Hollywood's fractured families

There are times when you want to run away from home. There are times you just want to give up. There are times you never want to look back and regret being born in that house to those parents.
While we count ourselves lucky enough to not have that kind of drama in our lives, we do break away from our loved ones, for better or for worse.
Stars are like us.They love and hate in equal measures. Some don’t get along with their parents or siblings. Sometimes, they mend those bridges, sometimes they burn them. The latest to walk that line is “Gossip Girl” actress Leighton Meester. The 25-year-old star is suing her mother for allegedly spending money that she had been sending to help her brother with medical issues, on herself. The suit claims that Meester’s mother Constance had been using $7,500 that Leighton would send each month to her brother, Alexander, for cosmetic procedures and personal expenses. After Leighton made the news public, Constance filed a countersuit, in which she claims Leighton broke financial promises and assaulted her in December “by throwing her to the ground and repeatedly hitting her with a bottle.”
For most of these stars, reconciliation is a long journey and very few seem to have the patience to walk down that road. We look at a few who did find a way to mend their relationships and those who still hold a grudge...
Oprah vs Vernita
Oprah Winfrey talks about most things except her mother Vernita. Hell, they rarely ever talk in person! The assistant tells Oprah what her mother wants and then the assistant calls Vernita back and tells her what Oprah said. So, while Vernita “has a very good life financially, she can’t reach Oprah,” explains her
biographer. “Oprah will not give her mother her telephone number.”
Eminem vs Debbie Mathers
Wanna know about Eminem’s mom, Debbie Mathers? Just
listen to his songs. Or read his book. On his album Relapse, Em blames his drug use on his mother in “My Mom”, saying it runs in the family. After the 2008 release of the book “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem”, Debbie sued in order to correct some information. A year later, after undergoing heart surgery and falling seriously ill, his mother begged him to reconcile their differences. No word yet from Marshall.
Beyoncé vs Matthew Knowles
Normally, international superstar Beyoncé won’t talk family. Naturally, the rumoured rift between her dad Matthew Knowles and her, has captivated the media. Beyoncé, ended her business relationship with her longtime manager — her father. In a statement released in May, she said the split was amicable. Her father also released his own statement, saying: “Business is business, family is family”. What insiders say is that Matthew may have been accused of money problems by Beyoncé’s core team.
Christian Bale vs Jenny Bale
Christian Bale reportedly flew off the handle shortly before the London premiere of “The Dark Knight” in July 2008, prompting his mother and sister to file a complaint with local police. Bale has been estranged from his mother and sister, Jenny and Sharon, since he sided with his father when his parents divorced. Apparently, he realised they were there to ask him for money. An argument ensued; Christian demanded they leave and allegedly pushed his mother out of the door. Snubbed, his mother went and told the world her “assault” story.
Drew Barrymore vs Jaid Barrymore
Drew Barrymore separated from her family earlier than most, filing for emancipation from her parents at 15. Here’s why: At the height of her career as a child star, Jaid brought Drew to clubs like Studio 54, where she was introduced to drugs and alcohol, a habit that eventually landed her in rehab before her 13th birthday!
Madonna vs Christopher Ciccone
The siblings were inseparable at one point. He used to be Madonna’s personal assistant and creative director. The cracks started showing when Christopher Ciccone released a detailed tell-all book, “Life With My Sister Madonna”, which contained secrets about the guarded pop star. While he partly blamed Madge’s husband at the time, Guy Ritchie for his estranged relationship with his sister, the openly gay Ciccone said in a 2008 interview that his opinion about his sis really changed after she ambushed him with cameras at their mother’s grave for her black-and-white backstage documentary, “Truth or Dare”.