40+ Famous People Who Used “Controversial” Parenting Methods


0
40+ Famous People Who Used “Controversial” Parenting Methods


There is a wide range of methods when it comes to raising children. Some individuals prefer reading numerous parenting books while others turn to their family and friends for guidance. However, the celebrated individuals mentioned in this list each follow unconventional parenting methods. Some enforce strict discipline while others do not believe in disciplinary methods. Additionally, some follow modern-day nutritional plans while others still abide by traditional parenting practices. Together, we will explore the peculiar techniques, patterns, and regulations that these celebrity parents incorporate into their lives.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard

Our initial contentious approach to parenting, which involves confining the child in their room during bedtime, has caught the attention of many parents. Some view it as cruel or excessive, while others, such as actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, find it completely justifiable.


The couple has confessed to confining their daughter Delta to her room, letting her exhaust herself. Kristen acknowledges that this approach is polarizing, but emphasizes that they stay outside of the room, reassuring Delta of their affection and explaining that it’s time to sleep.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are not typical parents, as they are known for being quite unconventional in their parenting approach. Their children, Willow and Jaden, have been granted a lot of freedom, such as allowing Willow to shave off all of her hair at the age of 11.


The Smith family employs the parenting technique of creating a “circle of safety”. This implies that their children are free to disclose any matter without facing repercussions. According to Will, their approach is to grant their offspring maximum authority over their lives from an early age.

Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder

Coming up next are Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder, another couple of actors. Typically, when a family has a new baby, they receive guests and take photos with their loved ones. However, this didn’t happen in the Reed-Somerhalder household.


Instead, the two individuals made the choice to switch off their phones and refrain from having any visitors for a whole month. Nikki explained the reasoning behind this decision and remarked that they wanted to cherish their first 30 days together without any interruptions such as being asked for updates or taking frequent pictures.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher

The Kunis-Kutcher children, daughter Wyatt and son Dimitri, do not view Christmas as a time for receiving gifts like most children. Their famous parents, Ashton and Mila, believed that their kids were being overly indulged and requested their well-wishers to make a donation to a charitable cause in their names.


However, this family has more than one parenting method that has caused controversy. Mila and Ashton shared during a podcast that they choose to only bathe their children when they visibly see dirt on them, which is quite intriguing.

Keira Knightley and James Righton

A lot of young girls typically watch Disney movies during their childhood, but Keira Knightley made a distinct choice not to expose her daughters, Delilah and Edie, to traditional gender stereotypes portrayed in films such as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, or The Little Mermaid.


Nonetheless, prohibiting something from children often leads to an increased desire for it. After watching the movies that were previously banned, the daughters expressed anger towards the prince for kissing the princess without her consent. Bravo to them!

Alanis Morissette and Mario “Souleye” Treadway

The list comprises several famous people who strongly endorse breastfeeding, and we completely comprehend why. Although, it can become a bit contentious if you continue to nurse your child beyond a few years.


Alanis Morissette, a rock singer from Canada and America, has allowed her kids to take the decision of when they want to stop breastfeeding. She believes that every child has their individual pace and preference, and some kids naturally stop after two years, while some might take a little longer. She has decided to stop only when her child indicates that they are prepared to stop.

Kelly Preston and John Travolta

Scientology is a subject surrounded by various debates and disagreements. For instance, the concept of silent birth is particularly contentious. Essentially, mothers are required to deliver their babies without making any noise.


According to John Travolta’s deceased spouse, Kelly Preston, “silent birth” involves minimizing the use of words as much as possible. If it is necessary to let out a moan or cry, it’s acceptable, but the goal is to bring the child into the world in a calm and gentle manner.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Expectedly, actress Gwyneth Paltrow was anticipated to be part of this list, isn’t she? She is renowned for her brand Goop that promotes wellness, as well as her disputable viewpoints about health and nutrition. When her children were young, she limited their TV time to watching programs in either Spanish or French.


According to Gwyneth, she visits Boulevard Beaumarchais and purchases all of their cartoons while in France. This suggests that her children, Apple and Moses, might also possess language abilities similar to their mother since she is proficient in English, Spanish, and French.

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem

Penelope Cruz, a renowned Spanish actress, is among the supporters of RIE or Resources for Infant Educarers, a parenting approach that emphasizes showing respect for a child’s experiences. By avoiding helicopter parenting, parents who practice RIE avoid using baby talk or providing sippy cups, among other things.


Penelope Cruz and her spouse Javier Bardem are parents to two kids, Leo (a son) and Luna (a daughter). Their children are being raised with a parenting approach known as RIE that does not include the use of bouncers, high chairs, baby walkers, or pacifiers.

Candace Cameron Bure and Valeri Bure

Numerous countries have prohibited the act of physically hitting your child as a disciplinary measure, such as Brazil, Iceland, Kenya, New Zealand, and Venezuela. In the United Kingdom, spanking is considered permissible if it is deemed as “reasonable punishment.” Nonetheless, parents who leave visible marks while spanking their children can be charged with assaulting their child.


Notwithstanding, spanking is permissible in all states in the US, allowing many prominent parents to continue the practice. Candace Cameron Bure, who is an American actress and talk show panelist, has expressed her trust in spanking as a way of disciplining children.

