There's no such thing as the perfect family, and everyone out there certainly has their own drama going on, but that drama tends to be a little different when you're famous. After all, celebrity drama plays out in the spotlight, and when lawyers and the courts get involved, it's game over: Everyone is suddenly privy to all kinds of very private business, including times when celebrities have had to get into a legal battle with their parents.
Usually, this isn't the kind of thing that happens in a family that was healthy before fame was a factor (though we will admit that sudden large amounts of money becoming involved can make things get toxic fast). But between disputes over cash, their careers, or even their relationships, many stars — from Beyoncé to Macaulay Culkin — have had to get a lawyer to help them solve the dispute.
It wasn't always a happy ending, but it's easy to see why taking legal action was justified in most of these situations. Read on for the ugliest legal battles celebrities have waged with their parents.
Kobe Bryant
Long before his untimely death in January 2020, Kobe Bryant sued his parents for selling memorabilia of his that he had given to them as a gift. They were able to reach a settlement in 2013 that allowed his parents to sell just six of the items via an auction company for a likely profit of more than $500,000. This was just 10% of the memorabilia that Joe and Pamela Bryant had intended to sell.
"We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia," his parents said in a statement at the time, via ESPN. "We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years."
Drew Barrymore
Her mom took her clubbing as a kid, and, as she wrote in her autobiography, Little Girl Lost, Drew Barrymore smoked, drank, and snorted cocaine before she even hit her teens. It's no wonder she successfully sued for emancipation from her hard-partying parents when the former child actress decided to change her life at age 15.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé was forced to take legal action against her father, Mathew Knowles, shortly after firing him in 2011. Her legal team conducted an audit that showed that he had "had stolen money from Beyoncé on her most recent tour or otherwise taken funds that [he] was not entitled to."
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin was one of the most adored and successful child actors ever, making $17 million from the Home Alone movies. His divorced parents battled each other for custody — and control of his money. Macaulay sued to remove both, and a judge appointed an accountant to manage the money until he turned 18.
Leighton Meester
Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester sued her mom in 2011 for misspending a monthly $7,500 stipend meant to cover her brother's medical expenses, claiming it was instead spent on cosmetic procedures among other personal expenses. The kicker: Leighton said her mom threatened to sue for $3 million if the actress didn't raise the stipend. The judge handed Leighton a victory.
Mike Sorrentino
Mike Sorrentino, otherwise known as The Situation from Jersey Shore, sued his father, Frank Sorrentino. The lawsuit sought $75,000 in damages in 2011 for using his name and likeness to make money via a series of videos on his website in which he made disparaging claims about his son. The two later mended fences, and Mike dropped the lawsuit.
Mischa Barton
Former O.C. star Mischa Barton sued her mom in 2015, accusing her of stealing money to buy a $7.8 million house. The lawsuit also alleged that her mom started a fashion boutique and handbag line using Mischa's name. The actress' lawyer called her mother a "greedy stage mom … who positioned herself to siphon her daughter's hard-earned money."
The following year, Mischa asked to dismiss the lawsuit against her mom.
LeAnn Rimes
Country star LeAnn Rimes was just a teenager when she launched her singing career, and during that time, her father and manager stole $7 million of her earnings, as she alleged in a 1998 lawsuit. LeAnn and her mom, who was divorced, settled out of court for an unspecified amount.
Aaron Carter
In 2003, Aaron Carter sued his mother, claiming she stole $100,000 and some memorabilia and kept his father from attending his concerts. At the time, Aaron was asking for emancipation at just 16 years old, but they ended up coming to an understanding outside of court.
Jena Malone
Hunger Games star Jena Malone had been living on her own, off and on, for years, and at age 14 she sued to make it official, seeking legal emancipation from her mother. She also sued her mom for misspending $1 million of her earnings, though it seems they may have repaired their relationshp since then.
Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman was an '80s child star who grew up to find out that his parents had spent most of the money he earned as a child. So at 15, he successfully sued to be emancipated from his parents and to gain control of his own money. The sick twist, according to Corey: His father wouldn't sign emancipation papers until the actor paid him off — with the last $40,000 he had left.
Dominique Moceanu
At 14, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the gold-medal-winning US women's gymnastics team in the 1996 Atlanta Games. Endorsements and money followed, but Dominique saw none of it. Her father managed her earnings, much of which he sank into a gym, though he had no management experience. At 17, Dominique successfully sued for emancipation and learned that most of the $1 million she'd earned was gone.
Rihanna
In 2019, Rihanna sued her father, Ronald Fenty, claiming that his business, Fenty Entertainment, was something she was not involved with and he was using that misinformation to make more money than he would have otherwise. In September 2021, Rihanna ended up dropping the lawsuit.
Ariel Winter
After a three-year court battle that began in 2012, Modern Family star Ariel Winter was finally granted legal emancipation from her mother. A judge removed the TV star from her home following allegations of physical and mental abuse at the hands of her mother.
Chris Warren
It seems a common refrain: Child actor turns 18 and finds out some, if not all, of the earnings made as a minor are gone. That's what happened to Chris Warren. The High School Musical actor sued his parents (mom is Brook Kerr of Passions) for tapping into a trust fund they'd set up for him without his knowledge. A judge ordered the couple to pay back $337,000 in 2013.
Billy Unger
Billy Unger, star of the Disney Channel series Lab Rats, sued his father for breach of contract, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, among other charges. Billy alleged that his father, who was his talent and business manager, used his money to pay for a girlfriend's rent and for a life insurance policy on Billy, with himself listed as the sole beneficiary. He also took a 33% cut of Billy's earnings.
Gary Coleman
Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman sued his parents and then-business manager for misspending an $18 million fortune. After much legal wrangling, a court awarded Gary just $1.3 million, which quickly evaporated, forcing him to file for bankruptcy in 1999. Gary died in 2010 at the age of 42.
