Macaulay in a photo dated 2-12-12
The last time we saw photos of Macaulay Culkin, looking incredibly thin and strung out in February, his rep issued an old-timey statement about it wasn’t true that Macaulay was unhealthy and how we shouldn’t gossip about him or something. At the time, his rep said “Macaulay Culkin is in perfectly good health. For Entertainment Tonight—or any other media outlet —to speculate otherwise is reckless, irresponsible and destructive. We implore them to discontinue the rumor.” That’s straight out of the 50s, right? Well Macaulay’s rep has issued another statement in response to The Enquirer’s sad story that his client is addicted to heroin, Oxycontin, and a cocktail of other dangerous prescription drugs. He says it’s not true, basically, but he uses such an old fashioned approach that it’s kind of funny:
A rep for Macaulay tells TMZ, the reports claiming Culkin is addicted to heroin and assorted hallucinogenics is “not only categorically without merit, but it is also impossibly and ridiculously fictitious.”
The rep adds, “We beseech the responsible media to consider the source and its reputation and to please not perpetuate this destructive and insulting story by pursuing it any further.”
[From TMZ]
How old is that guy issuing the statement? There’s hardly any “responsible media” anymore, and you can’t just try and appeal to people’s sense of decency when it comes to repeating gossip. Plus, The Enquirer may have a bad reputation but they broke the John Edwards story and they’ve had a lot of scoops over the years.
Let’s assume this is true, that Macaulay isn’t addicted to drugs and that he’s just very thin. Every time we’ve seen him this year he’s been photographed with a can of Red Bull. There are even photos of him from last week with a Red Bull. (We don’t have access to those photos, you can see them on this link, thanks to Sanna for pointing them out.) Being hopped up on caffeine constantly doesn’t make your eyes look glassed over and make you lose weight until your clothes are hanging off of you. Plus I’ve heard that Red Bull is an addict’s drink of choice, remember Demi Moore and her constant Red Bull before her breakdown? She was said to be chasing Adderall with Red Bull, and they’re both stimulants, which would explain how thin she got. Macaulay doesn’t look like a healthy 31 year-old guy with a simple Red Bull habit.
Speaking of Demi, a few of you have mentioned it’s interesting that Demi’s ex Ashton is now dating Macaulay’s ex, Mila Kunis, and that Ashton and Mila may have bonded over their shared pasts with addicts as partners. It’s possible, I just doubt that it brought them together or cemented their relationship more than nostalgia for That 70s Show or basic lust. Also, I don’t think it’s fair to assume that Mila must have used too since she was with Macaulay. We don’t assume that of Ashton. I’ve known couples where one partner uses and the other stays sober and tries to hold the relationship/family together. It’s common.
This is Macaulay on 7-3-10. He looked so much younger just 2 years ago.
Macaulay held this “food drive” in February as a way to mock the stories that he was unhealthy.
Photo credit: WENN and Fame
I hope it isn’t true but let’s face it, drug addicts deny they are drug addicts all the time.
Yep exactly. They do deny it and they think people will believe them. Just one look at him tells you it’s bullshit.
We’re all going to feel like a bunch of a-holes if it turns out he has an illness, not addiction. I didn’t comment on this yesterday and feel kind of icky commenting on it now- this is a messed up story and I simply don’t believe it’s true just because the guy doesn’t look his best.
I agree. It could be an illness or an addiction but he’s not hurting anyone and deserves the privacy to seek treatment.
Someone who is ill doesn’t need to be putting away Red Bull and probably wouldn’t be.
I don’t know about that. My step-MIL is sick with numerous ailments (nothing terminal) and she has done nothing to try to live healthier. Her diet still consists of Diet Pepsi, wine and cigarettes. So the Red Bull might not be a clear indicator of drugs but just of a generally unhealthy lifestyle.
