Tatum O'Neal's Scathing Reaction to Father Ryan's Will: 'Keep It'

Tatum O’Neal didn’t hold back when she found out she was cut out of her late father Ryan O'Neal's will. The actress, known for her turbulent relationship with her father, who passed away at 82 from congestive heart failure in 2023, learned of the disinheritance after his death. Her reaction? A blunt, "Keep it, motherf-----." Tell us how you really feel, Tatum!

Ryan O'Neal shared Tatum and her brother Griffin with his late ex-wife Joanna Moore. He also had son Patrick with ex-wife Leigh Taylor-Young, and son Redmond with Farrah Fawcett. The family dynamics were, shall we say, complex.

Tatum and Griffin lived with their mother until 1970, when Moore lost custody due to her struggles with alcohol and drug abuse. They then moved in with Ryan. Tatum's career took off when she starred opposite her father in 1973's "Paper Moon," becoming the youngest Oscar winner in history at age 10.

However, according to Tatum, things soured quickly after "Paper Moon." She claimed Ryan was jealous of her success. In her memoir, "A Paper Life," she detailed allegations of physical and emotional abuse, and claimed Ryan had drug issues. She also revealed she was molested by a drug dealer within Ryan's circle. That's rough stuff.

Tatum believes "A Paper Life" led to her exclusion from Ryan's will. "The first book that I wrote was just a f---ing honest book," she said. "And that’s what got him." Ryan denied the allegations in 2004, citing Tatum's own struggles with addiction. He hoped the book was her therapy and wished for her sobriety so her future perceptions wouldn't be clouded by the past.

Tatum recalled how her relationship with Ryan deteriorated after "Paper Moon." While Ryan received praise for his role, Tatum's performance garnered even more attention. She alleged Ryan hit her after her Oscar nomination. He didn't attend the ceremony, and later admitted her win caused tension within the family. "Everybody hated everybody because of that Academy Award," Ryan said in a 2009 interview.

After her Oscar win, Tatum was asked to audition for "Taxi Driver," but Ryan allegedly blocked her. She believes his envy played a role in preventing her from auditioning, a role that earned Jodie Foster an Oscar nomination. "And I never really recovered from that," Tatum said.

Despite starring in successful movies like "The Bad News Bears," Tatum's career slowed down in her teens. She explained that Ryan's criticism eroded her confidence. "He was controlling, and telling me, ‘No, you’re not good,’" she said. "And so then I started to get not good, feeling scared all the time."

Tatum struggled with addiction, starting with alcohol at age 6 at her mother's house. She alleged Ryan introduced her and her brother to drugs. Her fame and lifestyle led to tabloid attention and fewer acting opportunities. In 1984, she began a troubled romance with John McEnroe, also battling addiction. They married in 1986, divorced in 1994, and share three children.

After her divorce, Tatum attempted a comeback but became seriously addicted to heroin. She acted occasionally, taking minor roles in movies and TV shows. Tatum and Ryan were estranged for almost 20 years until reconciling in 2009 after Fawcett's death. In 2011, they starred in "Ryan and Tatum: The O’Neals," a reality series about their attempts to repair their relationship.

In May 2020, Tatum almost died from a stroke after overdosing on medication. She was in a coma for six weeks and suffered from aphasia. During her interview, she admitted she wasn't sure she wanted to survive, even for her children. "I love them so much, but I’d already given so much," she said. "Part of me just didn’t want to make it, you know?"

Tatum now wants to leave her self-destructive habits behind. "Now I don’t want to hurt myself," she said. "Now I don’t want to f---ing take drugs again — I really don’t." Despite recovery strides, she has memory issues and chronic pain. She underwent back surgery and is relearning to read.

She relapsed on election night when Trump was winning. "I was with my gay friends, and was like, ‘I’m going to have a glass of wine — maybe two,’" she recalled. "And then I was like, ‘OK, damn: I have one day of sobriety.’"

Tatum saw Ryan three times before his death. During a visit to his Malibu home, which was later destroyed in a fire, he offered her drugs, which she declined. Her son Kevin revealed she drank that day, noting, "Every single time she’s seen her dad my entire life, something happens."

Despite financial struggles, Tatum said she feels a new sense of freedom since Ryan's death. Kevin believes she's "letting go of how much space he took up in her life," noting "she was defined as the person who was abused by Ryan." He's developing a documentary about his mother to help with her medical expenses. McEnroe added that opportunities are changing for her as she sees the good in people. "Just Tatum is enough," Kevin told her.

When asked if she felt she was "almost there," Tatum responded, "Yes!" "Even better than almost enough," she added. It sounds like Tatum is finally finding her own path, and that's something to root for.