Tatum O’Neal spoke candidly about the family trauma she says contributed to the birth of her half-brother Redmond O’NealHe has a long history of battling drug addiction, mental illness and crime.
In a new interview, Tatum blamed their late father, Ryan O’Nealfor what she described as years of cruel treatment and instability.
His comments come as Redmond remains hospitalized after being found mentally unfit to stand trial on violent criminal charges linked to a wave of 2018 attacks in Los Angeles.
Tatum O’Neal Opens Up About Redmond O’Neal’s Struggles and His Dad’s ‘Horrible’ Parenting
Tatum is speaking out about the painful family history that she says shaped her half-brother Redmond O’Neal’s troubled life, blaming years of what she described as “horrible and cruel” treatment at the hands of their late father, Hollywood star Ryan O’Neal.
His remarks come after Redmond recently appeared in court in California for an attempted murder case, drawing renewed attention to his heavily tattooed appearance, including devil horns tattooed on his head, and the long-running struggles that kept him in the headlines for years.
Addressing the Daily MailTatum said her half-brother was “doing very poorly” and reflected on what she called a deeply unstable upbringing marked by addiction, emotional turmoil and repeated trauma.
“It was a terrible start with my dad, Ryan, not being a very good person, and with Redmond, he was mean and hurt him over and over again,” she said. New York Post. “It was horrible and cruel.”
Tatum, who herself publicly struggled with addiction, added that Redmond “never even started a real life,” describing her struggles as a cycle that never really stopped.
Redmond O’Neal’s years of addiction, arrests and family turmoil
Redmond’s history of drug addiction and legal problems goes back several years.
He has been the subject of several arrests, including a 2018 incident in which he allegedly carried out a series of violent attacks across Los Angeles during what authorities described as a stabbing rampage.
Prosecutors later charged him with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and battery.
Tatum has also spoken candidly about his own health struggles. The former child star said she spent time undergoing treatment at a memory care center in California’s San Fernando Valley after suffering a stroke linked to a prescription drug overdose in 2020.
The family’s struggles were echoed by Griffin O’Neal, Ryan’s eldest son, who said he was amazed that he and Tatum survived years of addiction and dysfunction. Griffin also faced long-standing substance abuse and legal issues throughout his life.
David Leit, who became Redmond’s godfather in a 12-step recovery program when he was 16, painted a similarly bleak picture of the family dynamic.
He described Ryan as a “rabid narcissist” and said Redmond carried deep anger and addictive tendencies from a young age. While Leit remembered times when Redmond could be funny and compassionate, he also said he struggled with intense emotional instability.
Redmond O’Neal’s struggles with addiction and mental health played out publicly for years
The family’s problems were often revealed to the public. In 2008, authorities allegedly discovered methamphetamine in Ryan’s home during a Redmond-related parole search, leading to the arrest of the father and son.
Ryan later accepted a plea deal with reduced charges and entered a treatment program. A year later, the movie star spoke openly about Redmond’s addiction in an interview with Vanity fair, revealing that her son had entered rehab 13 times.
He harshly criticized Redmond’s inability to control his addictions, calling his son “stupid” and an “idiot.”
The same year, Redmond’s mother, Farrah Fawcett, died of cancer. Redmond, who was in custody at the time, allegedly visited his mother while being held and later attended her funeral under heavy guard. When Ryan died in 2023, Redmond, Tatum and Griffin did not attend the funeral.
Redmond’s criminal case remains pending after repeated delays related to his mental health. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and antisocial personality disorder, and was found mentally unfit to stand trial in 2019. Since then, he has remained in psychiatric custody at Patton State Hospital.
In a statement to People MagazineRedmond curator Mela Murphy, who was also one of Fawcett’s closest friends, shared a more optimistic update on her condition.
Murphy said Redmond had been drug-free for five years while receiving treatment at Patton State Hospital, describing him as a “model patient” who worked hard to rebuild his life after years of struggling with addiction and mental health.
According to Murphy, Redmond’s progress only began after he finally received “a mental health diagnosis and appropriate medication.”
She believes many of her past substance abuse issues were linked to years of untreated mental illness and a lack of support earlier in life.
Redmond Conservative O’Neal Reveals His Mother Farrah Fawcett’s Last Words About Her Son
In his conversation with the publication, Murphy noted that Redmond now actively participates in a 12-step recovery program, spending time reading, helping other patients and embracing spirituality as part of his recovery journey.
She further shared that he stays in touch with several longtime supporters and friends who continue to encourage his progress.
Murphy, who was by Fawcett’s side when she died in 2009, also recalled the actress’ final moments, revealing that Farrah’s last words were about her son.
“She said her name, ‘Redmond,'” Murphy said of the late movie goddess.