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Jen Psaki Faces Backlash After Mocking JD Vance’s Wife in Podcast Remarks

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday condemned MSNBC host Jen Psaki’s recent remarks about his wife, Usha, calling them “disgraceful” and emblematic of what he described as Democrats’ hypocritical use of identity politics — championing feminism and racial equality while ridiculing conservative women and minorities who do not conform to progressive views.

Speaking to reporters during an official visit to Israel, Vance said he considered himself “very lucky to have a wonderful wife,” noting that Usha, who accompanied him on the trip, is more than capable of speaking for herself. The couple’s three children — Ewan, 8; Vivek, 5; and Mirabel, 3 — remained in the United States.

Psaki, who previously served as White House press secretary under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2022 before transitioning to MSNBC, made the controversial comments earlier this week on the “I’ve Had It” podcast.

During the episode, she referred to Vance as a “little Manchurian candidate,” accusing him of being even more ambitious than Donald Trump. Psaki then shifted focus to Usha Vance, 39, a Yale Law School graduate and former clerk for both Chief Justice John Roberts and then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

“I always wonder what’s going on in the mind of his wife,” Psaki said mockingly. “Like, are you OK? Please blink four times. We’ll come over here. We’ll save you.”

Psaki went on to describe Vance as “scarier” than Trump — younger, more adaptable, and a “chameleon” willing to say or do anything to advance his political career.

Her remarks quickly drew criticism online, with many conservatives accusing Psaki of demeaning a highly accomplished woman of color simply because of her husband’s political alignment. Vance’s comments on Thursday marked the first time he publicly responded to the controversy, framing Psaki’s remarks as part of a broader pattern of condescension toward women who don’t adhere to liberal politics.

The episode has reignited debate over the left’s treatment of conservative women and minorities, with critics arguing that Psaki’s tone — couched as humor — underscores a deeper intolerance for ideological diversity within progressive circles.

WATCH:

NEW: Vice President Vance laughs off Jen Psaki’s comments about his wife, Usha:

“I think it’s disgraceful, but of course the second lady can speak for herself.”

“I am very lucky to have a wonderful wife, and I know — at least I hope — that my wife feels the same about me.”… pic.twitter.com/DprrMR1IbB

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 23, 2025

The clip quickly went viral, sparking outrage across social media.

Trump communications director Steven Cheung accused Psaki of “projecting her own personal issues,” while Fox News contributor Joe Concha described her as “not a good person.” Neither Psaki nor MSNBC has issued a response to the backlash.

Republicans, however, say this is part of a larger pattern.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, former First Lady Melania Trump was routinely subjected to media speculation suggesting she was “trapped” or living under coercion—claims rarely, if ever, applied to Democratic spouses like Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s choice to remain with Bill Clinton after the Lewinsky scandal has consistently been portrayed as resilience rather than complicity.

The same contradiction, critics say, applies to race. Democrats often present themselves as champions of Black Americans, yet they frequently react with hostility or condescension when Black conservatives achieve success.

One prominent example is Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the first Black woman elected statewide in Virginia and a Marine Corps veteran. Earle-Sears has repeatedly been targeted by liberal commentators for defying progressive expectations.

On October 22, Earle-Sears mocked MSNBC’s Morning Joe after the panel blamed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger’s poor polling on sexism. “Other countries have no problem electing women,” host Mika Brzezinski complained. Earle-Sears, Spanberger’s Republican opponent, responded on X: “Who wants to tell them?”

Earle-Sears, who won her 2021 election decisively, has long pushed back against liberal critics. After MSNBC host Joy Reid questioned her authenticity as a Black leader in 2022, she fired back: “They don’t know what to do with Black people who think for themselves.”

A Jamaican immigrant and small-business owner, Earle-Sears has built a diverse coalition around issues like education reform and public safety.