Kourtney Kardashian

Those who are familiar with the Kardashian-Jenner family are aware that Kourtney, the eldest sibling, places significant emphasis on wellness. Because of this, she has implemented a stringent diet for her kids as they don’t consume gluten, sugar, or dairy. Additionally, Kourtney has eliminated microwaving from her home.


Kourtney has recently revealed that her son Mason had requested for McDonald’s French fries, to which she replied apologetically, “Not today.” The reality star has also shared that her child perceives those who offer him unhealthy food as “naughty.”

Madonna

According to reports, the Pop queen has confessed to being a strict parent, and has shared a controversial parenting tactic. She revealed that when her daughter Lourdes left her dirty clothes on the floor, she would confiscate them and make her earn them back. The star further stated that her daughter had to wear the same outfit to school every day until she learned her lesson.


Furthermore, Madonna’s children are required to adhere to a rigorous macrobiotic eating regimen that includes solely drinking Kabbalah water, which has been consecrated by leaders of Kabbalah.

Jenny McCarthy

Actress Jenny McCarthy has been vocal about vaccines for several years. She has a son with autism and strongly suspects that his vaccinations during childhood may have contributed to it. However, there is no evidence to support this belief.


It is crucial to acknowledge that individuals with autism are remarkable and don’t need to change. Jenny McCarthy’s disputed view on immunizations has faced significant disapproval, with people labeling her as unsafe, careless, and ignorant.

Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Kroy Biermann

Those who follow the Real Housewives franchise are aware that Kim Zolciak-Biermann is not a typical mother. She and her husband, former NFL player Kroy, have received negative feedback for permitting their five-year-old daughter, Kaia, to wear makeup.


While many parents let their kids experiment with makeup at home, Kim shared videos of Kaia applying lipstick on social media. Kim’s eldest daughter Brielle added fuel to the fire by revealing “we buy her makeup.”

Ice-T and Coco Austin

TV personality Coco Austin and rapper Ice-T got married in 2002 and share daughter Chanel, who was born in 2015. The celebrity couple has received backlash for babying their daughter for longer than usual. For example, Chanel breastfed until she was five years old.


On top of that, the couple’s daughter was still getting pushed around in a stroller when she was six years old. Generally, this stops at around three or four. The couple wasn’t bothered by online criticism, saying they would continue to do their own thing.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Now separated couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have a similar parenting method to Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. The couple didn’t believe in keeping secrets from their kids.


Brad shared, “We have a policy in our family, no secrets […] I mean, there’s an age of understanding, so you’ve got to present it in a way that is age-appropriate, but we know our children very well […] We want everything to be on the table and any questions they have, for them to ask.”

Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott

Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott raise their kids in a very different way than Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher do. While Mila and Ashton give their kids no Christmas gifts, Kylie and Travis shower their children with expensive items.


Little Stormi Webster, who’s still a toddler, has diamond jewelry and designer clothes. Interestingly, when Stormi was first born, Kylie wore surgical masks when interacting with her. She also had a strict guest list and sign-in sheet for visiting family and friends.

Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar

Clearly, the Duggar family is extremely controversial in general. The former reality stars have faced serious criticism about their handling of eldest son Josh, who’s currently in prison. Asides from that, the parents of 19 follow very controversial parenting practices.


Michelle Duggar has shared that she used “blanket training” on her children. This involves setting young kids on a blanket with a toy just out of reach, and punishing them if they left the blanket to get the toy.

Farrah Abraham

Another reality star that has faced criticism over her controversial parenting methods is Farrah Abraham. The Teen Mom cast member waxed and plucked her three-year-old daughter’s eyebrows because she decided she had a unibrow.


She also called her child “stupid” when she was too ill to attend her birthday party. Controversially, Farrah’s daughter Sophia used a pacifier when she was five years old. Generally, it’s recommended that kids stop using a pacifier between two and four years old.

Jessica Alba and Cash Warren

Parents have lots of different opinions and methods when it comes to disciplining their children. Actress Jessica Alba uses time-outs when her kids are acting out. Controversially, the star makes her young children stand in the corner with their noses against the wall.


The actress has shared, “My two-year-old can last 15 seconds before she’s like, ‘Okay, I’m done!’ and then I’m like, ‘Wait, it’s not up to you!’ My five-year-old can go for some time, like a minute or two.”

Julia Fox

Italian-American actress and model Julia Fox is a mom to son Valentino, who was born in 2021. The star seems to believe in a similar parenting style to Penelope Cruz, where you don’t baby your child.


She has said, “It’s not really teaching your kid anything, you just end up raising a kid that’s like helpless and doesn’t know what to do.” Julia Fox recently shared the mini mop and broom she bought her son. She wants him to know how to do things for himself.

Kathy and Rick Hilton

Several celebrities have been sent to “therapeutic boarding schools.” This usually happens when teenagers are “out of control” and their parents don’t know what to do. Paris Jackson, Drew Barrymore, and Paris Hilton were all sent to these types of facilities.


Paris Hilton has been outspoken about her experience at Provo Canyon School in Utah. She was sent there at 17 and stayed for 11 months. The star has revealed that “children were restrained, hit [and] thrown into walls.” Plus, her communication was monitored and censored.

