Macaulay Culkin has devastated fans with a heartbreaking confession.
The beloved Home Alone star has opened up about his troubled childhood in ways that have left fans both heartbroken and inspired by his resilience.
Macaulay Culkin, now 44, recently appeared in Colin Hanks’ new documentary John Candy: I Like Me, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film honors the late comedy legend John Candy, who passed away in 1994 at just 43 years old after suffering a heart attack.
But what emerged from Culkin’s interview has shocked fans and shed new light on his difficult childhood.
The documentary features touching memories from numerous celebrities who worked with Candy, including Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, and Andrea Martin.
However, it was Culkin’s revelations that captured the most attention and touched the hearts of viewers worldwide.
Social media has been flooded with messages of love and admiration for how he has overcome his traumatic past: “That’s so sad.”
“McCauley Culkin deserves everything good in life,” another wrote.
Another penned: “He’s definitely a comeback kid! Happy to see another celebrity escaping the negative curse of being a child star and making the best out of life.”
“Just awful for the Culkin boys. So happy to see they’ve come through it,” agreed another.
A fan added: “I am SO FREAKING PROUD of Mac and Kieran! They have found themselves despite the odds and traumas. They are healthy, thriving, fathers who have turned into great men! Congratulations boys you made it anyways!”
“I am so glad that Macaulay and Kieran are both thriving as adults. They deserve all of the success and happiness that they have worked so hard for their entire lives,” someone else concluded.
In 1989, a young Macaulay Culkin starred alongside John Candy in the John Hughes film Uncle Buck.
At the time, Culkin was just beginning his rise to stardom, and what hat fans didn’t know was the toxic environment the child actor was navigating behind the scenes, and how one caring adult stepped in to offer protection.
Culkin recalled that Candy had an almost paternal instinct toward him during filming, displaying the kind of care and respect that was sadly lacking elsewhere in his young life.
The late comedian showed genuine concern for Culkin’s wellbeing, often checking in with subtle questions about how things were going at home.
In the documentary, Culkin made a devastating admission about his relationship with his father, Christopher ‘Kit’ Culkin.
The confession that has left fans reeling centers around John Candy being one of the first people to recognize the toxic situation Culkin was facing.
“Listen, even before the wave crested and the Home Alone stuff was happening, it was not hard to see how difficult my father was,” Culkin revealed, per People. “It was no secret. He was already a monster.”
The actor went on to explain how his father’s behavior worsened as fame and money entered the picture: “All of a sudden, the fame and the money came, and he became an infamous monster. He was already not a good guy.”
Perhaps most heartbreakingly, Culkin described how Candy would look out for him with concerned glances and gentle check-ins, asking if everything was alright at home.
“I think John was looking a little side-eyed, like, ‘Is everything alright over there? You doing good? Good day? Everything’s alright? Everything good at home? Alright.’”
The confession that has particularly devastated fans is Culkin’s admission about the rarity of such care in his life: “It doesn’t happen that often.
“It actually happened less as time went on. I wish I got more of that in my life. It’s important that I remember that. I remember John caring when not a lot of people did.”
This isn’t the first time Culkin has spoken about his difficult relationship with his father.
Both he and his brother Kieran Culkin have previously opened up about their allegedly toxic relationship with Kit Culkin.
The family has been estranged for over 30 years, with Culkin describing his father as ‘narcissistic’ and ‘abusive’ in past interviews, per Yahoo.
In a recent podcast appearance, Culkin reflected on his father’s behavior, saying: “One of my earliest memories of him was thinking when I grew up, this is how I’m not gonna be with my kids.” He also noted that his father, who had seven children, now has four grandchildren, and “none of them want anything to do with him.”
The documentary reveals that Candy’s kindness toward Culkin wasn’t an isolated incident.
Colin Hanks, who created the documentary and met Candy as a child when his father Tom Hanks worked with the comedian, recalled similar experiences.
“He just really made you feel unique,” Hanks explained. “He made you feel heard and that’s a special thing for a little kid to feel like you actually matter and your opinion matters.”
Culkin emphasized how rare it was to receive such respect as a child: “When you’re eight years old, you don’t really get respect, whether it’s in a workplace or just from adults and grown-ups in general. You felt invited in [by Candy].”
John Candy: I Like Me is set to debut on Prime Video on October 10, giving audiences a chance to see these touching tributes to the beloved comedian.