Other conservative figures have faced similar treatment. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been caricatured for decades as intellectually dependent, despite his extensive judicial record. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) has endured invasive media scrutiny about his personal life even as polling shows rising Black support for Republican economic policies.

Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, stands as another example. She graduated at the top of her Yale Law School class section, clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts, and built a successful career in appellate litigation before choosing to focus on raising her family.

Her husband, JD Vance, credited her in Hillbilly Elegy as his “Yale spirit guide.” Psaki’s comments, critics argue, reduced an accomplished professional to a sexist caricature — a damsel in need of rescuing from her own marriage.

Democrats have leaned heavily on identity politics in recent years. Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign, for instance, spotlighted her trailblazing identity as the first woman, first Black woman, and first Indian-American vice president, often placing biography above policy. Yet, when Republican women or minorities rise, their achievements are questioned and their independence doubted.

Psaki’s latest remarks follow earlier controversy, including her statement that “prayer is not freaking enough” after a Minnesota school shooting — a comment that previously drew criticism from Vance for politicizing tragedy.

Fetterman Breaks With Democrats Over Prolonged Government Shutdown, Says He’ll ‘Pay the Price’ if Necessary

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) made waves Wednesday night after telling Fox News host Sean Hannity that he’s willing to “pay a price” to help end the ongoing government shutdown — even if it means breaking ranks with his own party.

“I am always going to vote country over my party, and if I pay a price within my base, that’s something I am willing to do,” Fetterman said during the interview.

The Pennsylvania senator, now in his second year in office, has become one of the few Democrats openly criticizing the shutdown and his party’s handling of it. He stressed that his focus remains on maintaining funding for essential services — including the military and Capitol Police — rather than engaging in partisan standoffs. Fetterman noted that he is among only two Democrats who have voted to keep the government open.

“I’m not afraid to tell my truth, and if I’m going to pay a penalty, I’m not afraid of that,” Fetterman told Hannity. “It’s wrong to shut our government down.”

Earlier Wednesday, Fetterman took to X to describe the 22-day shutdown as a “failure,” calling for renewed cooperation to restore funding to critical federal programs.

The senator specifically voiced concern over potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to about 42 million low-income Americans. Fetterman said he would not support any measure that threatens the program.

“I refuse to vote to suspend SNAP for millions of Pennsylvanians in my state and across the entire nation,” he said. “That’s going to be suspended because our government is shut down. I can’t ever vote for that kind of mass food insecurity.”

Fetterman also took aim at what he called “extreme” rhetoric from members of his own party, including comparisons of former President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.

“Extreme kinds of rhetoric make it easier for those extreme kinds of actions,” he warned. “I refuse to be a part of it and comparing people to Hitler and those things. If that’s what’s required to win, then I refuse to.”

The senator argued that such inflammatory language is eroding civility in American politics. “We’ve lost the plot,” he said, adding, “I refuse to call my fellow citizens fascists or Nazis or those things. If somebody wants to primary me or the party wants to vote me out, I’m going to go down being honest and telling you that this is wrong.”

Calling for a return to decency and cooperation in Washington, Fetterman said he is prepared to face political backlash if it means standing by his convictions. “It’s just basic humanity, and we’re forgetting that we all need each other,” he concluded, according to Fox News.

Fetterman’s continued defiance of party leadership has reportedly unsettled some Democrats. According to Axios, several prominent Pennsylvania Democrats — including Rep. Brendan Boyle, Rep. Chris Deluzio, and former Rep. Conor Lamb — are being discussed as potential primary challengers in 2028 when Fetterman’s Senate seat is up for re-election, The Daily Mail reported.

When asked about the reports, Fetterman appeared unfazed. “Enjoy your clickbait!” he told an Axios reporter, before adding, “Please do not contact.”

Despite speculation of a challenge, Fetterman has shown no public concern. Axios also noted that those close to him believe he harbors long-term presidential ambitions and sees himself as a leading voice in reshaping the Democratic Party.