If he’s ill (and I have to confess, that’s the direction it looks to be leaning to me – I have had family firmly in both the drug addict camp and the serious illness camps, and he doesn’t give off the scatty vacant vibe of the major drug abuser. Looks a lot like my cousin while he was going through his 4th round of chemo actually) then yeah, sure, he ‘shouldn’t’ be drinking vast amount of red bull but sometimes, in the midst of the hardest treatments, you need SOMETHING to keep you upright and moving. God knows I came close to giving myself caffeine poisoning (again. Managed to actually ‘achieve’ that once at 17 while working 40 hours and taking a 22 credit hour college semester.) during a bad health stretch in my own life. Mono coupled with a heart infection and it took three cans of an energy drink to make it out to get the mail. Healthy? No. But if you can’t lay down and rest, and you’ve been ill for a long time, you start doing stupid things to try and get your system up and moving. I’m not saying it’s a smart way to go about things – but even the most mature and health conscious person can find themselves in the middle of a health crisis and do whatever they need to get through the afternoon. Even when you know a glass of water, a protein packed salad, and a nap is what you SHOULD do for your body, the urge to grab a soda and a candy bar and run out the door can be a strong one.
I agree
I don’t if it’s drugs or not but I know my uncle look like that when he had cancer, so he could be really sick
Nope, I won’t feel bad at all. His rep said he’s perfectly healthy and he released the pics to be in the public eye, so the public can have an opinion of them.
When the world is convinced you’re a smack addict, (and you look the part), perhaps it’s time to fess up if you actually have cancer or something to explain yourself? Otherwise ignore it all and STFU or release pics looking really healthy and prove everyone wrong.
Problem is he’s been looking like death for years, and the heroin rumour has been following him for about as long because of it. I have no sympathy.
@Kimlee-I could see how Mac might resemble your cancer-stricken grandfather. You know what is a common pain killer prescription for Cancer patients? OXYCONTIN. So yes, I could see how they might look similar. If Mac has been suffering from Cancer for the past 3 years (that he’s been looking like crap) then I’d bet that he would have lost some hair and would probably be too weak from chemo to be hosting monthly blow-out parties.
I’m not trying to argue my point into the ground–I like Mac a LOT. I just think the denial is kind of ridiculous (not you Kimlee but some of the other posters).
I’m sure during his monthly ragers at his Manhattan pad, everyone’s drinking juice boxes and playing charades right?
*eye roll*
“When the world is convinced you’re a smack addict, (and you look the part), perhaps it’s time to fess up if you actually have cancer or something to explain yourself?”
Yes, you’d think so. Reminds me of Michael J. Fox. I think he ended up disclosing his Parkinsons when he did so that people would think he was drunk from the side effects of the meds he was taking.
Yeah, and then everyone shut up about it.
If you’re in the public eye you have to expect people will speculate. Especially if you give them no reasonable alternative explanation.
I am sorry, but I COMPLETELY disgree that a person should feel obligated to share their medical information with the masses that don’t even know or care about them just to prove meaningless gossip wrong.
Just because he was in movies when he was a kid, doesn’t mean he owes the public anything, much less the most private information a human being has about themselves (their medical condition).
I have a genetic disorder that causes me to have 20+ kidney stones a year. I get put on the strongest painkillers, my pupil takes up most of my eye.
I also drink energy drinks. I can’t stop my life when I’m ill, but sometimes I need a boost to carry on my day.
It’s not implausible that he’s ill.
Whether drugs or illness, I hope he recovers.
Wow, that sounds really difficult to live with! You must be a very strong person to have such a great attitude. Kudos to you!
Thanks Tiffany. It’s intermittent which means I can go a month being pain free, and I pack a lot into it. I feel quite blessed at the small mercy.
Eek. He aged faster than Lohan. Not good…
LOL
Ugh! This makes me sad. Also, I have to wonder, has he done anything to his upper lip and nose? I don’t remember them looking like that in Party Monster (I reference that movie because he was an adult).
Um…the picture above from “last week” has a Christmas Tree in the background…?
My thoughts exactly.
The link that I put in is to the photos from last week. The one above is dated in February, still too late for a Christmas tree, but that’s the date from the photo agency. I’ll reword it so it’s clearer.
Yeah not to mention the garland hanging with the Christmas bulbs.
