Ryan O’Neal was furious when Tatum published a book about their family, calling her disloyal for airing their dirty laundry in public.
He expressed his anger, stating that she never reached out after Farrah’s show, demanding an explanation from her.
Tatum struggled with acknowledging her father’s perspective while maintaining her own emotional truth.
She acknowledged that her father had a right to be angry about the book, as no parent wants to hear negative things said about them by their child.
However, she stood by what she wrote, admitting to her own battles with drugs and asserting her independence.
Tatum also mentioned the strain on their relationship after Ryan and Farrah moved in together when she was just 16.
Despite this, Tatum believed Farrah was not responsible for the distance between her and her father.
She has since moved on and forgiven him.
Griffin, another of Ryan’s children, has also faced struggles with drugs and legal issues.
He shared that his substance abuse led to Ryan punching him in the face when he was 18, resulting in the loss of two teeth.
Griffin was involved in a fatal speedboat accident in 1986 and faced legal consequences.
Ryan blames Griffin for a 2007 incident where Ryan was arrested on assault and weapons charges after firing a gun during an altercation with Griffin, who swung a fireplace poker at Ryan and injured his pregnant girlfriend.
Ryan claimed to have cut off all contact with Griffin and accused him of selling sensationalized stories about the family to tabloids.
Griffin denied these allegations and stated that Ryan is afraid of him because he knows the truth.
Regarding Ryan’s other son, Patrick, Ryan expressed his dislike for him, despite Patrick’s success in his career.
Ryan admitted to not having any contact with his children except for visiting Redmond in jail.
He claimed that not being in touch with them has made him happier.
Griffin suggested that Ryan’s drug use played a role in the family’s problems, alleging that Ryan gave him cocaine at the age of 11.
Griffin also described Ryan as violent and abusive throughout his upbringing.
Ryan did not deny his own drug use but denied giving Griffin cocaine at such a young age.
He acknowledged trying to help his son but couldn’t change their history.
Ryan and Farrah managed to rebuild their relationship after their initial split, staying in close contact despite living separately.
They found a new way to make their relationship work, with Farrah spending weekends at Ryan’s home while having her own place.
Ryan expressed regret for missing out on their connection and intimacy.
When asked if he regretted having children, Ryan admitted that there are a couple of them he would take back.
This statement suggests his complex feelings towards his children.
Fawcett became a significant support for Ryan when he was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in 2001.
They rekindled their relationship and built a foundation of trust.
However, Fawcett’s cancer was more challenging to treat, and she began documenting her medical journey with her own camera.
She wanted to remember every detail and share it with Ryan and their family.
Eventually, she decided to turn her footage into the documentary “Farrah’s Story,” using her cancer diagnosis to raise awareness and help others.
Fawcett fought hard to protect her privacy during her battle with cancer.
She threatened legal action against U.C.L.A.
Medical Center when her medical information was leaked to tabloids.
This battle led to the exposure of a hospital administrator who was selling patient information to tabloids.
Fawcett took pride in this victory and in the success of “Farrah’s Story.”
Unfortunately, as Fawcett’s health declined, she became less able to handle controversies surrounding the documentary.
A lawsuit was filed by the original producer against Stewart, O’Neal, and NBC for taking control of the project.
Fawcett was no longer strong enough to deal with the conflict, and her health continued to deteriorate.
Two weeks before her death, Fawcett had a conversation with Ryan about her uncertain future.
She expressed her desire to stop taking Gleevec, the medication controlling Ryan’s leukemia, indicating her acceptance of her fate.
