{"id":925691,"date":"2026-08-08T11:12:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/08\/people-are-reflecting-on-colin-farrells-devastating-comments-about-his-privilege-as-he-discussed-his-son-who-has-angelman-syndrome\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:12:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:12:14","slug":"people-are-reflecting-on-colin-farrells-devastating-comments-about-his-privilege-as-he-discussed-his-son-who-has-angelman-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/08\/people-are-reflecting-on-colin-farrells-devastating-comments-about-his-privilege-as-he-discussed-his-son-who-has-angelman-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"People Are Reflecting On Colin Farrell\u2019s \u201cDevastating\u201d Comments About His \u201cPrivilege\u201d As He Discussed His Son Who Has Angelman Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"<div aria-hidden=\"false\" id=\"buzz-content\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/badge\/trending\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"Viral badge\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>\u201cIt\u2019s A Mess\u201d: Colin Farrell\u2019s Candid Comments About The Reality Of Raising His Son Who Was Born With Angelman Syndrome Are Going Viral<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cAt the end of the f***ing day, there\u2019s nothing I can do in acting, there\u2019s no check I can get that can make James talk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>In recent years, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/uk\/tag\/colin-farrell\">Colin Farrell<\/a> has been speaking more openly about his experience of having a child with disabilities, with his eldest son, James, born with Angelman syndrome.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>Colin was 27 years old when James, now 23, was born back in 2003, with the Irish star sharing him with his ex, American model Kim Bordenave.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"embed-instagram\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>If you didn\u2019t know, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/angelman-syndrome\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20355621\" target=\"_blank\">Angelman syndrome<\/a> is a rare genetic disorder that causes intellectual and developmental delay, and James was diagnosed at 4 years old. In August 2024, Colin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeednews.com\/article\/stephaniesoteriou\/colin-farrell-emotional-son-angelman-syndrome-disabilities\" target=\"_blank\">chose to offer a glimpse into<\/a> their otherwise incredibly private life in a bid to raise awareness for his new <a href=\"https:\/\/colinfarrellfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">foundation<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>Speaking to <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/colin-farrell-starts-foundation-in-honor-of-son-with-angelman-syndrome-as-he-opens-up-about-their-life-exclusive-8690950\" target=\"_blank\">People<\/a> at the time, Colin explained that in the United States, the cutoff age for the support systems provided for families with children who have additional needs is 21 \u2014 which is what inspired him to launch the foundation, which provides support for adults who have intellectual difficulties.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"embed-instagram\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>\u201cIt\u2019s a terrifying thought that I\u2019d miss the last 40 years or 50 years of his life because I won\u2019t be there to shepherd and to protect,\u201d Colin said of the stark reality that James will likely outlive him and Kim. He added that his hope for James would be \u201ca life of connection\u201d and that once his parents are gone, James will \u201cbe somewhere he feels like he belongs, where he feels safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>In fact, Colin noted that he has intense fear over what the future holds for his son, as he admitted that even as a wealthy Hollywood actor, he still struggles to find the help that James needs. He shared: \u201cMy fear would be, God forbid, if and when something happens to James\u2019s mother or me, James would be 30 or 40, and then he\u2019d have to go in somewhere. Into some kind of institute or some kind of residential care at 30 or 40, and there\u2019d be nobody there to call over, and take him out, and have lunch and all that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>\u201cI want the world to be kind to James,\u201d he concluded at the time. \u201cI want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>In April of last year, Colin reflected further on his concerns for James\u2019s future in an interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/candis.co.uk\/digital-edition\/may-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\">Candis<\/a> magazine, where he broke down his and Kim\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/stephaniesoteriou\/colin-farrell-on-son-james-angelman-syndrome-diagnosis\">decision to place their son in a care facility<\/a>, even though they are technically still able to look after him themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"embed-instagram\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>He said: \u201cIt&#8217;s tricky, some parents will say: &#8216;I want to take care of my child myself.&#8217; And I respect that. But my horror would be&#8230; What if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James&#8217; mother, Kim, has a car crash and she&#8217;s taken too \u2014 and then James is on his own. Then he&#8217;s a ward of the state, and he goes where? We&#8217;d have no say in it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>\u201cAnd one thing I can say about James is that he knows when somebody wants to be with him, and he knows when somebody&#8217;s just supposed to be with him,\u201d Colin went on. \u201cSo, if he has a carer or a teacher or somebody who&#8217;s doing physical therapy with him and they&#8217;re not fully engaged and fully loving with him, he&#8217;ll just switch off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-keywords=\"fast fashion\" data-module=\"embed-instagram\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>\u201cWhat his mother and I want is to find somewhere we like where he can go now, while we&#8217;re still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes,\u201d Colin continued. \u201cWe want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected. He needs a bigger life than we can afford him, by having a sense of community that he feels connected to, by going out in the van every day and going to the supermarket and doing the shopping together, by going to the beach, museums, movies, all that stuff. Just a connected life.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>\u201cIt&#8217;s been a struggle for us to find suitable residential care,\u201d the actor added, referencing his decision to set up his own foundation. \u201cAnd in realizing that, I thought: \u2018If I&#8217;m having these difficulties, what about all the other families out there that don&#8217;t have anything close to the means that I have?&#8217; I&#8217;ve always known I wanted to do something about this, but until now I&#8217;ve just been really self-centredly busy in raising my own two kids. But now, they&#8217;re up and running, and I feel I have a bit more space to do something. It&#8217;s early days for the foundation yet, so we&#8217;re still on baby steps.