In a recent appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Fetterman even praised former President Trump’s peace deal between Israel and Hamas, saying he felt “absolute elation” over the breakthrough — a stance that sharply contrasted with many of his Democratic colleagues, who have been hesitant to credit Trump for his foreign policy successes.

An 18-year-old transgender teenager has confessed to plotting a mass shooting at an Indiana high school earlier this year, an attack authorities say was deliberately planned to coincide with Valentine’s Day — the anniversary of the 2018 Parkland school massacre.

According to The New York Post, the suspect, identified as Trinity Shockley, intends to plead guilty to felony conspiracy to commit murder. Under the plea agreement, Shockley will serve 12 and a half years in prison, followed by five years of probation.

Law enforcement officials said Shockley was arrested after police received a tip that the teenager had obtained an AR-15-style rifle and purchased a bulletproof vest. The same tipster reportedly told investigators that Shockley had developed an obsession with mass shootings and frequently spoke about them.

Shockley, who identifies as male and goes by the name “Jamie,” allegedly selected Valentine’s Day for the planned attack to mirror the tragic 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 people dead and 17 others injured.

Court documents revealed that the teen’s fascination with the Parkland shooter was a key factor in the investigation. Authorities said the timing of the planned assault was intended as an homage to that tragedy.

As part of the plea arrangement, Shockley will be prohibited from researching school shooters for life, The Post reported. The teen will also have all electronic devices monitored by specialized software and will be permanently barred from owning firearms. Additionally, Shockley is required to undergo counseling at their own expense.

An official plea hearing is scheduled for November 24, when Shockley is expected to formally enter the guilty plea in court.

Democrats’ Shutdown Strategy Backfires After Major Public Sector Union Turns on Them

Mounting pressure from one of the country’s most powerful labor organizations has put Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democratic colleagues in an increasingly difficult position, as their government shutdown strategy begins to unravel.

For Schumer, the political cost of continuing the shutdown may now far outweigh any perceived advantage. The harm caused by the ongoing stalemate — from delayed pay for military service members to economic strain on federal employees — pales in comparison to the potential fallout of alienating one of the Democratic Party’s most influential allies: the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

In a forceful statement issued Monday, AFGE President Everett Kelley called for an immediate end to the shutdown and laid the blame squarely on Congress for allowing it to drag into its fourth week.

“This week, Congress pushed our nation into the fourth week of a full government shutdown — an avoidable crisis that is harming families, communities, and the very institutions that hold our country together,” Kelley wrote, pointedly noting that it is Congress — not President Donald Trump — that controls federal spending. “Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight.”

Kelley then urged lawmakers to do what Republican legislators have repeatedly called for: pass a clean continuing resolution.

“Today I’m making mine: it’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today,” Kelley continued. “No half measures, and no gamesmanship. Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.”

According to NBC News, the AFGE represents roughly 820,000 federal and D.C. government employees, making it the largest public-sector union in the United States and a significant political force in Washington.

The impact of Kelley’s statement could be profound. Many Democrats have already begun to waver privately on whether extending the shutdown is politically sustainable, and AFGE’s public demand provides both pressure and political cover for those seeking to change course.

Some Democrats, reports suggest, would have already voted to reopen the government if not for fear of backlash from their most ideologically extreme supporters. Now, with the AFGE breaking ranks, those lawmakers have a viable off-ramp — and a justification rooted in labor solidarity rather than partisan retreat.

The AFGE has long stood as one of the Democratic Party’s most reliable constituencies. Beyond the party’s support for progressive causes, few groups have been more closely aligned with Democrats than public-sector employees, who often view the party as a guardian of job security, collective bargaining rights, and federal funding.

That bond has shown clearly at the ballot box. In the 2024 presidential election, voters in the affluent suburbs surrounding Washington, D.C. — home to thousands of federal workers — overwhelmingly supported former Vice President Kamala Harris, underscoring the deep loyalty between government employees and the Democratic establishment.

