After partially recovering from one of the most bitter family feuds in Hollywood history, Candy Spelling and daughter Tori Spelling are back on speaking terms. Or, at least, they were until Candy’s new memoir was released: In the tell-all, Aaron Spelling’s widow shows her daughter in a less-than-favorable light.
“I am by no means saying that I am the perfect mother now or I didn’t make mistakes when my children were growing up,” Candy said in Candy at Last of raising Tori and Randy, Radar Online reports. “Having said that, I also believe that there comes a time when you have to stop blaming your parents. Take responsibility for your own actions and attitudes.”
Candy’s statement seems like a direct rebuttal to Tori’s argument in her 2013 memoir, Spelling It Like It Is. Although Tori didn’t call out her mom directly, she said of her financial problems, “It’s no mystery why I have money problems… I grew up rich beyond anyone’s dreams. I never knew anything else.”
Following Aaron Spelling’s death in 2006, money became a big issue for Tori and Candy: Aaron willed the vast majority of his fortune to Candy and left “only” $800,000 to his daughter. In the midst of a career transition, Tori’s said she wasn’t prepared for her bank account to take such a blow and came close to filing for bankruptcy.
But, now Candy reveals both she and Aaron clashed with Tori in the years before his death.
“Our daughter, Tori, had been incommunicado since an abrupt divorce from her husband, Charlie [Shanian],” Candy said of Tori’s split from her first husband so she could marry Dean. “Aaron was disappointed about her divorce, and since then, she had refused to speak to any of us on the phone. Not even her little brother… I was devastated about Tori and [Aaron] was angry. He left her numerous messages on her cell phone. I tried reaching her as well. Not surprisingly, we didn’t hear back from her.”
Candy said she next saw Tori during Aaron’s funeral service in June 2006.
“Tori and Dean walked into Aaron’s service and took seats in the back row. It was very emotional because I didn’t know if she was going to show up,” Candy said. “This was my first time seeing my new son-in-law Dean.”
As tabloids caught wind of the family feud, Candy said the situation worsened. She explained it was hard not to take things personally while also being unable to get in touch with her daughter. In 2009, she also accused Tori of exploiting their problems for a two-part season finale on her reality show.
“A big party wasn’t how I envisioned meeting my granddaughter for the first time; but, hey, this is Hollywood, and my grandchildren have become reality show props, too,” Candy said in a scathing open letter to Tori in 2009. “At the time I emailed ‘yes,’ I didn’t realize I was being set up for a two-parter, even though it was clear I was being invited to be part of a segment for my daughter’s reality show… You’re responsible for what you do. Life isn’t just a show. And your families can’t just be props. Make your own season finale without creating conflicts you will regret later.”
They’ve since repaired some parts of their relationship, but Candy admits it will always be a “work in progress.”
“I notice that the more my self-esteem expands, the less patience I have for the pursuit cycle she creates when she shuts me out. We have a pattern, and until we can break it hand in hand, this is going to be the little dance she and I do together.”
