Macaulay Culkin Asks Investigation Discovery to “Take It Easy” on Child Stars

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As a former child star himself, Macaulay Culkin gets it.

The young actor, who gained prominence at just 10 years old by portraying Kevin in the beloved holiday movies “Home Alone” and its sequel “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” wants to share his insights with those creating documentaries about child actors in Hollywood.

Dear ID, Kindly be gentle with the children. We’ve all been through tough times. Nobody likes to be taken advantage of. Avoid adding unnecessary burdens. Sincerely, Macaulay Culkin,” – posted on Instagram Monday, featuring Investigation Discovery‘s logo.

Macaulay Culkin’s recent post appears to be connected to the second episode of the network’s documentary series, “Hollywood Demons: Hollywood Demons – Child Stars Gone Violent,” which aired on Monday night. This installment delves into the startling accounts of celebrities’ lives, showcasing those who ascended to fame but later plummeted from stardom, as well as those who exposed the ominous, disturbing aspects of fame in ways that might shock one’s imagination, according to its summary. In this particular episode, the focus was on child actors from the 1990s, with former child stars Brian Bonsall (known for his role in “Family Ties”) and Dee Jay Daniels (“The Hughleys”) being highlighted, along with producers of shows like “Home Improvement” and “That’s So Raven.

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Investigation Discovery for comment.

One year following ID’s groundbreaking documentary series “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” which earned two Emmy nominations, the episode titled “Child Stars Gone Violent” was aired. This docuseries shed light on the harmful environment behind certain children’s shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s, bringing to attention alleged misconduct on sets like Nickelodeon.

Macaulay Culkin, who co-parents two kids with his partner Brenda Song (also a former child star), retreated from public life in 1994 when he was just 14 years old following a series of successful films such as “Home Alone,” “My Girl,” “The Good Son,” and “Richie Rich.” At about the same time, Culkin’s parents were embroiled in a custody dispute regarding him and his six siblings, including Kieran Culkin, who recently won an Oscar. This disagreement, along with Macaulay’s trust fund, was also part of their parental separation. Since then, he has been distanced from his father.

Macaulay Culkin stated to Esquire in 2020 that he didn’t wish to be associated with his father. He clarified that people often misunderstand his actions as ’emancipating’ himself from his parents. In reality, he simply removed his parents’ names from his trust fund and appointed a financial manager, just to ensure no one tampered with his finances. However, the narrative quickly shifted, implying he had divorced his parents. He felt he was being clean about it by removing his father’s name and mother’s name, aiming for an unbiased perspective. Once he did that, the whole matter seemed to resolve more swiftly.

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2025-04-02 01:54