Drew Barrymore Slammed the Tabloids for Claiming She Wished Her Mom Was Dead: ‘How Dare You'

• Drew Barrymore once candidly commented on her strained relationship with her mom.
• However, the tabloids twisted her words, and she called them out online.
• Drew and her mother, Jaid Barrymore, are estranged because of what occurred during her childhood.

Drew Barrymore once took to social media because the tabloids twisted her words, and she called them out for taking her comments about her estranged mother out of context.

In a June 2023 interview, the award-winning film actress spoke frankly about her fragile relationship with her mother, actress Jaid Barrymore, who was previously married to her father, John Barrymore.

Drew made mention of other stars who, too, have had complex relationships with their mothers, including Brooke Shields and Jeannett McCurdy. She said:

"All their moms are gone, and my mom's not. And I'm like, Well, I don't have that luxury. But I cannot wait."

However, the talk show host later admitted that she felt regretful that she said that about her mom and did not "feel good" saying it. Drew added despite their mother-daughter relationship, she still cared about her parent.

She even revealed after the interview that she sent her a message for her birthday and that Jaid told her she "loved her and was "proud of her." Drew expressed that hearing that was significant for her.

Still, after her comments about figuring their relationship out, other media outlets reported that she wished her mother dead. The tabloids reported that she wished death upon her mother. One outlet wrote that she admitted that she "cannot wait" for her mom to die. Meanwhile, another publication said she wishes her mother was "gone."

That was when "The Drew Barrymore Show" host took to Instagram and posted a clip of herself explaining what she actually meant and defending herself:

"I have never said that I wished my mother was dead. How dare you put those words in my mouth. I have been vulnerable and tried to figure out my very difficult, painful relationship while admitting it is difficult to do while a parent is alive."

In the clip, she clarified that by saying she could not wait, she meant being eager to figure out how to salvage her broken relationship with her mom.

"Don’t twist my words around or ever say that I wished my mother was dead. I have never said that. I never would."

Inside Drew’s Troubled Relationship with Her Mother

In an October 2015 interview, the author divulged that at age 13, she was at her "lowest" moment, adding she was a rebel who always ran away from home and was very angry.

Asked what she was angry about, Drew shared she had no idea. She had absent parents as her mom, Jaid, had her institutionalized. The "Charlie's Angeles" star revealed that one day, her mom called a friend, and they took her to an institution for mentally ill people, where she spent a year and a half.

"My life was not normal," said Drew. She asked Jaid why she had her admitted, and she told her why. The "Never Been Kissed" star stated she understood why her mom did it but that afterward, she was emancipated from her.

The said mental institution suggested Drew be legally separated from her mother, and she was declared an adult at age 14. In September 2021, the Hollywood star reflected on her past life while touring places she loves in Los Angeles.

She revealed that her mom never sat down with her as a child and had dinner. Her young self would sit at the table while her mom would be at the counter. As a 14-year-old, Drew lived on her own and had an apartment.

The world-famous movie star admitted she was "scared" while living alone at her first apartment as a child but that she was not afraid anymore.

Drew also shared that she did not know how to clean and would let the dishes and laundry pile up. However, going to the laundromat helped her take care of herself.

The Golden Globe Award winner went to the institution where she was placed as a child and broke down in tears, saying she believed she would be there forever. Drew acknowledged that she would not have the life she has now if it were not for a place like that.