Comedian Acknowledges Past Shortcomings in an Emotional Response to Daughter’s Claims of a ‘Toxic’ Relationship
In a candid and emotional interview set to air on Thursday, August 15, comedian Rob Schneider, 60, broke his silence following public criticism from his daughter, singer Elle King. Schneider addressed the comments King made about their strained relationship and her accusations of “toxic” parenting during a recent podcast appearance.
Speaking to conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Schneider expressed deep remorse for his past actions, acknowledging that he had fallen short as a father during King’s formative years. “I want to just tell my daughter, Elle, I love you and I wish I was the father in my 20s that you needed and clearly I wasn’t. I hope you can forgive me for my shortcomings,” Schneider said in the teaser clip released on Wednesday. He continued, “I love you completely. I love you entirely. And I just want you to be well and happy with you and your beautiful baby, Lucky. I feel terrible and I just want you to know that I don’t take anything you say personally.”
King, 35, who has made a name for herself with hits like “Ex’s and Oh’s,” opened up about her difficult relationship with Schneider on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast, hosted by Bunnie XO. In the episode released on Monday, King described her upbringing with Schneider as “toxic and very silly,” recalling painful memories, including being sent to a “fat camp” as a child. “I got in trouble one year because I sprained my ankle, and I didn’t lose any weight,” she recounted.
King also touched on the disconnection she felt growing up, often spending summers on movie sets with her father, where she felt “lost in the shuffle.” She shared how any mistakes she made on set would lead to harsh consequences, further straining their relationship. The singer revealed that there were periods where they would go “four or five years” without speaking to each other.
Tensions reportedly flared again when King released her first album, and interviewers began asking her about her famous father. She recalled a heated conversation where Schneider instructed her not to talk about him in the press, a request she found unreasonable given the years of public interest in their relationship.
“Honestly, when I put out my record and people finally started asking about my dad, my dad called me and was like, ‘Don’t f—g talk about me in the press.’ Like, all right. OK, great. But also it’s like, get f—d. I don’t care,” King said. “Hey, listen, people have asked me about your f—g ass for years. And I’m like, you’re talking out your ass, and you’re talking s—t about drag and f—g anti-gay rights.”
King’s frustration with her father extends beyond personal grievances, touching on his public stances, which have sparked controversy over the years. Schneider has faced significant backlash for making anti-trans and anti-vaccine comments, culminating in an incident in June where he was booed off stage at a charity event after making transphobic jokes.
“I disagree with a lot of the things that he says,” King said during the podcast. “You can want someone to change so much… And ultimately, you can’t control anyone else’s actions. You can’t control people’s feelings. All you can control is how you react and what you do with your feelings.”
As Schneider prepares to address these issues more fully in his upcoming interview, it remains to be seen how his public apology will affect his relationship with King moving forward. What is clear is that their story reflects the complexities of family dynamics, where love and conflict often coexist in challenging ways.
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