Pink and Carey Hart

We’ve seen one celebrity spanker so far, and here we have some more. Singer Pink has said that physical discipline helped her through her rebellious years. While she hasn’t admitted to hitting her kids, she seems very open to the idea.


However, the mom of two is also a fan of attachment parenting, which seems to be contradictory to this. To add even more controversy, Pink shared in 2014 that her daughter Willow regularly swears. She described the then three-year-old as an “adorable little sailor.”

Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott

We haven’t mentioned it so far, but many celebrity parents are fans of bed-sharing or co-sleeping. While this isn’t very popular in the West, it’s completely standard in other cultures. Kourtney Kardashian is a fan of sleeping with her kids, as is American actress and reality star Tori Spelling.


Tori has revealed that she sleeps with four of her kids, and a couple of dogs. Apparently, this bed-sharing started when husband Dean McDermott was away filming for six months.

Lisa Whelchel

Now, this one is really controversial. American actress and singer Lisa Whelchel turns to hot sauce when it comes to disciplining her children. That’s right — hot sauce. When Lisa’s kids act out, she puts hot sauce on her finger and then puts that finger in their mouths.


She explained, “It does sting and the memory stays with them so that the next time they may actually have some self-control and stop before they lie or bite or something like that.”

Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler

We’ve had Jenny McCarthy, and up next is another anti-vax pair of celebrity parents. TV personality Kristin Cavallari is also concerned about childhood vaccinations causing autism. Again, we reiterate — this is not a thing. In fact, the only thing vaccinations cause is immunity to illnesses.


And really, that’s pretty invaluable. Now separated, Kristen Cavallari and Jay Cutler have three children together. None of them are vaccinated. Kristen has said, “I understand both sides of it […] it’s our personal choice.”

Christina Aguilera

Singer, actress, and TV personality Christina Aguilera has a rather unusual parenting habit. The star has two children — son Max with ex-husband Jordan Bratman, and daughter Summer with fiancé Matthew Rutler. Back in 2010. Xtina shared that she has “naked Sundays” where she walks around nude.


The star believes that her kids should be exposed to nudity and not see it as shameful. She added that there are many nude paintings in her home, which reinforce this parenting choice.

Jamie Oliver

TV chef Jamie Oliver has shared that he once rubbed his daughter’s apple slices in hot chili because she was rude to him. He said, “Poppy was quite disrespectful and rude to me and she pushed her luck. In my day, I would have got a bit of a telling-off but you are not allowed to do that.”


He continued, “She asked for an apple. I cut it up into several pieces and rubbed it with scotch bonnet and it worked a treat.”

Kelly Clarkson

We can’t seem to get away from spanking. Singer and TV personality Kelly Clarkson is another celebrity advocate of the controversial practice. She has said, “My parents spanked me, and I did fine in life, and I feel fine about it, and I do that as well.”


The star did acknowledge that spanking is “a tricky thing, when you’re out in public because then people are like, they think that’s wrong or something.” Generally, the argument against spanking is that it teaches children violence.

Nia Long

We’re now moving from one extreme to the other. On one end of the spectrum, there are the celebrities who hit their children. On the other end are the celebs who sleep in the same beds as their kids. For example, actress Nia Long slept with her child for almost a decade.


Back when her son Massai was nine years old, Nia shared, “My son still sleeps in bed with me and I love it.” Co-sleepers argue that the practice lowers stress levels for parents and children.

Alicia Silverstone

Similarly, actress Alicia Silverstone shares a bed with her 11-year-old son. Over the years, the star has shared various controversial parenting methods. For example, in 2012 Alicia posted a video of her son Bear eating her pre-chewed food out of her mouth.


While many of us associate this with baby birds, the actress maintained that it was a type of weaning. She said, “While I’m still breastfeeding, it’s just a way to introduce him to food when he doesn’t have teeth.”

Ellen Pompeo

Veganism is an increasingly popular choice among celebrities. However, it can be controversial to raise your kids to be vegan. Some argue that a totally vegan diet can be dangerous for small children who need more protein, calcium, and vitamins in order to grow.


Because of this, it’s rather controversial that actress Ellen Pompeo raises her kids as vegan. She said she returned from a doctor’s appointment and said “That’s it, we’re all vegan.” Apparently, her kids found it “fun.”

Michael Jackson

There’s no denying that Michael Jackson is a controversial person. As a parent, he made all sorts of unusual choices. Most famously, the Jackson children always had to conceal their faces in public. Considering their father’s fame, this makes sense.


However, Paris, Prince, and Blanket also had a very sheltered life. The trio were homeschooled and didn’t have any friends their own age. They practiced bed-sharing, had rationed amounts of toys, and MJ didn’t ever raise his voice with them.

Nick Cannon

TV host Nick Cannon has nine kids with six women. As of 2022, he’s expecting another two. So, what type of father is he? Well, when speaking about his twins with Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon revealed that he’s the disciplinarian.


He said, “I’ve got the loudest voice in the house, so they’ve always responded to that ever since they were newborns. They hear my voice and they freeze.” In 2013, Nick tweeted, “Spare the rod, spoil the child! […] The time-out generation has no real discipline!”

Leah Remini and Angelo Pagán

Once more we’re swinging to the other end of the controversial parenting spectrum. While Nick Cannon seems like a very strict parent, actress Leah Remini is the opposite. The star shocked the public when she revealed that her three-year-old daughter Sofia was drinking “six or more bottles a night.”


