Macaulay Culkin Was Never Really on Drugs but the World Wanted Him to Be

Macaulay Culkin was one of the most well-known child celebrities in the early 1990s. The Home Alone star experienced an overnight rise to stardom after appearing in a string of box office hits. 

But as he grew older, Culkin decided to leave the spotlight behind and lead a normal life. He suddenly disappeared from the entertainment business in the mid-2000s.

And in his absence, netizens had plenty of things about him to discuss, including drug addiction and death rumors. The rumor of him using drugs only intensified when he made his comeback in 2009.

Was Macaulay Culkin on Drugs?

It all started in late 2004 when a mugshot of the actor hit the news after having his ride searched by authorities in Oklahoma. Culkin, a 24-year-old at the time, was arrested for allegedly possessing marijuana and a narcotic without a prescription.

Fast forward eight years, another picture of Culkin looking freakishly skinny holding an energy drink went viral. It sparked accusations he was high on drugs.

Later that year, the actor discussed his battle with drug adiiction rumors and how the media hunted him while talking to The Guardian. It was his first interview in a decade. 

Culkin claimed he wasn't hammering six grand of drugs every month. "The thing that bugged me was tabloids wrapping it all in this weird guise of concern," he noted.

According to the article, during that time, Culkin slept in, stayed up late, enjoyed crude humor, and hung out with buddies that were poor influences. 

Macaulay Culkin in September 2020. (Photo: Macaulay Culkin/Instagram) 

"It's allowed me to become the person I am, and I like me, so I wouldn't change a thing," the New York native said. "Not having to do anything for my dinner, financially, lets me treat every gig like it's the last."

In a separate 2020 interview with Esquire, the actor discussed using drugs, saying, "I do love them. They're like old friends. But sometimes you outgrow your friends."

Macaulay Culkin on Parents' Divorce

Macaulay was just 14 when his parents, Kit, and Patricia, split up in 1995 after two decades of marriage. His father was also his manager at the time.

His parents disputed who would be in charge of rearing their seven kids after their divorce and overseeing Culkin's burgeoning profession. 

A year later, it was reported the My Girl actor made the momentous decision to officially become an adult and remove his parents as his legal guardians. It was also alleged that he wanted to preserve control of his $13 million fortune and prevent his parents from dictating his future.

However, in a 2020 interaction with Esquire, he set the records straight, claiming the news was completely 'misconstrued.' He revealed he and his siblings did not want to go with their father.

"It's always misconstrued that I, 'emancipated' myself from my parents. I legally took my parents' names off of my trust fund and found an executor, someone who would look over my finances, just in case anyone wanted to stick their f***ing pinkie in the pie," he stated.

He further explained that it was later reported that he had separated from his parents. Culkin believed he was acting honorably by omitting the names of my father and mother to ensure his judgment's objectivity. 

Apparently, his parents started withholding 15% of the star's salary while he was making about £6 million per movie.