And sorry I don’t care how many “scoop” the National Enquirer has gotten 3 or 4 right out of thousands of stories that were wrong does not equal trust in my book.
I don’t trust the Enquirer much either.
He could still be a drug user. It wouldn’t be the first time, that a drug user denied being a drug user.
Hopefully he does get better whatever the case might be (drugs, illness, anorexia etc)
OK, if he has a publicist so willing to defend his image, why isn’t he doing anything to help the guy? He’s clearly not healthy, even if it isn’r hardcore drugs (which I find hard to believe).
I know that people can only help themselves but this seems like one more example of enabling at its worst.
I don’t want to be naive here, but he doesn’t look that much thinner in the newer photos than the ones from 2010. He’s always been a bit scrawny. I’m not saying there isn’t something going on but it could just be that the stress of his life has caught up to him.
I have to agree- maybe 10 lbs thinner? I think if he visited a shower and a razor he’d look the same.
Why of course, Macaulay’s rep, his appearance must be due to him having allergies and a really fast metabolism then.
Oh yeah…and don’t forget about mercury poisoning from too much sushi, the Piven defense.
if it’s not drugs, it’s the dirty facial hair that makes him look old & sick.
Remember that Macaulay has struggled with mental illness, namely agoraphobia and many people will mental illnesses can self medicate, without addiction being the basis of their problem.
I have friends who have attend Mac’s “ipod parties” and like the linked article yesterday mentioned, he left the room a lot but they said it looked more like social anxiety.
So with him, I don’t judge. I think this kid has had a vastly tougher life than Lohan.
“So with him, I don’t judge. I think this kid has had a vastly tougher life than Lohan.”
+1. And he just *seems* like a good person ya know? Lohan is a self-absorbed brat.
I agree! I chased down an old Larry King I remembered with him, he just comes across as earnest and sweet. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0405/27/lkl.00.html
@ Roma- Oh man..that link-just seems like such a good egg-and interesting too. I am so rooting for a comeback for him.
I hope he gets help…
@Roma – Thanks for the link. Enjoyed reading it. He was 23-24 years when he did this interview? Wow! He’s very very mature for his age and smart too. I don’t remember being anywhere close to thinking and comprehending like him at 24. I like how he handled all the questions, esp about his childhood and family. It’s different how we see it because of what’s reported in the media. His early objective understanding of his own self and his childhood is something what most people manage to achieve in their 30’s or 40’s. Of course it’s very telling that he was 14 when he decided to remove both his parents from guardianship of his earnings. Very smart grounded boy with a knowledge of differentiating the craft from the glamor. I really hope he pulls himself together if he’s hard into drugs.
+1. Ugh, agoraphobia is no joke, and can strike anyone. Poor thing. Well, I have to give him major credit for actually attending his parties in the first place. Many agoraphobes cannot bear to leave their homes at all.
The last story I read talked about how his ipod parties are usually “child themed” like birthday parties. That made me so sad.
I hope he is well and happy, and that these are just bad photos.
That would also be a good explanation of why he tends to cancel his appearances at the last minute. I feel for the guy, hope he hangs in there.
I don’t think you do a movie like Party Monster without being knee-deep in drug culture.
So, does that mean that every actress that plays a prostitute is in fact a hooker or an actor that plays a gambling addict spends all their time losing money at a casino? Lots of actors portray characters that have absolutely nothing to do with their everyday lives. It’s called acting for a reason.
He’s always been a thin guy. In the photos from last week he doesn’t look sick to me, just like a guy who hasn’t shaved and has gone out to get the paper or a coffee, casual and not too concerned about his appearance. In the header photo for this post he’s looking rough, but I don’t know enough about drugs to assume anything. Is he hungover? Is it the flu? Or is it simply a bad photo? Who knows, but I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Unlike some (LL, etc.,) I think he’s earned it.
I thought he looked better in the more recent pics, too. Maybe he’s on the upswing.
If it looks and smells like a drug addict, it is a drug addict.
Really? Because it could be severe depression or some other form of mental illness.
I was thinking Hodgkin’s. Remember Charlie from Party of Five?