Sofia was also co-sleeping, which many assumed was a choice by Remini. In fact, Leah admitted that her daughter just ruled the house and that she was a bit of a pushover as a mom.

Shaquille O’Neal

Unfortunately, some parents treat their sons and their daughters differently. In 2022, this has to be controversial! Former basketball player and sports analyst Shaquille O’Neal has admitted that he has different rules for his kids. The former athlete is a dad of six, with three sons and three daughters.


The star told Ellen DeGeneres, “Well, my sons can date when they’re 18. And my daughters can date when they’re 24.” As well as that, each child must complete two degrees to be part of his will.

Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker

There are different recommendations when it comes to potty training. Many kids show signs of being ready between 18 and 24 months. Others start when they’re around three years old. However, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s children start potty training between four and eight months old!


Singer and reality star Kandi uses a baby toilet seat. She has said, “It helps to get them used to the concept early. I don’t expect [them] to be fully potty trained early but it does help.”

Clint Eastwood

It’s perhaps not that surprising that director and actor Clint Eastwood used physical punishment with his kids. However, it’s certainly controversial for people that don’t agree with spanking. Clint’s son Scott Eastwood has said that his dad had a “very old-school” style of discipline.


In fact, Scott shared that Clint once threw him against a wall when he left his younger sister at a party. He said, “If you did something wrong, you were going to get punished. I learnt quickly.”

Kate Gosselin

Likewise, TV personality Kate Gosselin uses physical punishment with her kids. In a leaked journal entry, Kate wrote about an incident with her son Collins. It said, “I have never felt that I may seriously injure a child but today was that day.” The then two-year-old Collins had just spilled a bag of beans.


Kate has defended her use of spanking, saying, “I am a mother first. I love my children and when they misbehave, I discipline them as I deem appropriate for the situation.”

Mayim Bialik

Actress and game show host Mayim Bialik has made clear that she does believe in vaccinating her children. However, she doesn’t believe in giving her children medications or antibiotics when they’re sick. This includes remedies like cough syrup, antihistamines, and mild painkillers.


The mom of two has said, “I’ve learned from talking to other moms that almost everything you have right now in your home and your heart is enough to deal with most everything. I’m not arguing to be negligent.”

Kris Jenner

Where do we begin with Kris Jenner? Well, it’s pretty controversial to let your two young children be on reality television. Kendall and Kylie Jenner were just 12 and 10 years old when TV cameras first came into their home. Then, Kris seemed to approve of the relationship between a then-underage Kylie and rapper Tyga, who was in his 20s.


Plus, Khloé Kardashian has shared that when she was nine years old, she overheard her mom tell a friend that she “needed a nose job.” Yikes.

Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady

Here we have another celebrity family with an extremely restrictive diet. Brazilian model and American NFL player Tom Brady got married in 2009. The couple and their children all follow a rather specific mainly plant-based diet.


In fact, lots of it comes from their home garden. The Bündchen-Brady bunch doesn’t eat white sugar, white flour, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, eggplants, or strawberries. On Halloween, the kids are allowed to eat one single piece of candy.

Cardi B and Offset

We know that Stormi Webster has her own designer wardrobe. Well, so does little Kulture Kiari Cephus. In fact, Kulture, born in 2018, owns several baby Birkin purses. Rapper Cardi B has explained that her daughter saw a rainbow purse in Claire’s so they replicated the design on a Birkin bag.


That involved over one hundred hours of work and over 30,000 crystals. Cardi B defended this controversial decision by saying that “if I’m fly and daddy’s fly, then so is the kid.”

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

While Kimye has now split up, they still made some controversial parenting decisions during their time together. And, they’re still hashing out some details. For example, rapper and designer Kanye West has decided that eldest daughter North isn’t allowed to wear makeup or crop tops.


When North was first born in 2013, Kanye didn’t want her to wear any pink as he didn’t like the color. All of the Kardashian-West children wore neutral colors in their infancy. Of course, most of them were designed by Kanye himself.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.

Here we have actor-producers Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Despite being worth a lot of money, these celebrity parents don’t want their two kids to be wasteful.


Sarah Michelle has said, “My daughter was doing this thing lately where she was asking me for a cup of milk and not drinking it. So I told her that every time she’d ask me for a cup of milk and not drink it, I would take a quarter out of her piggy bank.”

Having famous parents isn’t as easy as it might seem. Despite being born into wealth and privilege, that doesn’t mean that these kids are perfect. Just like everyone else, they’ve run into trouble along the way. These are 40 celebrities with children that got into all sorts of trouble at one point or another.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus made his name as a talented country musician and his daughter was born into the spotlight. At a young age, she became a Disney star, which led to her having her own music career.


Yet, being considered a children’s role model can take its toll. Many parents were disappointed when there was evidence that she was going through a rough patch. She was accused of cyberbullying some of her Disney co-stars, dancing inappropriately at the Teen Choice Awards, and talking about illicit substances.

Michael Jackson and Paris Jackson

For better or worse, everybody knows the name of pop legend Michael Jackson. He has multiple children but his daughter, Paris, has stayed in the news the most.


