Ina Garten recalls her dad dragging her around by her hair as a child in Hoda Kotb interview: ‘Terrified he was going to kill me’

As a lifestyle expert, I find Ina Garten’s story deeply moving and inspiring. Her resilience in overcoming her challenging childhood experiences is nothing short of remarkable. It takes a great deal of courage to open up about such personal matters, especially when they involve physical and emotional abuse.

Ina Garten has opened up about the time her father grabbed her by her hair and dragged her around a room as a child, and has admitted she was ‘terrified’ that he was going to kill her.

During a revealing conversation with Hoda Kotb on Today, the cherished culinary icon, now 76, painted her childhood years as chilly and isolating, admitting she felt heavily restrained by her parents, Charles and Florence Rosenberg.

When Hoda, aged 60, enquired from Ina about the consequences if she had scraped her knee as a child, the author – who was publicizing her latest memoir entitled “Be Ready When Luck Strikes” – responded: ‘There were no affectionate gestures in my family; it was a harsh, isolated upbringing.’ She further conceded that she’s ‘doubting’ whether she truly understood if her mother held affection for her.

Ina clarified, as Hoda discussed the physical abuse from her father, “I wasn’t certain she had the ability. As a child, I was tightly confined and constantly advised against my desires, which prevented me from truly being myself.

As an ardent admirer looking back, I can’t help but shudder at the fear that gnawed at me, believing he might end my life. It’s astounding now, in retrospect, how I, as a child, didn’t muster the bravery to stand up for myself against him. Later on, he whispered words that still echo in my heart: ‘You will never be loved by anyone.’

Aren’t those sights breathtaking? He seemed upset over something, I have no clue what the issue was. He told me, “No one will ever love you.” Here’s something that makes me smile: strolling down Madison Avenue and having someone lean in to whisper, “I love you.” To me, it feels like a cosmic joke – “Oops, looks like he was wrong!

Later in life, Ina shared that her father did express an apology to her. She remembered the moment as follows: ‘He simply looked at me and admitted, “I can’t figure out what I was doing.” At that point, it struck me that he had been tormenting himself all those years. To me, it signified, “I’m sorry.” I found it incredibly challenging for a father to admit such a thing.’

Instead, she didn’t have a discussion about her career with her mother, Florence, and admitted she’s unsure if her mother recognized or validated it.

Speaking about his recognition of her efforts, she remarked, “I believe he watched the performances I gave, and I assume he read the books as well. Honestly, I don’t think my mother ever grasped what I was doing, but that was truly unfortunate for her.

Speaking as one deeply touched by their passing, I must confess that despite the closeness I felt with neither of them, it seems I distanced myself so profoundly that their departure didn’t strike me as cataclysmic. Contrary to my anticipation, I found myself mourning my father far more than expected. My mother and I shared little beyond the same bloodline; our bond was never one of substance. I carried out my obligations, but in truth, there wasn’t much to lose.

Additionally, Ina mentioned a significant factor behind her decision not to bear children with her spouse, Jeffrey, was partially rooted in her own dissatisfying upbringing.

Sharing insights on her decision to reveal her family history in her latest memoir, Ina explained: “I wasn’t sharing my parents’ story because I had an exceptionally difficult upbringing. Many individuals experience hardships during their childhood, and mine wasn’t the most challenging. Instead, it was a unique perspective that I felt needed to be told.

‘I wanted people to know that the story of your childhood doesn’t have to be the story of your life, that you can decide with an enormous determination, “I’m going to do it differently.”‘

In an interview with People magazine, Ina mentioned that although she referred to her old room as a “sanctuary,” she wasn’t allowed to paint it the color she preferred – which was purple. Instead, her mother insisted on having it painted peach because she believed it might not turn out well if it were purple.

Ina added: ‘It was something she said to me a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was diagnosed with Asperger’s [Syndrome].

She wasn’t skilled at maintaining relationships when we were younger, but now that I’m more mature, I find having relationships to be crucial.

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2024-10-01 18:06