Well said, Crtb. He had a sister who died a few years back, well-publicized estrangement from his parents at a very young age, along with reported agoraphobia. I empathize with him. Could it be drugs? Of course; he looks awful. Could it be severe, dibilatating depression? Certainly. Im thinking a combination. Depression is an ugly, insidious disease that unfortunetly often leads to substance abuse… I wish him well.
I’d like to know where you got your computer if you can smell through your monitor…
lilred – Not me! Can you imagine the stench of the LiHo posts? 🙁
@ Birdie: THANK YOU! Yes – if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, more than likely it’s a freakin duck.
Except for if it’s a cat – my cat quacks like a duck 🙂
Really Birdie? I have severe, debilitating migraines & have gone out in public with my hair messy & hanging in my face (b/c it hurts too much to brush it, touch it, or pull it back), wearing a ratty t-shirt & baggy sweats, HUGE dark sunglasses, and slip-on shoes (b/c I can’t bend to tie my shoes.) I’m pretty certain I look like a drug addict or an alcoholic, when in fact I have a medical condition. He could have any number of things “wrong” with him…yes, including an addiction…but how but not slapping a label on it if you don’t know?
Maybe all these addict celebs should seek some advice from Keith Richards. He seems happy enough with his addictions and seems to manage them quite well.
Brilliant!
LOL! Good point! Keith should found his own “anti-rehab.” He is the master at it, after all.
Keith quit heroin years ago.
But he still drinks like a fish and smokes pot and cigarettes.
“I don’t have a drug problem. I have a police problem” – Keith Richards
Good point and your name is awesome 🙂
I think someone gave that PR rep a thesaurus for Christmas.
Whatever is going on with MC, I hope he gets better and is OK.
That statement released by the rep is ridiculous! Who “beseeches” in this day and age? It’s possible Macaulay is having health issues and doesn’t want to discuss it publicly. Totally understandable. Of course, if he is on drugs, he wouldn’t admit it or have his rep confirm it. I just hope he’s okay.
Ha, can you imagine a rep actually confirming drug use? Imagine the confusion at hearing the actual truth instead of the usual litany of excuses/denials.
I’m not referring to MC specifically here, just talking generally. I’d love to see someone be defiantly truthful sometime.
Seriously? Anyone who thinks he’s not on drugs probably has no experience with addiction.
I’ve thought this about Mac for a few years now-without the Enquirer running a story about it. If it’s not true I’m surprised his rep wouldn’t provide another explanation for his appearance.
As far as Mila-it might seem unfair to “assume” she dabbled and of course we don’t know for sure but it’s likely. In fact, safe to say that a good portion of Hollywood is NOT sober and that many probably “dabble” with a lot of substances-doesn’t mean they’re addicts.
I experimented in college-never developed a habit/never had to go to rehab.
And yes, I do think that Ashton has probably done blow and other things, likely with Demi-I just don’t believe he has a problem with it the way Demi and Mac seem to have.
This is a thoughtful and logical explanation.
I agree.
ITA Kitten. As someone mentioned yesterday, he was ARRESTED for drugs in 2004. I think people are downplaying the fact because it was xanax, but xanax is a benzo and benzodiazepines are crazy addictive and deadly when not used as prescribed. So, with a history of past drug abuse and his unhealthy appearance, I think it’s safe to say he’s using (and that the addiction has probably progressed).
Thanks, Autumn!
Exactly, Mort. Prescrip pill usage is not new to Mac.
Believe me when I tell you that it doesn’t make me happy to admit that this story is probably very very true.
Ah, a voice of reason in this thread that seems to be filled with tooth fairies and easter bunnies. MC has a history of drug problems, he looks like hell, and rumors are swirling that his drug habits have progressed to the heavy stage. Where there is smoke…
He’s a sweet guy. Holidays used to be fun thanks to his home alone movies. It’s obvious he’s using. He needs help, not denial. It’s expected of his rep to deny the allegations and he did his job. I don’t want him to come out in public but hope he has a circle to rely on.
Hmmmmm….tooth fairies and Easter bunnies. You’ve got it about right. But I guess since Macaulay missed out on both as a kid, and has had such a troubled life, I can’t help hoping for a rainbow with sprinkles too.
