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People often consider celebrities to live a glamorous life untouched by everyday problems. However, the reality is far from this image. Celebrities, like any other individuals, face familial disputes and personal issues, which sometimes play out in the public eye. Here are 18 famous instances when celebrity family feuds were brought into the limelight.
1. Matthew McConaughey and Mary Kathlene McCabe
Renowned actor Matthew McConaughey had a stretch of eight years during which he was estranged from his mother, Mary Kathlene McCabe. This period of estrangement was due to her habit of disclosing his personal life to the media. The actor eventually managed to rebuild trust with his mother and they are now on speaking terms again.
2. Jennifer Aniston and Nancy Dow
Jennifer Aniston’s relationship with her mother Nancy Dow was marked by a notable feud. After her father left their home, Aniston’s relationship with her parents never really mended. Dow’s 1999 memoir, which included personal details about Aniston, caused a 15-year silence between the two. However, Aniston later claimed that she had reconciled with her parents before their passing.
3. Caitlyn Jenner and The Kardashians
Caitlyn Jenner’s transition was initially supported by the Kardashian family, but tensions rose following her 2017 memoir. The memoir, which portrayed ex-wife Kris in a negative light, led to further family friction. In spite of this, Caitlyn continued to express her criticisms of her former family in the media.
4. Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough
After the death of Lisa Marie Presley, a legal dispute arose between her mother Priscilla Presley and oldest daughter Riley Keough over her estate. The dispute was eventually settled, with Keough being declared the sole executor of the will, and Presley was reportedly paid a lump sum.
5. Britney Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears
The feud between Britney Spears and her younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears rapidly escalated in the public eye following Britney’s emancipation from her 13-year conservatorship. The sisters traded public barbs on Twitter and Instagram, with Britney eventually issuing a cease and desist letter to Jamie Lynn.
6. Jamie Spears and Britney Spears
The feud between Britney Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, was one of the most publicized family dramas of recent times. Britney successfully won a legal battle to have her father removed as her conservator in September 2021, after he had held the position since 2008.
7. Meghan Markle and Thomas Markle
The feud between Meghan Markle and her father, Thomas Markle, unfolded in the public eye in the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Thomas Markle’s decision to stage paparazzi photos and give multiple interviews to the press led to his estrangement from his daughter.
8. Leighton Meester and Constance Meester
Leighton Meester’s relationship with her mother Constance culminated in a 2012 lawsuit. Leighton claimed that her mother had been misusing funds sent for her sick brother on personal expenses. Constance’s counter-suit was dropped and the judge ruled that Leighton was not responsible for any further support to her mother.
9. Jay-Z and Solange Knowles
An infamous incident involving Solange Knowles physically attacking Jay-Z in an elevator after the 2014 Met Gala highlighted the tensions within the family. The public perceived Jay-Z’s supposed infidelity as the trigger for Solange’s outburst.
10. Kyle Richards, Kathy Hilton and Kim Richards
The Richards sisters, featured in “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” have experienced several bouts of public feuding. Their disagreements often revolve around inheritance issues and Kim’s addiction struggles.
11. Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight
Angelina Jolie’s relationship with her father Jon Voight has been tumultuous due to his infidelity towards her mother. Despite several attempts at reconciliation, rumors suggest that the father-daughter relationship remains strained.
12. Eric Roberts and Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts had a supportive relationship with her brother Eric Roberts, until his personal behavior led to a fallout. The siblings have since reconciled, but Eric’s habit of taking credit for Julia and Emma Roberts’ acting careers has continued to cause friction.
13. Madonna and Christopher Ciccone
Madonna’s relationship with her brother Christopher Ciccone soured following the publication of his 2008 memoir, which painted a negative picture of the pop star. The feud lasted for over a decade but was eventually resolved in 2019.
14. Prince William and Prince Harry
The relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry has been strained since Harry began dating Meghan Markle. Their disagreements have been brought to light in Harry’s memoir, in which he alleges that William physically assaulted him during an argument.
15. The Jackson Family
The Jackson family faced a major feud following the death of Michael Jackson. His siblings contested his will, which left his estate to his mother and children but excluded his siblings. The dispute led to several legal battles and public altercations.
16. Kourtney and Kim Kardashian
The Kardashian sisters, Kourtney and Kim, had a public feud when Kourtney decided to step back from their reality TV show, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” This led to several heated on-screen arguments and physical fights between the two.
17. Candy and Tori Spelling
The feud between Candy and Tori Spelling began after the death of Tori’s father Aaron Spelling. His will, combined with the publication of their respective reality show and memoir, further strained their relationship.
18. Melania and Ivanka Trump
The relationship between Melania Trump and her step-daughter Ivanka has been marked by competition. Former advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff detailed their feud in her book, “Melania and Me,” claiming that Ivanka tried to take over Melania’s domain in the White House.
These instances demonstrate that celebrity life is not all glamour and happiness. Family feuds can be as common in the celebrity world as they are in the lives of regular people, with the key difference being that these feuds often play out in the public eye.
