Tatum O'Neal's Brutal Response To Late Father Ryan O'Neal's Decision To Cut Her Out Of His Will

Late Ryan O'Neal's daughter, Tatum O'Neal, had a scathing response after being asked about being left out of her father's will.

The pair's tumultuous relationship, detailed in her 2004 memoir "A Paper Life," included allegations of his drug use and violent temper.

Despite the estrangement, Tatum O'Neal noted the inheritance would have aided her medical expenses following a 2020 stroke.

After discovering she was left out of her father's will and would receive nothing from his $30 million estate, Tatum, in an interview with Variety, shared her unfiltered reaction to the news, responding bluntly: "Keep it, motherf-cker."

The father-daughter duo had a notoriously difficult relationship. In her 2004 memoir, "A Paper Life," Tatum detailed her unconventional upbringing, describing her father's drug use in front of her, his revolving door of women, and his violent temper.

Though she acknowledged the estrangement, she admitted the inheritance would have been helpful, particularly for her ongoing medical expenses following a 2020 overdose-induced stroke and to recover the $1 million stolen by an accountant.

In the interview, Tatum speculated that her 2004 memoir, "A Paper Life," which exposed her father's violent behavior and the abuse she endured within his circle, was the reason for her exclusion.

"The first book that I wrote was just a f-cking honest book. And that's what got him," Tatum reflected.

Tatum recalled that during one of their final meetings before his passing in December 2023 at age 82, Ryan, aware of her struggles with addiction, still offered her drugs.

"I know he was drinking, smoking a lot of pot, and he was like, 'Here, take a pill.' I was like, 'No, thank you,'" she said.

However, Tatum's son, Kevin McEnroe, claimed that his mother had consumed alcohol that day.

Reflecting on their family's history, he remarked, "Every single time she's seen her dad my entire life, something happens."

Kevin also described Ryan's wealth as "blood money," adding that "the best revenge is your own success."

He also shared that his mother was finally "letting go of how much space he took up in her life," adding that Tatum was "defined as the person who was abused by Ryan."

Tatum and her father's rift, which lasted 25 years, began after they starred together in "Paper Moon" (1973), where they played the lead roles of Moze and Addie.

At just eight years old during filming, Tatum delivered a performance that would earn her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 10, making her the youngest person ever to win an Oscar in a competitive category.

The "Little Darlings" star has previously spoken about her father's resentment toward her after she won an Academy Award.

"He loved me, but then hated me because I won the Academy Award," she revealed. While Ryan did send her a congratulatory note, her mother reportedly never acknowledged the achievement.

Reflecting on the aftermath of her historic win, she admitted, "Weird sh-t happened. It kind of went in the wrong direction to happiness."

In 2011, Tatum and her father, Ryan, made an effort to repair their strained relationship through the reality series "Ryan & Tatum: The O'Neals."

However, despite their attempts at reconciliation, their bond remained complicated over the years.

A few months before Ryan's passing, Tatum reunited with him to celebrate his 82nd birthday on April 20, 2023.

The following day, she posted a touching photo of them smiling together at his Los Angeles home, captioning it, "Happy birthday, Dad. I love you."

Regardless of their troubled past, Tatum always held love for her father. "I love my dad," she said, per the Daily Mail. "I mean, I've had a hard life with my dad — but I still love him."

Like her father, Tatum struggled with addiction, and in May 2020, she experienced a near-fatal overdose of prescription drugs, which resulted in a massive stroke affecting her right frontal cortex.

She had taken a combination of painkillers, opiates, and morphine before a friend found her unconscious in her apartment and rushed her to the hospital.

Tatum eventually lost custody of her three children, Kevin, Emily, and Sean, to her ex-husband, John McEnroe, due to her heroin use.

Now, she continues her journey to recovery, working to regain her ability to read and recently undergoing neck surgery.