Simply put, Democrats cannot afford to lose the AFGE.

“There is no ‘winning’ a government shutdown,” Kelley warned in his statement — a line likely to resonate deeply with Schumer, who has previously argued that the shutdown benefits Democrats politically. Once that perception evaporates, Democrats will have little incentive to maintain their hardline position.

In short, if Congress ultimately votes to reopen the government this week, Everett Kelley’s statement — and the immense influence of the AFGE — will have played a central role in forcing their hand.

MSNBC ventured into strikingly speculative territory on Friday night, with guests on Deadline: White House suggesting that President Donald Trump could potentially use the U.S. military as a personal instrument of power to target or even kill individuals of his choosing — including Americans.

The discussion came after the Pentagon approved the deployment of the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the U.S. Southern Command. The move, according to defense officials, is intended to increase pressure on Venezuela and counter the operations of transnational drug cartels across South America.

During the broadcast, host Alicia Menendez framed Trump’s order as a possible overreach of presidential authority, questioning whether such a decision might violate international law.

“Even the fact that there are officers who are having that conversation tells you about the five-alarm fire that we are in,” Menendez said. “Because the Trump administration claims they can lawfully kill people simply because they are suspected of drug trafficking like enemy troops, instead of arresting them for prosecution. Does that match your understanding of the law?” she asked guest Tom Nichols, a staff writer for The Atlantic.

Nichols responded, “No, not American law and not international treaties to which we are a signatory.”

He went on to accuse the president of asserting sweeping, extrajudicial powers. “The American president has said, ‘I can point the U.S. military any place I want and kill anyone I want.’ That eventually is going to become a principle in the domestic use of the military,” Nichols said.

Nichols further alleged that Trump’s actions reflect a broader and deeply concerning trend of normalizing the use of military force for political or personal gain.

“He is acclimating people to the notion that the military is his private army — unconstrained by law, unconstrained by norms, unconstrained by American traditions,” Nichols claimed. “I don’t really think this has anything to do with drugs.”

Nichols also hinted at darker motivations behind Trump’s recent orders, speculating that the president might be using such moves to divert public attention away from scandals and sensitive issues. “Sometimes I wonder how far he’s going to go to stop the release of the Epstein files and how many distractions he’s going to throw at us,” Nichols said.

“This is about getting out from under his already dismal record, his record low approval ratings, his struggling with a scandal,” Nichols continued. “And he is now saying, ‘I am going to acclimate the American public to the use of military force anywhere I deem it appropriate under any circumstances.’”

Nichols also warned that Trump may be laying the groundwork for a wartime political strategy heading into the next election cycle. “The president may be thinking, ‘I may well have us in a war by the time the elections roll around, which will enable me to say any opposition to me and my party is basically treason and unpatriotic,’” he said.

Despite such claims, recent polling suggests that many Americans still believe Trump is living up to his campaign pledges. CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten noted in an Oct. 7 report that 52 percent of voters think the former president is fulfilling his 2024 promises.

Menendez expressed full agreement with Nichols’ assessment, responding, “Tom Nichols, your brain and my brain have gone to the exact same place.”

Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to intensify its focus on international narcotics operations. Drug traffickers have increasingly relied on elaborate and deceptive tactics to evade U.S. surveillance — including the use of commercial shipping routes, low-flying aircraft, and smaller maritime deliveries designed to move narcotics undetected.

In response to those developments, the administration dispatched naval forces to the southern Caribbean in August, shortly after designating several Latin American cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. U.S. bombers have since conducted patrols near Venezuelan airspace as a visible show of strength and deterrence.

Defense analysts have cautioned that the escalating U.S. pressure campaign against Venezuela could risk sparking a wider regional conflict, potentially drawing Washington into prolonged military engagement in South America.

The administration has also expanded its focus to Colombia. In a recent move, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro — a decision announced just days after Petro publicly called for Trump’s removal from office.