After the passing of her father, Paris publicly suffered a severe bout of depression. The good news is that she’s since said she’s making a successful recovery. However, in October of 2019, she did run into some trouble with the law for driving 30 miles per hour over the speed limit in L.A.

Tom Hanks and Chet Hanks

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are well-known as one of the sweetest couples in Hollywood. Yet, that doesn’t mean that their son, Chet Hanks, has lived free of controversy.


The trouble comes from two main sources. One source is an ongoing struggle with addiction that has resulted in multiple stays in rehab. He’s also run into problems socially, such as accusations of cultural appropriation. He’s even faced backlash for using a racial slur that he’s since apologized for using.

David Hasselhoff and Hayley Hasselhoff

With accolades such as a Guinness World Record for being “The Most Watched Man on TV,” we’re hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t at least heard of David Hasselhoff.


His daughter, Hayley, has found herself in hot water as well throughout her career as an actress and model. Her biggest scandal came when she was found asleep behind the wheel of her car on an offramp in California. When she was found by the California Road Patrol, she failed a sobriety test, resulting in a brief stint in jail.

Kathy, Richard, and Conrad Hilton

The Hiltons possess one of the most well-known names in the world. The family heads Kathy and Richard Hilton have run into their fair share of problems, partially thanks to their son, Conrad.


He was arrested in May 2017 on a variety of charges. This included the theft of Rick Saloman’s sports car. Earlier, in 2015, he also faced criminal charges for an attempt to break into his ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth Daily’s, house.

Nicholas Cage and Weston Cage

Nicholas Cage is a talented actor in the Hollywood scene. His son, Weston Cage, has also made headlines over the years, mostly for the wrong reasons.


For one, most of his legal issues revolved around domestic violence and driving under the influence. In one incident, he ended up in a police chase that put him at risk for a year in jail. He and his wife, Nikki Williams, also faced arrest when an argument turned aggressive.

Robert Downey Jr. and Indio Downey

Robert Downey Jr. is notorious for getting in trouble with the law, and it seems his son has followed in his footsteps. In 2014, at age 20, Indio Downey was arrested for possession of illegal substances and paraphernalia. Robert Downey Jr. later released a statement in response.


He said that he and his family would stand behind his son and help him recover from his problems. Robert Downey Jr. has kept his word and has since helped his son Indio defeat his demons, and Indio has reportedly been clean ever since.

Cindy Crawford and Presley Gerber

Cindy Crawford is a world-famous supermodel and she was already a well-known public figure by the time her son, Presley Gerber, was born.


The trouble started in 2018, when Presley was arrested for driving under the influence. As a result, he was sentenced to probation for three years. Later, he was unfairly mocked for his choice to get a tattoo on his face reading “misunderstood.” His parents have since commented that they worry that he acts out due to unhappiness.

Jackie Chan and Jaycee Chan

Jackie Chan made his name as an actor and martial arts expert. He was even named Singapore’s first anti-drug substance ambassador in 2009.


That’s why it was particularly surprising when his son, Jaycee, was charged 2,000 yuan and given six months in jail for substance-related offenses. Jackie has said that he was “ashamed and sad” when asked about his son’s conviction. Jaycee said that he found his sentence “harsh” but was sorry and apologized for letting down his supporters.

Michael Jordan and Marcus Jordan

It’d be difficult to find anyone that doesn’t know Michael Jordan’s name. His son, Marcus Jordan, is an athlete himself and has even found himself in hot water.


His first scandal came when he was caught spending $50,000 underage at a nightclub in Las Vegas – he didn’t earn the money either. He also caused trouble when he played for the University of Central Florida and opted to wear Nike over Adidas, causing the brand to drop the school at a $3 million cost.

Michael Douglas and Cameron Douglas

Michael Douglas’ son, Cameron Douglas, found himself receiving negative press when he was sentenced to seven years of prison time thanks to a possession charge.


In fact, he’s spent plenty of time in the headlines for crimes that he recounted in a memoir in 2019. He described his struggles throughout his life, both his actions and the experiences that led up to them, such as how he felt estranged from his parents when he was young.

Hugh Hefner and Marston Hefner

Hugh Hefner is a controversial figure who was known for his Playboy empire. It couldn’t have been easy to grow up in such a complicated spotlight, and Marston Hefner ran into some issues of his own.


When he was 21, Marston pled guilty in court after he was accused of a domestic-related charge. This resulted in him being ordered to stay away from the woman in question and attend a 52-week program. At 26, he was arrested again after failing a sobriety test after driving under the influence.

Marlon Brando and Christian Brando

Marlon Brando is a famous actor, but his son, Christian Brando, has caused a lot of trouble in his life. This includes charges for everything from spousal abuse to kidnapping and even manslaughter.


Most notoriously, Christian was accused as the responsible party for the passing of his sister’s boyfriend, Dag Drollett. In all, he spent five years in prison. Despite the original dispute with Drollett being around domestic issue allegations, Christian’s ex-wife would sue him for the same thing years later.

Johnny Cash and John Carter Cash

Johnny Cash was a talented musician who has clearly made his mark on music history. Unfortunately, he wasn’t without his lifelong challenges as well.


Namely, he struggled with substance abuse – a challenge that his son, John Carter Cash, has had to face as well. He’s even spoken in recent years about how his father’s problems influenced him and that he struggled with the constant fear as a child that his family would separate. Today, though, he’s happily sober and married.

