"Being away from John McEnroe & the kids, my old life came back" - When American's ex-wife Tatum O'Neal opened up on how their separation impacted her

John McEnroe's ex-wife, Tatum O'Neal, has never hesitated to speak openly about her divorce from the American tennis legend. She once spoke about confronting the demons of her past and how she worked to navigate life after their highly publicized separation.

McEnroe and O'Neal tied the knot in 1986 but separated in 1994 after eight years of marriage. Their divorce drew significant media attention, with both accusing each other of drug use during the proceedings.

The most challenging phase for O'Neal came after their divorce, as she admitted to returning to a turbulent lifestyle. This period was marked by self-destructive behaviors, including a near-fatal car crash, numerous one-night stands, and heavy drug use.

"Being away from John and away from the kids, that's when the reality of my old life and who I was and all my demons came right back," she said in an interview with NBC News in 2004.

Tatum O'Neal revealed that meeting John McEnroe initially felt like a dream, as he swept her off her feet. However, she admitted that after their marriage, she began experiencing behavior reminiscent of the abuse she had endured from her father.

In a shocking disclosure, she alleged that the seven-time Grand Slam champion once pushed and kicked her, resulting in a fall down the stairs.

"I have a beef with John McEnroe on the way he's treated me" - Tatum O'Neal

Tatum O'Neal and John McEnroe | Image Source: Getty

During the same interview with NBC News, Tatum O'Neal shared more about her relationship with John McEnroe. She explained that her frustrations weren’t about him asking her to take drug tests but rather stemmed from how he treated her during their marriage.

"I don't have a beef with him on the testing and stuff. I have a beef with him on the way he's treated me," she said.

"To go through what I've gone through, Stone, in my life, and then to have another person as volatile and as strong as McEnroe say to me, ‘You suck. You're a has-been. You're nothing. You mean nothing, Tatum. You'll never make it. Without me, you're nothing, and if you think you're ever, you know, forget the abusive drugs, if you think you're ever going to get these kids, you know, you can never get them. You'll never see them.' What do I have to live for in my life? I'm worthless," she added.

O'Neal was honest about taking responsibility for her actions, acknowledging what she had done. However, she also expressed that it didn’t mean she should be punished for it for the rest of her life.

The duo have three children: Kevin, Sean, and Emily McEnroe. Following their split, the American actress lost custody of her kids and battled a drug addiction. However, she eventually overcame her struggles and became sober.