Delusional and unrealistic, most likely…but something about him tugs at the heart. I want to bring him soup. The moms here will know what I mean.
I hope his rep, flowery language an’ all, is telling it like it is.
Mac’s publicist has a great vocabulary.
I am a person who believes what I see. The media is trying to tell me that I am seeing this completely wrong. NO. There is definitely something up here & it sure does look like drugs to me. Also, looking at that childish sign, I would say Maucalay suffers from Arrested Development. This is serious & it’s sad.
Whatever it is I hope he will be able to get better.
He is not a self-absorbed entitled brat like LL; he has always kept all his struggles private, I’d love to see him working in a near future.
Poor Mac…
He had sleepovers w/ Michael Jackson as a child. His troubles may have been a long time brewing. Not a brat by any means.
Agree.When I hear of his “theme parties” I wonder about him growing up around the never land ranch.I know he has mental issues.I think that raises the likeliness that he is using drugs.so sad.
I still wonder about his time with Michael Jackson, and how it effected his life today? I have worked in and studied trauma & addiction and in my experience a very high percentage of male late stage drug users have been sexually abused.
My guess is Mac uses crack.
He sort of looks like Kid Rock.
The difference in his hair & skin makes me think he might be battling bulimia or have a major digestive issue. The druggy eyes seem to be just that. Compare the smooth silky hair in 2010 with the brillo pad in 2012. He’s ill, whatever the reason. And Red Bull just ain’t right for ANYONE…
People are so quick to judge & speculate on people. For many years I fought against weight loss & trying to look like a normal person. Everyone used to come up to me asking me if I ever ate. It was just the same as asking a fat person about their weight. I have battled Crohns Disease for years & I will be the first to tell you that alot of caffeine along with smoking will not do your body good. It took me many years to figure that out & as of October, I quit smoking after smoking for almost 25 years. I have finally gained weight & started exercising & feel so much better now. Who are we to judge someone when we have no idea if what that person has going on in their life? As I said, he may be battling some sort of disease like Crohns Disease or something else. Let the poor guy alone. We would all feel horrible judging the guy if we found out later he was sick.
I am sorry to hear about your illness.
So as someone who has Crohn’s, when you found out you were sick, you walked around with a Red Bull constantly and chain-smoked cigarettes? A co-worker of mine just found out he has Crohn’s-he never smokes or drinks caffeine. He cleaned up his diet, reduced alcohol consumption and generally leads a healthier life.
Generally, sick people ease up on caffeine & nicotine, not increase consumption.
As far as judging celebrities, if that bothers you, you would be better off avoiding celeb blogs (not trying to sound harsh-just being honest). If someone has a prior arrest for drug posession (like Mac), looks like they’re on drugs (opiate eyes and skeletal frame) and is constantly smoking ciggs and chugging red bulls, I think it’s not unfair to think they may actually have a drug addiction issue.
Again, if you have experience with addicts, the symptoms are very very clear. I live in Charlestown, MA (ever seen The Town?) where opiate addicts are common. You can spot them from a MILE away. The eyes, the general demeanor, everything they do is a dead give-away for an opiate addict, be it Oxy or heroin.
There is NO confusing them with someone who suffers from an illness.
It is an opinion. Just because I have an illness does not give you the right to judge me according to how your coworker dealt with their disease. As I said, it is not up to us to judge other human beings. We do not know this person all we see are a few pics that the media wants to throw out there to draw attention to the story they think will get noticed. Just because you know one person who has Crohn’s does not mean you know how other people react to it or deal with it. As I was saying, he could have some other disease that we don’t know about. And unless we personally know the person, it is not our place to judge
I don’t believe I proclaimed to be a Crohn’s disease expert? I was simply relating a personal experience just like you were. I guess it’s ok when you do it but not me? Odd.
And sorry but yes if you are in the public eye you WILL be judged. Just like we assume LiLo, Gerard Butler, Ali Lohan may be on drugs-MaCauley is not immune to this.