Ozzy Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne

Heavy metal musician Ozzy Osbourne is no stranger to negative media attention. Throughout his career, he’s faced everything from substance abuse problems to issues with his onstage antics.


Kelly Osbourne has opened up about her own experiences with substance abuse after her first experimentation at age 13. She’s since spent four separate stints in rehab for her issues. However, she’s stated that what helped her finally get sober was her own desire to do so.

Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, and Tallulah

Demi Moore and Bruce Willis’ marriage lasted from 1987 to 2000. They even have a daughter together, named Tallulah, who has found herself dealing with some unexpected struggles.


She’s particularly had to struggle with her mental health, including an eating disorder that almost turned fatal as a teenager. She later had to face struggles with substance abuse, and even became estranged from Demi Moore for a time. Since then, she’s become sober and opened up to share about her challenges in life.

Pele and Edinho

Pele is a familiar name to soccer fans, but his children have found themselves in hot water that surprised many of his fans more than once – especially his son Edinho.


Edinho himself was a soccer player but he was arrested on accusations of money laundering with 51 others during an investigation. Both he and his father have commented on his innocence. Edinho said, “The argument related to my friendship with the other accused. I have never denied that but I have never laundered money.”

Keith Richards and Theodora Richards

Keith Richards is the guitarist of the Rolling Stones and a member of rock n’ roll royalty. He’s discussed his own darkest hours in his memoir and many are remembered in rock legends and headlines.


His daughter, Theodora, first got in trouble with the law when she was caught vandalizing a convent in Manhattan. At the time, she was also discovered to have illicit substances on her. She ended up with several stints in rehab and even spent a month in the hospital.

Joe Montana and Nate Montana

Much like his father, Nate Montana had a hopeful football career. He started at Notre Dame and then played for Pasadena City College, followed by the University of Montana and West Virginia Wesleyan.


In 2010, though, he faced trouble alongside 10 others for underage drinking. Only a year later, in 2011, he was in trouble again for driving under the influence. While he was never charged for this crime, he was forced to undergo an evaluation for chemical dependency.

Farrah Fawcett and Redmond Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett was once one of the largest household names in the United States. Yet, the conflicted household she cultivated for her son, Redmond, eventually took its toll.


Like his parents, Redmond struggled with severe substance abuse that has resulted in 13 stints in rehab. He’s also experienced a few run-ins with the law over conflicts such as possession of illicit substances and robbery. He was also ordered to treatment in a mental health facility prior to standing trial.

Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina Brown

Whitney Houston has become a music legend and showcased her talent to the world up to her sudden death in 2012. Three years later, in 2015, her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, passed away as well.


While the cause of death wasn’t officially determined, she was found to have several substances in her system at the time. Her ex-partner, Nick Gordon, was found partially at fault and charged $36 million in a lawsuit from the Houston family.

Malcolm X and Qubilah Shabazz

Malcolm X is a well-known minister and human rights activist who was alive during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1965, he was tragically assassinated – a sight his daughter, Qubilah, was present for.


While she was five at the time of the assassination, she later championed a campaign to find justice, placing blame on another minister, Louis Farrakhan. She found herself in hot water when she was accused of being a part of a plot against Farrakhan, but she was later exempt from all charges.

Jon Bon Jovi and Stephanie Rose

Jon Bon Jovi made his name in the rock n’ roll genre, and he achieved much of his success during the 1980s. His daughter, Stephanie Rose Bon Jovi, has made headlines herself over the years.


This included a charge of possession in 2012 while she was an undergrad at New York’s Hamilton College. Her companion, Ian S. Grant, called authorities when she fell unconscious over the course of the night. Both parties were arrested but later exempted thanks to The Good Samaritan Law.

Nick Nolte and Brawley Nolte

Both Nick Nolte and his son, Brawley Nolte, are talented actors with a lot of attention on them. However, Brawley got into trouble on October 6, 2009 thanks to a traffic incident.


While driving, he abruptly switched lanes, causing an accident. When the Santa Monica Police arrived on the scene, they conducted a sobriety test which Brawley failed. He was arrested but fined $5,000, although he was released on bail shortly after the incident took place.

Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen

There are few celebrities that have stayed in the headlines for negative reasons as long as Charlie Sheen, son of Martin Sheen and brother of Emilio Estevez.


This has mostly been thanks to substance abuse, domestic issues, and public incidents. In more recent years, he’s received slightly less press with reports of mental and physical health issues. However, he still receives the occasional allegation and has shared various conspiracy theories such as his staunch opposition to vaccines.

Runn Simmons and JoJo Simmons

Run Simmons, one of the founding members of Run-D.M.C, has a son named JoJo, who had his first run-in with the law at 19. He was spotted seemingly buying illicit substances but opted to flee, eventually being caught and arrested.


Later on, this resulted in a slew of charges such as preventing arrest, possession of illegal substances, and even a count of reckless endangerment. Yet, he was released without bail only a day after his arrest thanks to his father’s intervention.

Cybill Shepard and Cyrus Zachariah

When actress Cybill Sheperd’s son was caught in the midst of a crime, many fans were surprised. This was, in large part, thanks to the fact that he was a law major in college at the time.


