Some stars started working young and, in order to circumvent child labor laws, they chose to emancipate themselves from their parents. Other stars, however, chose to emancipate themselves for different reasons that have to do with their earnings or even their ability to live a healthy life. We have a list of 8 stars who emancipated themselves. Check it out!
8. Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin emancipated himself from his parents when he was 14 years old. At the time, Culkin’s parents were involved in a bitter and costly divorce; they were fighting for custody and for control over Culkin’s earnings. Culkin ended up taking both of his parents to court and he was finally able to gain control of his earnings and cut his father out of his life entirely.
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7. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore successfully petitioned the juvenile court for an emancipation decree when she was 15 years old, which gave her the same legal rights as an 18 year old. Barrymore also moved away from her mother and into her own apartment in L.A. Barrymore was looking to turn her life around and wanted to escape all negative influences to prove that she had really changed. It definitely worked in the long run!
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6. Edward Furlong
Edward Furlong became legally emancipated at the age of 16 from his aunt and uncle. When he was 15, Furlong became romantically involved with his 29 year old tutor, which ruined his relationship with his family. Needless to say, the relationship with Furlong’s tutor didn’t work out, but at least he had his freedom!
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5. Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan legally emancipated herself from her mother when she was 15 years old. McGowan spent the first five years of life in the cult Children of God, moving from commune to commune across Europe with her parents, as her father ran an Italian chapter of the cult. After emancipating herself from her mom, McGowan moved to Seattle and lived with her aunt.
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4. Aaron Carter
When he was 15 years old, Aaron Carter filed for legal emancipation from his mother, claiming that she stole over $100,000 from him. Carter resolved his issues with his mother and the filing was eventually withdrawn. Unfortunately Carter’s issues with money didn’t stop there as he filed for bankruptcy in 2013.
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3. Jena Malone
When she was only 14 years old, Jena Malone sued her mother for emancipation. According to Malone, her mother had mismanaged her earnings, drained her college savings and failed to pay taxes. The Catching Fire star won in court and began living on her own. Jena’s mother was forbidden from interfering with her career and earnings and Malone continued to work as an actress.
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2. Bijou Phillips
Bijou Phillips was granted emancipation from her father John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas when she was only 14 years old. Phillips began living in New York City in an apartment in Manhattan that came with a housekeeper and a chauffeur. Soon after, she began frequenting clubs and making Page Six news regularly.
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1. Michelle Williams
With her parent’s approval, Michelle Williams emancipated herself at the age of 15. Williams’ decision to emancipate herself was strategic – she wanted to pursue an acting career without having to worry about child labor laws. Shortly after she was legally emancipated, Williams got her big break on Dawson’s Creek.