Jennette McCurdy says her grandmother was "not happy" with I’m Glad My Mom Died’s title

8 September 2022, 15:21

Jennette McCurdy reads heartbreaking email from her mother

By Rachel Michaella Finn

"I tried to have a relationship with [my grandmother]. And it was very clear to me that she was incapable of honouring literally any boundary that I set."

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CONTENT WARNING: This article contains details of child abuse that some readers may find triggering.

Jennette McCurdy has revealed that her grandmother was "not happy" with the title of her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died.

I’m Glad My Mom Died covers Jennette McCurdy's time as a child actress and her relationship with her abusive mother who passed away from cancer in 2013. Shortly after the memoir came out, Jennette defended the title by saying: "Anyone who's experienced parental abuse understands this title and I think anybody who has a sense of humour understands this title."

Now, Jennette has opened up further about the reaction to her autobiography, including her grandmother's response.

Jennette McCurdy says her grandmother was "not happy" with I’m Glad My Mom Died’s title. Picture: Facebook Watch, Simon & Schuster

Appearing on Red Table Talk, Jennette explained to co-hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris that her late mother's mother was critical of the title. She said: "My brother shared with me that she was not happy with the title, but I expected that."

Jennette then added: "I'm not surprised at all. I tried to have a relationship with [my grandmother]. And it was very clear to me that she was incapable of honouring literally any boundary that I set."

"I mean, things like, 'Can you please not comment on my body? If it's really, you know, detrimental to me, and I want to believe you have the best intentions, but these comments are really harmful. Please, can you stop?' She'd say sure. And then five minutes later, another comment [would] come out. She just seemed incapable of honouring the boundaries."

Jennette ended by saying: "So ultimately, it was a matter of, 'Okay, I just can't.'"

In the book, Jennette writes candidly about the "calorie restriction" that her mother would enforce on her diet. She also talks frankly about her mother weighing her five times a day and forcing her to share showers with her until the age of 16. On top of that, Jennette's mother would routinely perform breast and vaginal exams on her to check for lumps.

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However, despite her difficult relationship with some of her family, the former actor did speak about her good relationship with her three brothers and how they’ve supported each other through difficult times.

"I'm so close with all three of my brothers," she said. "And they have been such a source of love and support and consistency in my life where there really wasn't much anywhere else. ... We have such a beautiful bond. And there's such an understanding there. I think because of the things that we went through together and the things that we saw together."

After their mother's death, Jennette learned that her mom had a seven-year affair with a man named Andrew, who was actually the biological father of her and two of her brothers, Dustin and Scott.

"My brothers sort of have memories and flashes of the affair and the tumultuous nature of my mom navigating that," she explained. "They have a couple pieces of the puzzle that I was too young to have, and that I couldn't get through some of the adults around me."

I’m Glad My Mom Died is available to purchase from all major bookstores now.