LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Macaulay Culkin's upbringing diverged significantly from the norm. Not only did he grapple with immense fame, but he also found himself in challenging predicaments, such as being prohibited from utilizing cue cards during his stint on 'SNL' due to his father's insistence.
Kieran Culkin, before achieving recognition on 'Succession', faced his own set of difficulties during his formative years. Despite his current success as an actor, he imbibed valuable lessons from his brother's life that shed light on the toxicity of fame.
One particular incident that left a lasting impression on Kieran was when he witnessed a fan mistreating his brother. It became apparent to him that he couldn't bear witness to such mistreatment, further distancing himself from the Hollywood scene.
‘He was just a kid’
During an insightful conversation with NPR's Teri Gross on Fresh Air, Kieran Culkin gained firsthand knowledge of the detrimental nature of fame, thanks to observing its effects on his own brother. Given that Macaulay experienced these challenges at such a young age, Kieran empathized with him and recognized that this was not a life he actively chose for himself.
"It was pretty nuts. And I think what people sometimes fail to remember, too, is that he was just a kid. He didn't really choose that. It's something that happened to him," Kieran said in the 2021 interview. "And I think when you're a kid, you obviously don't have the tools to handle something like that. So I think it might have been pretty tough”.
‘It's not a very nice thing, fame’
Kieran quickly realized he wanted a different reality after seeing what his brother went through. "For me, I got to sort of experience it secondhand as a child. So to me, I always have known this is not something one would want to pursue," he continued. "It's not a very nice thing, fame. No anonymity, it's terrible. I have friends that are very famous. They can't walk down the street without several people stopping them. Any reasonable person would not, could not, look at fame and go, 'I want that".
Kieran garnered numerous valuable insights from his brother, and he also bore witness to poignant moments that starkly illuminated the toxic toll of fame. Observing the challenges his brother faced and the arduous nature of dealing with fame, Culkin openly admitted to declining several offers during his youth. This sentiment grew even stronger after he witnessed an unpleasant encounter between his brother and a discourteous stranger.
Recalling the incident, Culkin recounts, "Once, a woman snatched his hat off, gazed at him, and remarked, 'Yeah, it's him! You're not that cute.' She then returned the hat and walked away".
‘My brother is at the Golden Globes?!’
Kieran confessed that he wouldn't be able to cope with such situations or the magnitude of fame it entailed. Consequently, from an early stage, he evaded projects and the pursuit of fame. In 2019, Macaulay took to Twitter to express his admiration for his brother, who attended the Golden Globes due to his achievements in 'Succession'.
At the time, Macaulay tweeted, "Oh, s—t! My brother is at the Golden Globes?! That is so cool". "HOLY S—T KIERAN IS NOMINATED??? WHAT IS SUCCESSION?! Man, I should really answer his calls more often. Thanksgiving is going to be really awkward this year."
Naturally, the inverse remains valid. Kieran candidly revealed experiencing envy towards his brother's accomplishments, particularly during a specific incident from their younger years on SNL. "At the age of 9, I had the opportunity to appear in three sketches, two of which posed no issues. At the conclusion of the show, I stood on stage for the farewell segment, and I believe we have a clip of it... So, there was my brother, being hoisted on the shoulders of the cast, and there I stood, unmistakably consumed by jealousy”.