During a 2010 flight from San Francisco, California to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cyrus was arrested with a charge of in-flight theft. He was caught taking things out of two separate passengers’ luggage. Luckily, the items were later returned to their rightful owners.

Ice-T and Tracy Marrow Jr.

Ice-T’s son, Tracy Marrow Jr., not only made headlines when he ran into trouble with the law, but his famous father was the one to bail him out.


After breaking the speed limit in October 2012, Tracy Marrow Jr. was assigned a $10,000 warrant and was later discovered by police when he was pulled over for playing loud music. He refused to pay the fine, so Ice-T stepped in to settle the charge. In response, Tracy shot out a profanity-laden Tweet complaining about the LAPD.

Eazy-E and Eric Wright Jr.

Rapper Eazy-E’s son, Eric Wright Jr., is another case of a celebrity child who caused a stir when he ran into trouble with the law. He grabbed the attention of the police in 2006 during a traffic stop.


When he was pulled over, though, things quickly escalated from a standard traffic violation to a larger issue. With two of his friends in the car, the police officers found out that there were unlicensed weapons in the vehicle as well, leading to an arrest.

Lionel Richie and Nicole Richie

Lionel Richie initially adopted his daughter, Nicole, when he saw her on-stage playing the tambourine completely unsupervised. While she’s on the straight-and-narrow today, she’s had her struggles.


In 2002, Nicole first made headlines when she got in a fight at a nightclub. A year later, she faced criminal charges for her possession of illicit substances. Finally, in 2006, she was pulled over and failed a sobriety test during a traffic stop, resulting a charge for driving under the influence.

James Brown and Venisha Brown

James Brown went down in history as a music legend and has been labeled the godfather of funk music. However, the substance abuse of his daughter, Venisha, led to quite a few problems.


In one particularly terrible instance in 2012, she stole her boss, Hope Campbell’s, SUV. When Campbell noticed the missing car, she tried to stop Venisha. The event resulted in Venisha dragging her around the parking lot, which led to Campbell’s hospitalization.

Rod Stewart and Sean Stewart

Sean Stewart is the son of singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. While he’s following in his father’s footsteps as a musician, that doesn’t mean that Sean’s record is completely clean.


The latest incident occurred on December 31, 2019, when Sean was involved in an incident in Palm Beach. He tried to enter The Breakers Hotel when he was turned away since it was booked for a private event. He got into a physical altercation with a security guard named Jessie Dixon. It was later found that Sean was the primary aggressor.

Laurence Fishburne and Montana Fishburne

Montana Fishburne might be Morpheus’ daughter, but her life has been anything but pristine. Her trouble started publicly when she participated in the adult film industry, which she has since warned young girls away from.


She also developed a drinking problem that led to multiple run-ins with law enforcement. However, the most notable incident occurred in 2017. While on the roadside after being pulled over for driving under the influence, she was caught in inappropriate behavior with an officer.

Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal

If you’re familiar with Ryan O’Neal beyond his roles on screen and know some of his personal tales, you probably already know that he isn’t very close with his daughter, Tatum O’Neal.


This was actually less due to unsavory actions on Tatum’s part and more due to the revelations she made in her 2004 memoir, A Paper Life. In it, she alleged that her father committed to several counts of domestic incidents over the course of her youth, blaming his substance abuse.

Billy Bob Thornton and Amanda Brumfield

Billy Bob Thornton’s daughter, Amanda Brumfield, isn’t famous in Hollywood, but she has made an infamous name for herself in the true-crime sense.


In October 2009, Amanda was looking after her friend, Heather Murphy’s, daughter who was only a toddler at the time. Tragically, the child fell out of her playpen and it was at least two hours before Amanda called for help. As a result, the child died of her injuries and Amanda was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manslaughter.

Bishop TD Jakes and Jermaine Jakes

T.D. Jakes is better known professionally as Bishop T.D. He runs an evangelical church and his sermons are regularly broadcast. That’s why the story of Jermaine Jakes is so surprising.


The problem started in 2009 when Jermaine was placed under arrest for indecent exposure. Even worse, when detectives went to the scene to investigate, Jermaine was still there and behaved inappropriately towards the police. As a result, he was immediately placed under arrest.

Kris Jenner and Khloe Jenner

There are few families as famous as the Kardashian-Jenner clan, and each of the famous children had their struggles growing up in the spotlight.


Khloe Kardashian had a particularly rough time back in 2008 when she was arrested for driving under the influence. She was sentenced to a month of imprisonment alongside enrollment in a drinking program, but she was bailed out within the hour. Oddest of all, the family chose to broadcast the event on their reality show.

Dina Lohan and Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan has been in the spotlight since she was just a kid, and while she’s built an illustrious career, the lifestyle has also taken its toll.


Lohan has been the center of several controversies, mostly revolving around drinking and the use of illicit substances. Her first legal trouble came in 2007 when she was charged with driving under the influence and detained for possession of an illicit substance. In all, the actress only spent a little over an hour in jail before being bailed out.

Will Smith and Jaden Smith

Will Smith and Jaden Smith are both characters in their own right. We’re glad to say that most of Jaden Smith’s headline-creating behavior has been innocent and completely legal.


