The Daily News reports that the brawl was so bad that the police were called.
Lohan hasn't just expressed anger toward her mom though; she's also publicly come for her father, Micheal Lohan, telling Vanity Fair, "He's put myself and my mother and my mom's parents through so much hell." In 2016, she revealed to the Daily Mail that she cut out Michael from her life completely. She explained, "My father is known for talking to the press and selling stories ... Some of the stuff he's done proves to me he doesn't care about me." It seems that Lohan and her parents all struggled with how to handle her fame and eventually turned on each other.
If you or anyone you know is struggling 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).
Eminem rapped about hating his mom
Eminem fans know that the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, has had an infamously bad relationship with his mother, Deborah Nelson, from day one. In fact, in his first hit single, "My Name Is," he accused Nelson of being addicted to drugs. He didn't stop there, though, and continued to paint her as an addict and all-around neglectful mother in several of his songs throughout his career. He even claimed in his popular 2002 hit, "Cleanin' Out My Closet," that Nelson had Münchausen syndrome by proxy, and he had suffered because of it.
Nelson fought back against some of those allegations, and in 1999, she sued him for defamation, demanding $10 million but later settling for $25,000, per LADBible. Eminem responded to the lawsuit through his lawyer, who regarded it as "the result of a lifelong strained relationship between him and mother." He added that it was "still painful to be sued by your mother."
Nelson later claimed her son's songs about his difficult childhood were false, telling Inside Edition (per The Daily Star), "He was spoiled rotten. Anything he wanted, I made sure that I'd take my last dime and get it for him." She also released a memoir, "My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem," where she wrote, "He never knew his father, and I did all I could to make up for it." She added his insults left her "heartbroken" and that she thought "he's forgotten the good times we had."
If you or anyone you know is struggling 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).
Matthew McConaughey didn't speak to his mother for years
Matthew McConaughey may seem like a lovable family man, but the "Dallas Buyers Club" actor wasn't always so understanding when it came to his mother, Kay McConaughey. In fact, he didn't speak to her for several years after he became famous. McConaughey revealed on "The Red Talk Table" that he didn't like how his mother was acting during their weekly calls, clarifying, "Mother wasn't answering the phone. A fan of my fame was answering the phone."
Things only got worse, with McConaughey recalling, "I would share things with her ... some of those things I would share might show up in the six o'clock news." However, the final nail in the coffin seemed to be when she gave "Hard Copy" a tour of his childhood home. When he called Kay out on it, she apparently replied, "I didn't think you'd find out.'" After that, McConaughey said, "I was not able to talk to her as my mom for about eight years," and that "There were years there where I would not share things with her."
Kay admitted to "enjoying his fame more than he was" but said it was because, "You know, aren't we proud?" McConaughey didn't see her as a proud parent, though, telling "The Howard Stern Show" that "she became a different person." He doesn't seem to regret their time estranged either, saying, "We went through it, and we're on the other side of it. It's good."
Aaron Carter threatened his siblings
The Carter family has definitely had their fair share of feuds over the years, but it's safe to say that Aaron Carter is the sibling who seems to be the most volatile. Things got so bad that in 2019, Aaron's twin sister, Angel Carter, and their big brother, Nick Carter, took out a restraining order against Aaron. The former Backstreet Boy tweeted that they did so because of Aaron's "increasingly alarming behavior and his recent confession that he harbors thoughts and intentions of killing my pregnant wife and unborn child."
Not only did Aaron threaten his siblings, but he's taken to social media to hurl insults at them. In 2021, he did an Instagram Live where he called Nick a "coward" and claimed, "He makes his wife do all his dirty work for him." He later added, "I don't have any respect for Nick, and you're not going to tell me that I have to respect Nick."
That wasn't the end of it, though, and in November 2021, Aaron accused his on-and-off fiancé, Melanie Martin, of conspiring with his estranged family members behind his back. He tweeted, "I have the most conniving deceiving family," adding, "Melanie has been lying to me the whole time communicating with my twin sister and the family members who tried to put me in prison and who tried to get a conservatorship on me." E! reports that both Martin and the Carters have denied Aaron's conservatorship claims.
If you or someone you know is struggling 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.