15 Times Celebrities Were Called Out Over Their “Awful Parenting”

Kate Gosselin was labeled an exploitative parent after her son, Collin, accused her of severe “physically aggressive, verbally, very a**sive” behavior during his childhood. 

The Jon and Kate Plus Eight star, known for raising eight children on reality TV, was accused of zip-tying Collin’s arms and locking him in the basement for hours, or even entire days.

In 2024, during an interview with the U.S. Sun, he revealed that he was treated differently from his siblings, often isolated from family meals and playtime.

“And when my mother would put me in that room multiple times, she had zip-tied my hands and feet together and bolted the door, turned the lights off, and had cameras there just watching me.”

At 11, Collin was even sent to a mental health facility despite claiming he had no behavioral or psychiatric issues.

Fans harshly criticized Kate’s parenting methods, arguing that she “crossed the line of physical a**se.”

One social media user wrote, “Parents who subject their children to acting in these shows… aren’t parenting, they’re exploiting!”

To make matters worse, Kate’s personal diaries were published, confirming what Collin had claimed.

“I have never felt that I may seriously injure a child, but today was that day!" read one of her entries. 

Elon Musk faced intense criticism after his estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, accused him of treating her gender as a “monetary transaction.”

The 20-year-old, born to Musk and ex-wife Justine Wilson, claimed her father paid for her assigned s*x at birth to be male. 

“My assigned s*x at birth was a commodity that was bought and paid for.”

Shortly after these accusations, Elon said in an interview in July 2025 that he had “lost” his son. 

“The reason it’s called d**dnaming is because your son is d**d … ki**ed by the woke mind virus.”

Supporters of Vivian slammed the tech mogul online, with one commenting, “Children aren’t a commodity.” 

Vivian also recounted instances of verbal a**se, stating, “He was constantly yelling at me viciously because my voice was too high [pitched]. It was cruel.” 

“It can’t be said it’s her father because he doesn’t deserve it!” one angry social media user wrote. 

Kim Kardashian’s parenting style was called out after fans slammed her for letting 12-year-old daughter North West dress in what many deemed “too adult” fashion.

In August 2025, the Skims founder stepped out in Rome with North, both rocking matching all-black looks.

Kim wore a black silk bodycon dress with sparkly accessories, while her daughter, not even a teenager yet, opted for a black corset paired with a miniskirt, knee-high boots, and electric blue hair flowing to her waist.

The tight corset unusually accentuated her cleavage, prompting one critic online to write, “That kid looks like she’s 40.”  

“Kim really doesn’t know how to be a sensible parent.”

The backlash intensified after fans noticed North sporting an unconventional and potentially painful dermal piercing on her middle finger.

The 12-year-old’s look even sparked whispers of plastic surgery, given the history of Kim’s own cosmetic procedures.

“I’m sure the plastic surgery is only weeks away.”

Erin Lichy came under fire after a TikTok video of hers went viral for all the wrong reasons.

The Real Housewives of New York star shared a clip in April 2025 showing herself holding her newborn son, her fourth child, in one arm while making a martini with the other. 

She captioned the post, “She’s backkkkkkk #newborn #postpregnancy.”

In the video, her baby’s head appeared unsupported, “just dangling” in the air, sparking criticism from fans.

“Put the drink down as long as you’re holding the baby… some things can wait… the baby can’t,” one user wrote.

While Erin tried to clarify in the comments that the baby’s head was indeed “SUPPORTED,” netizens remained unconvinced. 

“A parenting class might be needed,” another user commented.

Gabriela Lins, a Brazilian entrepreneur and social media personality, sparked outrage after she revealed she had moved her 9-year-old daughter Esther’s bedroom onto the family’s balcony.

The decision came after Gabriela chose to repurpose her daughter’s larger indoor room as an office for her business. 

In a TikTok “room tour” that went viral in July, the mother revealed that she had painted the balcony walls, enclosed it with glass, and installed blackout curtains, an air conditioner, and a TV. 

The makeover reportedly cost around $1,800.

But Lins soon became the subject of widespread criticism as many viewers questioned Esther’s comfort and privacy, with one writing, “Not even my dog stays on the balcony.” 

Others raised concerns over noise, safety, and the risk of the air conditioner “freezing the small room within minutes.”

Gabriela responded to the criticism by stressing that the balcony-bedroom was only for sleeping and that her daughter was not confined to the space.

However, one displeased netizen wrote, "I can't stand that she is trying to convince everyone and their mother that this was a good idea. She and her husband are two crazies."

Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s parenting sparked debate after fans accused them of “pushing” their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, into the spotlight too soon.

In April 2025, the 13-year-old joined her mother onstage for the opening night of the Cowboy Carter Tour, confidently dancing to hits like Déjà Vu and America Has a Problem in front of thousands of fans.

Her younger sister, 7-year-old Rumi, also made her debut alongside her during a performance.

Blue Ivy had been performing with her mother since the Renaissance World Tour in 2023, when she was only 11 years old.

Critics were not impressed, with some arguing she was “too young” for the stage, while others accused Beyoncé of “gr**ming” her daughters for fame.

“Did she even have a childhood? She’s only 13,” wrote one critic. 

“No 13 yr old should be strutting their stuff like that… Blame the parents!”

Alina, a parenting influencer who shares content on @alina.motherhood, faced widespread backlash back in September 2024 after revealing she and her husband had taken their one-year-old son on an eight-hour flight to Thailand while he had a high fever.

In a TikTok post, Alina explained that the couple did not want to lose the $3,000 they had already spent on the trip, adding that their baby’s fever had reached nearly 40°C (104°F) but they managed to bring it down before boarding.

However, a few hours into the journey, the boy’s fever spiked again, leaving him restless and crying. 

Thousands of users condemned the couple’s decision. 

“40 degrees is a hospital admission! Not a flight to Thailand,” one user wrote, while another added, “I could never. If my babies are sick, we are home where they are comfortable...”

In response to the backlash, Alina defended herself in a follow-up video, insisting that her son’s fever was caused by teething.

She also stressed that her son had no fever at the time of boarding and revealed that airline staff approved them to fly after being informed of his condition.

“Pretty sure you don’t care when u decided to bring ur child to a whole completely different country when they were running a 104 degree fever,” criticized one social media user. 

Tori Spelling’s parenting skills came under fire after fans accused her of crossing major boundaries with her kids.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, who often shares candid family moments online, faced backlash after two eyebrow-raising incidents.

During Christmas 2024, Spelling revealed that her then 17-year-old son Liam Aaron McDermott had staged a risqué elf prank, leaving the family’s holiday decorations with adult-themed imagery in the kitchen.

She wrote in her Instagram story, “the elves were all doing various things to each other.”

Spelling laughed it off calling her son “a jerk,” and even shared the display with her family and friends. 

Just weeks later, in February 2025, the actress sparked fresh outrage when she posted another Instagram Story showing her 7-year-old son Beau giving her a massage in exchange for allowance money. 

The photo showed Tori lying on a bed with only a towel draped over her backside, while Beau rubbed her foot.

One disgusted netizen wrote, “Sounds like a PARENT PROBLEM. Parents not being Parents maybe.”