He’s been unfairly mocked for a few different things, including his taste in clothing. Tabloids and people online were quick to shame him for wearing women’s clothing. However, one of the most brow-furrowing things about Jaden is his Twitter account that’s written to hold a philosophical edge.

Rosie O’Donnell and Chelsea O’Donnell

Interestingly, Chelsea O’Donnell hasn’t found herself in any legal hot water, but her candid persona has had people scratching their heads and looking at her mother, Rosie O’Donnell in a new light.


In past interviews, she’s accused her mother of regularly and carelessly taking substances throughout her youth. She’s also alleged that when she was 17, Rosie kicked her out of the house. This caused a stir when Rosie rebutted and said Chelsea had gone missing and she’d found her with the help of the police.

Caitlyn Jenner and Brody Jenner

While a lot of the Kardashian-Jenner drama has happened on screen, Caitlyn Jenner’s son, Brody, has popped into the headlines more than once himself.


The disagreements among the family came to a head when Brody married Kaitlynn Carter in a controversial move. Fans were already paying attention since his famous mother Caitlyn didn’t attend. It became even worse when Brody took the time to talk badly about the rest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, who had already gained quite a fanbase.

Wynona Judd and Grace Kelley

Country music fans probably know Wynona Judd’s name when they hear it, but you might not know as much about her daughter, Grace Kelley. She first got in trouble right after she turned 18.


At the time, she was arrested for not only possessing but creating and promoting illicit substances. When the trial went to court, Grace Kelley pled guilty and was sentenced to eight years in prison. However, she was released on parole in 2019 – six years earlier than her original release date.

Ray Sharkey and Cecelia Sharkey

Ray Sharkey made his name on the silver screen, but his daughter is better known for a darker incident. In 2015, the young woman was found responsible for her boyfriend’s mother’s passing.


The story only became more bizarre as further details were released. We later learned that she even fled the scene before trying to justify what happened. Two years later, she was found not mentally stable during the crime. As a result, she was sent to Patton State Hospital in California.

Bill Hudson and Oliver Hudson

Bill Hudson doesn’t have a great relationship with his son, Oliver Hudson. In fact, Oliver has publicly disowned his father, citing that Bill abandoned him and his sister, Kate, when they were young.


In retaliation, Bill chose to fight back rather than apologize to his children. He stated that he was misunderstood and mistreated by them. Further, he squashed any hopes of reunion in the near future as well, publicly stating that he never wanted to see his son again.

Coolio and Grtis Ivey

Famous rapper Coolio and his son, Grtis Ivey have both seen their fair share of trouble. Grtis was sentenced to 10 years in prison on robbery charges.


A year later, his dad was sentenced to the same jail for traffic violation charges. However, Coolio’s charges were much more minor and he didn’t spend a lot of time behind bars before getting back out. Grtis had a longer way to go to make up for his indiscretions.

Ryan O’Neal and Griffin O’Neal

Griffin O’Neal was caught talking negatively about his father, Ryan O’Neal, just after the funeral of his famous mother, Farrah Fawcett. This was in 2009, after Fawcett’s extended battle with cancer.


This wasn’t without reason, though. Griffin and his wife had driven almost 300 miles to attend his mother’s funeral only to be barred entry at the door. As it turned out, Ryan had ordered this. This is what led to the infamous, grief-fueled tirade from Griffin.

Tommy Hilfiger and Richard Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger is a fashion legend at this point, while his son, Richard Hilfiger, is a hip-hop artist. However, the younger Hilfiger has also run into trouble with the law.


In 2015, the musician, better known as Ricky Hill, was arrested after a brawl when he was denied entry into Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau nightclub. He was denied because security didn’t like the way he was dressed and the incident quickly grew out of hand when Ricky became aggressive.

Kathy, Richard, and Paris Hilton

If any of the Hilton children have become a household name, it’s heiress Paris Hilton. While she’s famous for her wealth and persona, she’s also become infamous for various run-ins with the police.


Over the years, she’s racked up several convictions, including driving without a valid license, driving under the influence, probation violation, and possession of illicit substances. In the end, these charges added up to Paris spending 23 days in jail, being sentenced to one year of probation, a fine, and community service.

Harrison Ford and Malcolm Ford

Known for roles such as the infamous Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford has a talented son as well. Malcolm Ford served as the lead vocalist for Dough Rollers, his band, but has found himself in trouble before too.


Malcolm’s parents split up when he was a teenager, an event that proved traumatic for him. He ended up struggling with addiction for a while. He was admitted to a rehab facility after he was caught in a drug bust. Luckily, he’s since turned his life around and put a larger focus on his music career.

NeNe Leakes and Bryson Bryant

NeNe Leakes has plenty of successful credits by name, including television personality, actress, and author. However, her son, Bryson Bryant, has struggled with a variety of problems.


He’s racked up an extensive arrest record including driving under the influence, probation violation, possession of illicit substances, and even a misdemeanor for using a false name. He especially confused people on July 8, 2011, when he was caught stealing a pair of razors from Walmart in Duluth. In general, he’s caused quite a stir!


Like it? Share with your friends!

0
Mute Maven

0 Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Choose A Format
Story
Formatted Text with Embeds and Visuals
List
The Classic Internet Listicles
Countdown
The Classic Internet Countdowns
Open List
Submit your own item and vote up for the best submission
Ranked List
Upvote or downvote to decide the best list item