Child Stars Who Sued Their Horrible Parents

The world of child stardom is often one of intense pressure, with young performers expected to balance the demands of work and fame with the challenges of growing up. For some child stars, this pressure can lead to conflicts with their parents, who may be their managers, agents, or legal guardians. In some cases, these conflicts have escalated to the point where the child star has sued their own parent. Here are five child stars who have sued their parents.\r \r 1. Macaulay Culkin\r \r Macaulay Culkin became a household name at the age of ten with his breakout role as Kevin McCallister in the hit movie "Home Alone." However, his relationship with his father, Kit Culkin, who also served as his manager, was strained. In 1997, at the age of 17, Culkin filed a lawsuit accusing his father of mismanaging his finances and stealing money from his trust fund. The case was settled out of court, with Culkin being granted control of his own finances. Culkin's relationship with his father continued to be difficult, and the two were estranged for many years. In a 2018 interview with Marc Maron, Culkin opened up about his relationship with his father, saying that the two had reconciled but that they still had their issues.\r \r 2. Leighton Meester\r \r Leighton Meester rose to fame playing the scheming Blair Waldorf on the hit TV show "Gossip Girl." However, her relationship with her mother, Constance Meester, was fraught with tension. In 2011, at the age of 25, Meester filed a lawsuit accusing her mother of misusing money that Meester had sent to support her younger brother's medical expenses. The case was settled out of court, with Meester being granted control of her own finances. Meester has since opened up about her difficult relationship with her mother, and has said that she has had to work hard to establish healthy boundaries with her family.\r \r 3. Drew Barrymore\r \r Drew Barrymore comes from a famous Hollywood family, with her parents, John Barrymore and Jaid Barrymore, both actors. However, her relationship with her parents was tumultuous, with both of them struggling with addiction issues. In 1991, at the age of 16, Barrymore filed for legal emancipation from her parents, citing their inability to provide her with a stable home environment. The case was settled out of court, with Barrymore being granted legal emancipation. \r \r 4. Ariel Winter\r \r Ariel Winter began acting at a young age, and rose to fame playing Alex Dunphy on the hit TV show "Modern Family." However, her relationship with her mother, Chrisoula Workman, was troubled. In 2012, at the age of 14, Winter was placed under the temporary guardianship of her older sister, Shanelle Gray, following allegations of emotional abuse by her mother. The following year, Winter was granted permanent emancipation from her mother. Winter has since spoken out about her difficult upbringing, and has become an advocate for children's rights. She has said that her experiences have made her a stronger person, and that she hopes to use her platform to help other children who are struggling in similar situations.\r \r 5. Gary Coleman\r \r Gary Coleman rose to fame playing the lovable Arnold Jackson on the TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes." However, his relationship with his parents was troubled, with his mother serving as his manager and his father serving as his bodyguard. In 1989, at the age of 21, Coleman filed a lawsuit accusing his parents of mismanaging his finances and stealing money from his trust fund. The case was settled out of court, with Coleman being granted control of his own finances.