Oscar-winning actress Tatum O’Neal has spoken publicly about her struggles with addiction and how she relapsed after President Donald Trump’s re-election. The 61-year-old, who has been open about her past struggles with prescription drugs, alcohol, heroin, and cocaine, revealed that she had a near-fatal overdose in 2020 and a debilitating stroke.
O’Neal’s journey toward sobriety has not been easy, with years of rehabilitation to relearn how to speak and read. Despite attending recovery meetings online, she admitted that sobriety remains a challenge, particularly with the current state of affairs in America.
In an interview with Variety, O’Neal shared that on election night, which fell on her birthday, November 5, she relapsed after realizing Trump had won the White House. She recalled: “I was with my gay friends, and I said, ‘I’m going to have a glass of wine – maybe two.’ And then I thought, ‘Okay, damn, I have one day of sobriety.'”
O’Neal has struggled with addiction for most of her life, trying to get sober every day. She spoke about her strained relationship with her father, Ryan O’Neal, who died in 2023, describing him as controlling and critical.
The actress, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at age 10, previously recalled how her father’s behavior changed after she won the award. “He loved me, but then hated me,” she said.
O’Neal visited her father in his final days, just before his home burned down in the California wildfires. She remembered him offering her pills and turning her down when he asked for a favor.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/tatum-o-neal-trump-relapse-alcohol-drugs-b2705550.html