Griffin O'Neal Barred From Farrah Fawcett Funeral, EXCLUSIVE: Wife Speaks Out (PHOTOS)

Griffin O’Neal Barred From Farrah Fawcett Funeral, EXCLUSIVE: Wife Speaks Out (PHOTOS)

Posted on: July 1st, 2009 by: Meg8 comments

EXCLUSIVE: We reported yesterday that Griffin O’Neal was barred from entering the memorial service for Farrah Fawcett yesterday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Los Angeles. He and his wife Joanna Berry O’Neal and their young child showed up but were not on the private guest list.

Griffin is the son of actor Ryan O’Neal and actress Joanna Moore. He and his father have been estranged since an incident in February 2007 led to the arrest of the elder O’Neal. Ryan claimed at the time that he was protecting Griffin’s pregnant girlfriend when he grabbed a gun and fired shots, only after his son began wildly swinging a fireplace poker.

We reported the above information in a previous story detailing Farrah Fawcett’s funeral – see funeral photos and video here. We have since heard from Griffin O’Neal’s wife. Joanna Berry O’Neal wanted to set the record straight about the reason for the estrangement of the father and son:

“I am Griffin’s wife and was present the night of the attack. Ryan was doing drugs and became enraged, attacking Griffin with the fireplace poker and subsequently smashed me in the face with it, resulting in 10 stitches and fracturing my face in 4 places, and damaging my left eye.

When Griffin wrestled the poker away from his father, as we were trying to flee, Ryan went to get his gun. Ryan was arrested for assault, not Griffin. If Griffin had attacked Ryan, he would’ve been arrested. Ryan tried to spin the story in the media to protect his image. He is not a nice guy.”

Griffin O’Neal told People magazine in September 2008, “It’s a very screwed-up family. If you want to be emotionally healthy and strong, you’ve got to get out…it’s a truly sad situation.” He told Larry King on August 3, 2009 that his father forced cocaine on him at age 11.

In any case, the estrangement is real and Griffin O’Neal, along with his wife and their child, were not allowed to pay their final respects to Farrah Fawcett.

View photos of the family below. Turns out Ryan O’Neal hit on his own daughter at the funeral – see details here.

Photos: WENN

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Filed under: Celebrities, Farrah Fawcett

8 Responses to “Griffin O’Neal Barred From Farrah Fawcett Funeral, EXCLUSIVE: Wife Speaks Out (PHOTOS)”

Madeleine, on July 1st, 2009 at 7:51 pm Said:

This is terrible. They should have been allowed to pay their respects. Ryan O’Neal is not Farrah’s family and had no right to bar anyone, least of all his own son. Ryan is such a useless piece of sh*t. Worst father EVER. And he kept acting like he was SO devoted and in love with Farrah, but years ago he used to beat her. If there were any justice in this world, Farrah would still be alive and Ryan would be six feet under.
ANGELIA, on July 3rd, 2009 at 8:48 am Said:

POOR LIL BOY HE TRAVELED SO FAR TO SEE HIS FAMILY AND WAS TURNED AWAY I TALKING ABOUT THE LIL GRANDSON THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE TO FORGIVE
RYAN ONEAL SCREWED THEM ALL UP TO BEGIN WITH WHO LET HIM RUN THE SHOW ANYWAY
Kid_58, on July 4th, 2009 at 10:07 am Said:

I am saddened for you, Griffin, Joanna, and your little boy. So many opportunities to let bygones be bygones missed by Ryan. You are my hero Griffin. Your dads a zero. Show your son how to be a great father. Move on. I had a father like yours. Take all that pain and turn it into love for your child. Thats what I did. My son is 24 now and we have a wonderful relationship.
JC, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:35 pm Said:

You are sooo right ANGELA……Ryan is the one that screwed them all up in the first place….I mean every single one!!! Tatum, Griffin & Redmond! Yes they all had/have mothers as well….and I know that Joanna was never really a great mom or a stable person either….But damn Ryan….You are a sh!t!!

All I have to say to you Ryan O’Neal is you think your life is sad now……regardless of what your motives were to be by Farrah’s side….Hopefully for your sake there was some good intent there and not just selfish bidding for a 2 sad seconds of spotlight……JUST REMEMBER…….KARMA.is a B!tch….THE UNIVERSE DOES NOT FORGET!!!!!!
swtjolee, on July 10th, 2009 at 9:11 pm Said:

I feel the same way in particular sp wrong…sorry … her best friend Alana Stewart is not mentined anywhere… she was the one that was always there for her friend… an he comes along and just tties to hog spotlight… really… Ryan just wants to get in the spotlight… so sorry mj died same day… too bad for you and shame on you!!
David Scott, on July 19th, 2009 at 5:56 pm Said:

I think it is a shame no matter whats happened someone cannot pay their respects.I have just seen the torment Farrah went through in her video and its a tragedy like so many others.She was lucky though in the respect that she was able to fly to Germany and get ferried around in private limos.For some there is no hope at all.

God bless
sadie, on July 19th, 2009 at 10:03 pm Said:

Shame on you Ryan. I think Farrah would have wanted Griffin there. She knew him 30+ years.
Ryan is a very small person to prevent Griffin, his wife and their small child the chance to pay their respects.
disgusted, on August 7th, 2009 at 12:46 pm Said:

GASP! Any animosity between those two should not have been involved in a matter like this. Ryan did not have the right to exclude Griffin because of his own issues with him. Not only did he deny his own son closure, but he denied Farrah the respect she deserved.