Macaulay Culkin, the former child star of “Home Alone” fame, has revealed details of his decades-long estrangement from his father, Christopher “Kit” Culkin, describing him as abusive and narcissistic, according to Fox News.
In a recent appearance on the “Sibling Revelry” podcast hosted by Kate and Oliver Hudson, the 44-year-old actor discussed his reasons for walking away from acting at a young age and the circumstances surrounding his cut-off with his father over 30 years ago.
Culkin explained that he felt “tired” of acting and trapped by his father’s constant pushing, which ultimately led to his decision to step away from the spotlight. It wasn’t until his parents’ separation that he felt empowered to prioritize his own well-being.
“I haven’t spoken to him in about 30-something years,” Culkin stated, adding bluntly, “Oh, he deserves it too. Yeah. He’s a man who, he had seven kids, and now he has four grandkids. Yeah. And, none of them want anything to do with him.”
Culkin, who shares two young sons, Dakota, 3, and Carson, 2, with his fiancée, Brenda Song, is one of seven siblings, including fellow actor Kieran Culkin. His mother, Patricia Brentrup, separated from Kit Culkin when Macaulay was a teenager.
Recalling the subsequent custody battle, Culkin described his father as “narcissistic” and recounted a moment when a judge ordered him to attend visits with Kit. “I told my lawyer, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m not doing that.’ He said, ‘Well, you know, you’ll be in contempt of court and this and that.’ I go, ‘OK. Well, how about this? I dare the judge to put me in jail for not wanting to visit [my] abusive father. I actually, I’m gonna double down on that. I double dare him to arrest the most famous kid in the world,'” Culkin said.
Now a father himself, Culkin said his past experiences inform his parenting style. He emphasized his dedication to providing a safe and nurturing environment for his sons, a stark contrast to his own childhood.
In 2018, Culkin publicly alleged that Kit was “mentally and physically” abusive, even issuing threats like, “Do good or I’ll hit you.”
Culkin’s parents divorced after he filmed “Richie Rich” in 1994. He called their split “one of the best things that’s ever happened” because it led to him leaving the industry.
Despite the difficult past, Culkin shared that he is currently thriving.
“I’m in a really great place,” he said, adding, “I feel really good. I’m probably in the best place of my entire life.”