I seriously hope you never have a loved one suffer from addiction-denial is the worst way of (not) dealing with it and you truly do the addict no favors by pretending everything is fine.
Re: we’d feel bad if we later discovered he had cancer (etc) after thinking it’s likely hard drugs. Why would or should I feel bad for this?
People judge – that’s a good thing, it means we accept stimuli and, based on experiences, form an opinion (ie use our brains – admittedly not the most high-brow subject matter here, but still). It’s quite plausible he’s into smack – Occam’s razor, baby – that doesn’t make me hate him, it just makes me think he’s probably into smack. If he’s not – then that’s nice, because I think smack is bad (I won’t hate him for not being into smack either). Finito.
the constant consumption of red bull is a dead giveaway of a problem. it’s very well known as a chaser. I don’t know about the heroin part but I would bet large sums of money that he’s hooked on prescription pills which like in the case of Heath Ledger can take just one time of mixing the wrong amounts of uppers and downers to go into permanent snooz. He’s clearly not well. He will die without massive intervention and help. sorry to say it.
well, last time I checked, red bull is also ‘the drink of choice’ of many a dj, even without drugs.
He does look so bad! So thin and fragile
🙁
Hodgkin’s lymphoma? Not that I’m wishing it on him, but it could account for his skinnier appearance and “drug eyes.”
Whatever it is (drugs or not), I hope he gets some help real quick. He looks very unwell.
Sorry- as one who had Hodgkins Lymphoma when I was 24, it doesn’t leave you looking like a drug addict! Skinny and balding, yes, but not as bad as that!
As ridiculous and old-timey as that statement sounds, I can’t laugh at his rep. He’s certainly done his job, as all the comments today appear to be giving Mac the benefit of the doubt. I think Kristin Stewart needs to hire this rep ASAP
I think the comments giving him the benefit of the doubt might have more to do with the fact that most people agree he’s always seemed like a nice guy. (But yes, KS does need a new rep!).
Nice people may get addicted just as easily as assholes, but it’s easier to root more for the former.
I hope what his rep is saying is true though. In another comment I mentioned he’s always been thin. Someone else put it better, saying he’s always been ‘scrawny.’ His weight didn’t really surprise me (and he looks much better in the photos from 2 days ago) but I agree with everybody that the header photo is worrying. I just don’t think it’s definitive.
Oh dear. I think if McCaulay had a longterm illness he would have gone public with it right now just for the simple fact that no one wants to be branded a druggie. We forget that he has been through a lot his whole life and that his sister was killed just a few years ago. So he had an asshole dad, his family was f’d up, he had the pressure of his family to make $$, his sister was killed, his friend michael jackson died…that is a lot to deal with. Plus, the Enquirer is usually correct on their headline stories, just saying.
Addicts are experts at denying their problems even when it’s blatantly obvious to the casual observer. Just like my brother in law, who was a severe alcoholic. He would “swear on my life” he wasn’t drinking. His funeral was last Saturday.
Culkin has that same look about him. I hope he gets the help he needs before it’s too late.
So they denied he is addicted to smack and trips, but they didn’t say anything about the oxys, did they?
What is going on with Macaulay is that he has always been skinny and his features have been disproportionate since he hit puberty. Just go to Getty Images and watch him transform, this really isn’t a story.
I’d say just old age. Did you think he was going to be a cute little boy forever?
Maybe he’s “always” had an eating disorder.
I have a 19 year old nephew who’s a heroin addict. So, having seen what my bro has gone through in the past year with sending him to rehab THREE times and he’s still using. Hmmm, McCauley can deny it all day long, but that doesn’t mean a damn thing and his handlers and real friends better do something or he will be the next dead celeb.
omg… i had no idea who “jon gosselin” was… i thought it might have been a story about ryan’s dad or brother….
He’s not addicted to oxy and heroin. He just REALLY, REALLY likes them. That’s all.
He looks like he’s about 12 in the picture from 2 years ago – he looks a bit better, but he’s still very thin which makes him look quite young. I’m leaning toward some kind of illness, because even two years ago he looks very pale and possibly unhealthy.