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CONROE, Texas — Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating the deaths of three individuals, including a young child, in what officials are describing as a suspected murder-suicide.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) reported on social media that the victims — an adult male, an adult female, and a 3-year-old boy — were discovered outside a home in Conroe on Thursday, Oct. 23. Officers were called to the residence around 3:45 p.m. local time, and upon arrival, found all three deceased.

Officials have not disclosed the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the victims’ precise locations or the nature of any injuries, citing the ongoing investigation.

Montgomery County Major Crimes detectives and crime scene investigators immediately began examining the scene. Preliminary findings indicate the deaths may be the result of a murder-suicide involving one adult male, one adult female, and a child, according to the MCSO.

The deceased have been identified as 52-year-old Salvador Ramirez and 39-year-old Maria Ramirez. The 3-year-old boy’s identity has not been released.

Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle addressed the incident at a press conference, describing it as “a tragic event.” He added, “It will shock people’s conscience to see this kind of thing happening in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members, especially those who discovered this horrible incident.”

Authorities emphasized that, based on their initial investigation, the deaths appear to be “an isolated incident” and there is “no threat to the public.” In a statement, the MCSO reiterated, “Our hearts and prayers are with the family involved in this tragic incident.”

Neighbors expressed shock and concern over the tragedy. Carlos Delgado, who lives nearby, told Click2Houston, “It’s scary, it’s dangerous. Something like that happened too close to our house.” Residents described the neighborhood as typically quiet, making the incident all the more jarring.

The investigation into the deaths remains active, with authorities continuing to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

Mental health resources are available for anyone struggling with emotional distress or in crisis. Individuals can call or text 988, or access support via 988lifeline.org, which offers assistance 24/7.

The story originally appeared on [Link].

The December 2019 murders of the Todt family in Celebration, Florida, remain one of the most harrowing crimes in recent memory. Anthony Todt, 50, is currently serving a life sentence for the killings of his wife Megan Todt, 42, their three children Aleksander, 13, Tyler, 11, and Zoe, 4, as well as the family dog, Breezy. Authorities discovered the bodies on Jan. 13, 2020, at the family’s vacation home in the Disney-developed community of Celebration, revealing a crime that had gone undetected for weeks.

Just a month prior, the Todt children had appeared at a school holiday concert on Dec. 14, 2019. Aleksander received awards for piano and violin, while Tyler was recognized for piano and guitar. Photographs from the evening show the two boys smiling and holding their certificates and trophies alongside their music instructor—images that would become a haunting reminder of their final public appearances.

On the day of the discovery, federal agents from the Department of Health and Human Services were preparing to arrest Todt on charges of healthcare fraud. Concerned about whether he was in Florida or Connecticut, where he operated a physical therapy practice, agents had been monitoring the family’s residence for several hours. Todt emerged briefly onto the porch but returned inside before an arrest could be made. Agents, observing his difficulty walking and convulsing with each step, gained authorization to enter the home.

Upon entry, agents heard mumbling from the upper floor. Todt appeared on the second-floor landing wearing only a shirt and underwear, visibly struggling to descend the stairs. “He was still mumbling and needing a lot of assistance to get down, but saying don’t touch him because he would fall,” recalled Agent Melissa O’Neal. Once on the ground, agents immediately asked about the whereabouts of his wife and children. Todt falsely claimed Megan was sleeping and could not recall if the children had gone to a sleepover.

O’Neal and Agent Jim Nguyen proceeded upstairs and discovered the bodies of Megan and the two older boys on a mattress in the master bedroom. Zoe, hidden at the foot of her mother’s bed under a blanket, was not immediately visible due to the advanced state of decomposition. The family dog, Breezy, was also found deceased. The bodies were described by agents as darkened and leathery from decomposition. Todt was taken into custody without resistance and remained silent, forcing investigators to wait for the medical examiner’s findings to understand the circumstances of the murders.

