Why Christina Crawford Didn't Challenge Her Mother's Will: The Untold Story
Christina Crawford, the daughter of actress Joan Crawford, has recently come under scrutiny for her allegations of child abuse against her deceased mother.
As I delved into the media and online discussions surrounding this controversial topic, I discovered a myriad of conflicting opinions and unanswered questions about what truly transpired between Joan and Christina Crawford.
One crucial aspect that needs to be considered in Joan Crawford's defense is the fact that Christina chose to wait until her mother's passing before publishing her book, which later inspired the movie “Mommie Dearest.”
This delay raises concerns about Christina's credibility, as it allows her to write whatever she pleases without legal repercussions.
Additionally, given that these events occurred many years ago, with most witnesses no longer alive, there will always be elements of uncertainty.
However, a significant revelation came to light when I stumbled upon an article from Redbook magazine dating back to 1960.
At the time, Christina was only 21 years old, and her mother, Joan Crawford, was alive and well, fully aware of the content published in the article.
It is worth noting that in 1960, very few people held negative views of Joan Crawford.
This was long before anyone could have fathomed Christina's future publication of a book and subsequent movie portraying her mother as an abusive figure.
Furthermore, the author of the article must have exercised extreme caution to avoid misquoting or writing anything that could have gotten them into trouble with Joan Crawford.
This article, titled “The Revolt of Joan Crawford's Daughter,” remains accessible online.
Within the pages of the 1960 article, one particular detail caught my attention and solidified my stance.
Joan Crawford was quoted as stating that Christina had been expelled from Chadwick Academy during her teenage years, leading to her subsequent enrollment in Flintridge Convent.
According to Crawford, the convent was the only school willing to accept Christina after her expulsion.
However, Christina vehemently denies ever being expelled from Chadwick.
This discrepancy between their accounts is not a mere difference of opinion; it is an outright contradiction.
Either Christina was expelled, or she was not.
Consequently, one of them must be lying.
Remarkably, there is no record of Christina's alleged expulsion from Chadwick Academy, the very institution she claims her mother forced her out of.
If this expulsion had indeed occurred, one would expect some form of evidence.
Moreover, the article reveals that Christina excelled academically and actively participated in school activities such as plays, student council, the swim team, and even cheerleading for the football team.
Furthermore, Christina and her brother Christopher lived with the school directors, Commander and Mrs. Chadwick, until Joan Crawford abruptly put an end to it.
Surprisingly, Joan Crawford does not refute these claims in the 1960 article, leading me to believe they hold some truth.
Common sense dictates that if there were no issues with Christina attending Chadwick, except for her mother's objections, then it is highly unlikely she was expelled.
This, in turn, reinforces my belief that Joan Crawford resorted to falsehoods when speaking about her daughter to the press.
Additionally, nuns from Flintridge Convent have provided quotes countering Joan Crawford's allegations.
They state that Christina did not display any problematic behavior and that her presence at the convent was solely due to her mother's claims of issues at her previous school.
One nun even praised Christina, describing her as a principled and intelligent young lady.
Joan Crawford refutes Christina's claims of having problems with the Chadwicks, instead stating that Christina disobeyed their rules.
However, it raises suspicion that Crawford not only removed Christina from the school but also her brother Christopher and her two other daughters.
Clearly, there were underlying issues between Joan Crawford and the Chadwicks.
In response to a request for comment, Mrs. Chadwick, one of the school directors, replied with a telegram expressing reluctance to provide information regarding Christina's separation from the school due to her past experience with Christina's mother.
While it is conceivable that Mrs. Chadwick genuinely believed Christina was at fault, her brief response raises questions.
Furthermore, the article unveils a clandestine visit made by Christina to the Chadwicks during her time at the convent.
This visit occurred against her mother's wishes.
It seems strange that Joan Crawford would object to her daughter forming a relationship with responsible adults who ran a boarding school, particularly when these individuals were unlikely to permit any illegal or improper activities.
One might wonder why the Chadwicks, if they had expelled Christina, later invited her for a visit, seemingly contradicting their previous actions.
Regrettably, we may never know the truth behind Christina's claims of her mother terrorizing her and her younger brother in the dead of night, or the alleged insults hurled at her 6-year-old self for losing a swimming race, or even the disturbing account of being forced to consume raw meat.
It is possible that Christina misunderstood her mother's intent when restraining her young brother to prevent him from sleepwalking, as another article suggests.
Equally intriguing is the allegation that Christina held the threat of going public with false accusations against her mother once she had passed away, resulting in the writing of “Mommie Dearest.”
While this claim could hold some truth, it is important to note that Joan Crawford ultimately excluded both Christina and Christopher from her will.
Their disinheritance suggests that either Christina did not desire the inheritance or was willing to risk losing it to expose the truth.
Alternatively, Christina may have been unaware of her disinheritance until after her mother's passing, leaving her unable to leverage it against her.
As we examine this perplexing situation, we must acknowledge that the truth remains elusive.
Both sides present compelling narratives, yet contradictions and unanswered questions persist.
Christina's allegations against her mother raise eyebrows, while Joan Crawford's statements appear inconsistent.
Ultimately, it falls upon each individual to form their own opinion based on the available information and personal judgment.
