“I Became The Big, Bad Wolf”: Kate Hudson’s Lesson On Forgiveness After Her Father Bill Hudson Publicly Disowned Her

Kate Hudson and her dad, Bill Hudson, have a relationship that many would call, complicated. Once upon a time, Bill Hudson told his daughter that she was “dead” to him, something that no girl would ever imagine hearing from her loved ones. But like any other feud, the Hudson family tussle has 2 sides to it.

Unknown author [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Bill Hudson rose to fame as a vocalist for The Hudson Brothers, a band he formed with his 2 younger brothers in 1965. As his career blossomed, he also doubled as an actor, landing notable supporting roles in Zero to Sixty, Big Shots, and the TV drama series Doogie Howser, M.D.

Then, in 1976, Bill married actress Goldie Hawn and in their marriage, they were blessed with 2 beautiful children, Oliver, and Kate Hudson.

Bill Hudson publicly disowned Kate and her brother Oliver

Bill Hudson’s troubles with his children, Oliver and Kate, started after his divorce with Goldie Hawn in 1980. Their tussle, which made headlines often enough, showed the ugly side of divorce and the negative impacts it can have on family relations.

On Father’s Day in 2015, Oliver Hudson took to Instagram to honor the day but instead of celebrating a father figure, he called out his biological father Bill for abandoning him and, Kate. His caption, which took the world by surprise, read “Happy abandonment day.”

In the photo, young Oliver is posing with his father and sister Kate. The photo caused a major tussle, making headlines all over the world, reminding everyone of the Hudson family feud. According to Oliver and his sister Kate, Bill Hudson abandoned them after their parents separated.

After her marriage to Bill Hudson ended, Goldie Hawn entered into another relationship with Kurt Russell, a man who became like a father to Kate and Oliver. For the two children, as opposed to Bill, Kurt Russell was the only father they recognized.

In an interview with Daily Mail, Bill Hudson shared his side of the story, blaming Goldie for “willfully alienating” him from their children.

When Kurt [Russell] came on the scene, the narrative changed and I became the big, bad wolf.

According to Bill, ever since Kurt Russell entered the picture, Goldie’s tone towards him changed and this affected his relationship with Kate and Oliver. For Bill Hudson, whose own father abandoned him when he was 6, Oliver’s Instagram post was a “dagger to his heart.”

I no longer recognize Oliver and Kate as my own. Oliver’s Instagram post was a malicious, vicious, premeditated attack. He is dead to me now. As is Kate.

Kate Hudson forgave his “estranged” father Bill

Since Bill’s public proclamation, there has been little from him but in an interview with Howard Stern, Kate Hudson shared that she had forgiven him.

I really do recognize whatever those issues are, it's just something that he has to live with, and that must be painful for him. So I forgive him.

Kate, who refers to forgiveness as the “greatest tool” that helped her to move forward with her life shared that her mother never spoke poorly of his father. Even though she was young when her parents divorced, Kate understood that the separation had nothing to do with them as children.

Kate’s decision to forgive her father is a great lesson that proves that there’s no wrong deed that cannot be undone. Forgiveness has the power to heal and we hope that one day, the Hudson family can overlook their differences and embrace each other again, with love.