The Orange County Medical Examiner later confirmed that Todt had drugged Megan and his two sons with Benadryl before stabbing all three. Aleksander and Tyler were also stabbed post-mortem, and while the exact cause of death for the children could not be determined due to decomposition, strangulation or suffocation was suspected. Todt initially confessed, claiming he had been attempting to save his family from a perceived apocalypse, but later pled not guilty and tried to blame his wife.

In a letter from his jail cell, Todt alleged that Megan had killed the children by feeding them “Benadryl pudding pie” and then took her own life in a ritualistic act. He maintained that his confession was meant to cover for her supposed actions. However, investigators and prosecutors found substantial evidence pointing to Todt’s financial desperation as a probable motive. Court documents revealed he had $1,500 in assets and $200,000 in debt. He had been evicted from one of his Connecticut offices a year prior and was under federal investigation for healthcare fraud, which Megan was allegedly unaware of.

The family had also received an eviction notice for their Celebration property in December 2019, just a month before the murders. Authorities concluded that Todt’s financial ruin, coupled with the pressures of the federal investigation, likely contributed to the premeditated nature of the killings.

A jury ultimately convicted Todt on four counts of first-degree murder and animal cruelty. The case shocked both the local community and the nation, revealing a chilling scenario in which a father murdered his own family and then lived with the bodies for weeks, all while attempting to manipulate the narrative to shield himself and place blame on his wife.

The Todt case remains a grim reminder of the complexities of familial homicide, financial stress as a potential catalyst for violence, and the lengths to which some individuals will go to mask their crimes. Authorities continue to examine the case as an example of premeditated murder intertwined with psychological manipulation and deception.

The story originally appeared on [Link].

A new Emerson College poll released Friday indicates that nearly six in ten California voters back Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s controversial redistricting initiative, underscoring the growing momentum for Proposition 50 ahead of the November 4 ballot.

The survey found that 57 percent of likely voters in the Golden State support the measure, which would allow the Democratic-controlled legislature to redraw congressional districts with the potential to flip up to five U.S. House seats from Republican to Democratic control. Opposition to the proposal stands at 37 percent, while including undecided voters, support rises to 60 percent, compared with 40 percent who said they would not back the redistricting plan.

Newsom’s office did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“With less than two weeks until the California special election for Proposition 50, the measure looks likely to pass, with results again outside the poll’s margin of error,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. He noted that certain demographic groups that were previously hesitant, such as Black voters, have shifted significantly in favor of the measure, with support rising from 45 percent to 71 percent.

The poll also asked respondents whether they viewed the measure as a good or bad idea, irrespective of their vote intention. A total of 56 percent said they considered Prop 50 a good idea, while 44 percent viewed it negatively. Among voters intending to vote “yes,” 89 percent endorsed the measure as a positive step, and 11 percent disagreed. Conversely, 93 percent of likely “no” voters described it as a bad idea, with just 7 percent supportive.

By comparison, Emerson College’s September survey found that 51 percent of likely voters supported Prop 50, 34 percent opposed it, and 15 percent remained undecided. An earlier August survey from the Politico–Citrin Center–Possibility Lab reported that only 36 percent of Californians favored returning redistricting authority to lawmakers from the state’s current independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Newsom’s initiative comes as a response to a redrawn congressional map in Texas, approved by Republicans, which aims to flip up to five previously Democratic-held seats to GOP control.

Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the issue, asserting that Trump and Republicans are attempting to manipulate congressional maps for partisan advantage, and has appeared in advertisements supporting Prop 50. Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential contender, echoed these concerns in a recent X post, claiming that the Trump administration is “explicitly saying they are going to change the rules of the game in order to insulate themselves from the people’s judgement,” and framing Prop 50 as critical both for California and the nation.

The campaign has also drawn significant financial support from prominent Democratic donors. Billionaire George Soros has reportedly contributed $10 million to bolster the effort, while Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has donated $2 million, according to Politico.

