Oscar Award-winning Actor Matthew McConaughey once went eight years without speaking to his mom because he felt she betrayed him. Find out what happened between the mother-son pair.
Matthew McConaughey is one of the world’s most famous actors, thanks to his roles in some of the biggest movies to have ever graced cinemas and television screens.
The actor first gained prominence after starring in “Dazed and Confused.” After that, his career has been on the rise. He has featured in top-rated movies like “The Wedding Planner,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and “Interstellar.”
Thanks to his excellent portrayal of different characters in movies, he has been at the receiving end of widespread praise and numerous accolades, including the Oscar Award for Best Actor.
Before reaching the famous heights, he has attained today, McConaughey underwent a rocky childhood and once went eight years without talking to his mother. Find out more.
MCCONAUGHEY’S THOUGHTS ON PARENTS’ ABUSE
During a chat with Today in November 2020, McConaughey reflected on his upbringing. The star actor, who grew up in Texas, recalled that his parents’ behavior toward him may be considered abuse though he begged to differ.
When asked if his parents’ behavior was wrong, the actor, who shared some of his difficult childhood stories in his memoir “Greenlights,” said:
“I was scared at the moment, but even then and immediately after that, I didn’t ever question the love that Mom and Dad had or the love that they gave us.”
He also explained that he told his sometimes bloody, ugly, and violent childhood stories because “those were times where the love that we had — that was never in question — was most challenged, but never had a chance of being beat.”
When asked if he saw his parents as abusive, McConaughey said it was not fair for someone else to say such if a sane person conscious of what happened says that was not the case. He explained:
“I’m not in denial of it. My mom and dad are not in denial of it. So I don’t know that it’s really fair for someone to tell someone else, ‘Oh, you’ve been victimized, and you were abused.’”
WHY MCCONAUGHEY DID NOT SPEAK WITH HIS MOM
There was a period when McConaughey and his mom Kay were not on talking terms. The actor opened up about this during an emotional appearance alongside his mom on “Red Table Talk” in November 2020.
McConaughey and his mom explained that their rift started when she became infatuated with his newfound fame in the mid-1990s.
After McConaughey got famous following his starring performance in “A Time to Kill,” he began his weekly Sunday call home to call his mom.
However, Kay was not answering the phone. Instead, it was a fan of his fame who was doing so. The actor felt betrayed by his mom when she leaked his personal information to the media.
He explained that he was trying to find his balance with fame and would tell her things. However, some of the things he told her would be in the news three days later.
McConaughey was fed up with his mom’s behavior after she invited a camera crew for the tabloid news program “Hard Copy” into their family home. He revealed:
“I call her up, and, of course, she’s watching it too, so she picks up the phone, and I hear the same damn show in the background!”
He added that Kay told him she did not think he would find out about what she did. McConaughey further said he and his mom could not communicate because of his fame. He revealed there were years he went without sharing things with her because he was trying to find his balance.
McConaughey told his mom that loose lips sink ships, and many people were seeking information about things that did not concern them. He revealed:
“I was not able to talk to her as my mom for about eight years.”
Kay also reflected on her relationship with her son at the time and admitted she was enjoying his fame more than he was.
Gradually, Kay and McConaughey repaired their relationship as she learned how to respect his boundaries. Also, he learned how to handle his life in the spotlight.
McConaughey explained that after eight years of not speaking with his mom, his boat was well-built, and he did not feel she could sink it.
Hence, he took the reins off and told her to hit the red carpet, talk to the press, and tell them the stories she wanted. He admitted she has been great at doing so ever since.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Kay quarantined with McConaughey and his family in Texas. During an appearance on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” McConaughey opened up about the experience.
He said the benefit of his mom living with his family was that she got to see her grandkids daily instead of twice a month.
He also told Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield Norris on “Red Table Talk” that his mom’s stay in his house had been lovely.
McConaughey is married to model and actress Camila Alves. He met her on a night out with his friend Lance Armstrong in the spring of 2006.
The “Dallas Buyers Club” actor was making margaritas at a club in Hollywood when he spotted Alves from across the road. McConaughey was not looking for love on the night he met Alves but found himself looking too hard.
Thus, he told himself to step back, relax, and Alves would come if she were meant to. She showed up and moved right in front of McConaughey, dazzling him as she did.
McConaughey failed in his attempts to wave Alves over and motivated himself before going to meet her. He invited her and her friend over to his table to have some of the drinks he made.
There was another test for the actor as Alves started speaking Portuguese. However, he rose to the occasion and conversed with her in a way that he still feels proud of.
Alves and McConaughey had a great connection. However, she did not know who he was at their first meeting. The lovebirds went on their first date three nights after meeting, and he wanted to meet her again afterward.
McConaughey believes Alves came to his life at the right time and admitted he has been wanting to go on a date with her since then.
On June 9, 2012, the couple tied the knot but were already parents before getting married. They welcomed their first child and son Levi on July 7, 2008. They welcomed a daughter Vida two years later, on January 3, 2010.
McConaughey and Alves’s second son, Livingston, was born on December 28, 2012, making them parents to three children.
In his memoir, “Greenlights,” McConaughey revealed that it was his first son, Levi, who prompted him to think about marrying Alves.
Levi asked him why his mom was not a McConaughey. The actor told his young son he did not want to marry Alves because he did not feel the need to.
McConaughey further explained that he needed to feel the need to marry Alves before doing so. However, Levi asked him if he was afraid of marriage.
McConaughey realized he was afraid and sought guidance from his pastor and family members on succeeding in marriage.
Since tying the knot in 2012, McConaughey and Alves have remained a sweet couple. When asked the secret of their happy marriage, the “Greenlights” author said it involved not making straight lines crooked.
He advised couples to trash out issues immediately before they become bigger and make the good times last when things are going well.