With the election approaching and strong polling momentum, Newsom’s redistricting effort appears poised to reshape California’s congressional map, potentially cementing Democratic influence in the state for the foreseeable future.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher with a broad audience. Republishing requires inclusion of the DCNF logo, reporter byline, and affiliation. Questions regarding licensing and partnerships can be directed to licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

The story originally appeared on [Link].

Matthew Lillard on Fatherhood and Fame: Actor Sees Himself as ‘Dad’ First, Hollywood Figure Second

Matthew Lillard, the 55-year-old actor widely recognized for his roles in Scream, Scooby-Doo, and other iconic projects, recently offered an intimate look into his life as a father, revealing that despite his fame, his three children primarily see him as their parent rather than a Hollywood celebrity. Speaking exclusively ahead of the release of his upcoming film, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Lillard discussed the intersection of family life, acting, and personal priorities, shedding light on how he balances a demanding career with raising children who are increasingly independent and forging their own paths.

Lillard shared that his children—Addison, 23, Macey “Ace,” 21, and Liam, 17—don’t dwell on his Hollywood achievements. “They associate me with the person that makes them take the trash out, pays for their college, and is there to sort of help guide their creative life,” Lillard explained. “My kids are—and I would assume this is true for most quote-unquote celebrities—uninterested in that job. I mean, it’s a great job, but at the end of the day, it’s a job. You’d have to ask them, but I would venture to say that they don’t really consider me in any way, shape, or form as an actor. They consider me as their father, and that’s all you really would ever want.”

Lillard’s youngest, Liam, has explicitly stated that he wants “nothing to do with” acting, while Addison recently graduated from the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design in 2025. Macey, known as Ace, is pursuing an acting degree at Carnegie Mellon University. Reflecting on his children potentially following in his footsteps, Lillard emphasized that they have grown up witnessing both the successes and setbacks inherent in an entertainment career. “The good thing for me is that my kids have seen ebbs and flows. They know the reality of the business. I never pushed anyone into it, but I certainly wouldn’t deny the passion of my kids who are both artists,” he said.

Lillard also offered insight into his long-term marriage with Heather Lillard, a realtor, highlighting the stability it has brought amid a demanding career. The couple met in 2000, and Lillard has previously described their connection as an instant and profound bond. “I will tell you how much I believe in love at first sight. I met my wife at a golf tournament. She said she was going to Italy for a wedding with a bunch of friends. In 10 minutes, I saw her, and I decided to go to Italy with her. At the end of the trip, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is the woman I’m going to marry,’” Lillard recounted. He further described their relationship as a harmonious balance, saying, “I’m very carefree; I will jump off a cliff a million times. My wife has the ability to balance that with a sense of diligence, and she’s very prudent. We’ve been married 24 years in a crazy business, and we never had a difficult time.”

Beyond his work in film, Lillard is also engaging in philanthropic and public health initiatives. He has partnered with Exact Sciences to promote awareness of Cologuard, a noninvasive at-home screening test for colon cancer. “Colorectal cancer is the number two killer of people in the world. So if I can lift the message and sort of change people’s perception of being tested, then it’s a win,” he said.

In addition to Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Lillard is involved in the upcoming Scream 7, demonstrating that while fatherhood remains his central identity, he continues to maintain an active presence in Hollywood. Despite his professional accomplishments, Lillard’s reflections make it clear that he views being a parent as his most meaningful role. “They consider me as their father, and that’s all you really would ever want,” he said, emphasizing that for him, family identity outweighs fame or professional accolades.

Matthew Lillard’s story underscores the delicate balance many celebrities navigate—maintaining high-profile careers while ensuring that family remains the core focus of their lives. For Lillard, fatherhood and guidance of his children’s creative and personal development are responsibilities he takes seriously, illustrating that even amid Hollywood lights, the home remains his most important stage.

The story originally appeared on [Link].