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>In December, Colin once again reflected on the fact that despite the overwhelming amount of privilege that he lives with, none of his success as an actor can, for example, make James speak in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Xk4yFHNiYL4\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Actors on Actors<\/i><\/a> interview with Jessie Buckley.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>This clip recently resurfaced on X, where Colin has been widely praised for the articulate way that he discussed the delicate situation. Speaking to Jessie, Colin began: &#8220;I\u2019m so fucking aware of the amount of privilege that I\u2019ve experienced in my life, and what rare air I fly in regards to what I do for a living, how I\u2019ve been able to provide, all that stuff. I\u2019m really aware, but at the end of the fucking day, there\u2019s nothing I can do in acting, there\u2019s no check I can get that can make James talk, or have language, my oldest boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-keywords=\"cleaning\" data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>&#8220;We\u2019re all, regardless of the facade, regardless of how the life seems to be, just every T is crossed and every I is dotted ever so perfectly, it\u2019s a mess,\u201d Colin went on. \u201cAnd to be given permission to be in the mess and not have the answer. Lean into the mystery, and know that feeling is only destructive when it is attempted to be oppressed or ignored. That\u2019s the only time feeling is really destructive.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"bfp\" data-cls-target data-cls-content-id=\"140988682\" data-cls-content-type=\"subbuzz\" data-name=\"bfp-wrapper\">\n<h2>As mentioned, Colin\u2019s words struck a chord with people online, with the tweet sharing this snippet being viewed more than a million times in less than 24 hours. Responding to the video, one person <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CuteMuseWorld\/status\/2077196158041207183\">wrote<\/a>: \u201cthat line about no paycheck being able to make james speak is devastating.\u201d<br \/><\/h2>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\n<p>Colin Farrell says no acting paycheck can make his oldest son speak<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019m so aware of the amount of privilege that I\u2019ve experienced in my life, and what rare air I fly in regards to what I do for a living, how I\u2019ve been able to provide, all that stuff&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019m really aware, but at\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ji55YcTRgo\">pic.twitter.com\/Ji55YcTRgo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 sara (@saradotxyz) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/saradotxyz\/status\/2077065082320916748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Variety \/ CNN \/ Via  <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/saradotxyz\/status\/2077065082320916748\" target=\"_blank\">x.com<\/a><\/span>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>Somebody else <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MichaelAgbajel2\/status\/2077258246146990520\" target=\"_blank\">added<\/a>: \u201cFrom me, this is a powerful reminder that money can solve many problems, but not all of life&#8217;s hardest ones. Wishing the best for James and their family.\u201d Another <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/aredcanary\/status\/2077130317404528840\" target=\"_blank\">wrote<\/a>: \u201cIt&#8217;s heart breaking to see someone you love with your whole being and who you would protect with your life, suffering and you are helpless. Money or no money it is torture every day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-keywords=\"cleaning\" data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>One more <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mrleonardclass\/status\/2077103209357934786\" target=\"_blank\">quoted<\/a>: \u201c\u2018To be in the mess and not have the answer.\u2019 I mean, it&#8217;s not Keats, but it is Keats.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-keywords=\"cleaning\" data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>Colin previously told <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/colin-farrell-starts-foundation-in-honor-of-son-with-angelman-syndrome-as-he-opens-up-about-their-life-exclusive-8690950\" target=\"_blank\">People<\/a> that James\u2019s additional needs are what motivated him to get sober in the mid-\u201800s, with the star renowned for his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/tvshowbiz\/article-11622841\/How-Colin-Farrell-shook-Hollywood-bad-boy-image.html\" target=\"_blank\">party boy past<\/a>. He said at the time: \u201cJames was about two when I got clean, when I got sober, and he was a big, big part of me putting the bottle down, a big part of it. Because I was in no condition to be a friend, never mind the father of a child which such exacting needs\u2026 If it wasn&#8217;t for my sobriety, I wouldn&#8217;t be able to be there for James and enjoy in the marvels of his life and support him in the way that I feel that I can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-keywords=\"fast fashion\" data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>He also reflected on how James has given him a newfound appreciation for the little things in life, explaining that while his son is able to complete everyday tasks, they tend to take him much longer. Colin shared: \u201cIt\u2019ll take James 90 seconds to take a T-shirt off, but he takes a T-shirt off; you sit it out with him. If anything, he also gifts me with the ability to look at the human being and the human body and life as a marvel, because I see how much he struggles with things that I\u2019d never have given a second thought to, that many of us take for granted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-keywords=\"fast fashion\" data-module=\"subbuzz-image\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>Detailing their day-to-day life, Colin said that he and James, who is nonverbal, enjoy regular father-son activities together like playing ball, swimming, watching movies, and going out for a cheeseburger, and that James benefits from the fact that he has had the same live-in carer for most of his life.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-module=\"subbuzz-text\">\n<h2>\n<p>      <span>The proud father added of his oldest son: &#8220;I\u2019m proud of him every day because I just think he\u2019s magic.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> Maribel Schewe<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/stephaniesoteriou\/colin-farrell-praised-quotes-privilige-disabled-son\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cIt\u2019s A Mess\u201d: Colin Farrell\u2019s Candid Comments About The Reality Of Raising His Son Who Was Born With Angelman Syndrome Are Going Viral \u201cAt the end of the f***ing day, there\u2019s nothing I can do in acting, there\u2019s no check I can get that can make James talk.\u201d In recent years, Colin Farrell has been<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":925692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[287,50714],"tags":[6149,20958],"class_list":["post-925691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-people","category-reflecting","tag-people","tag-reflecting"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/925691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=925691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/925691\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/925692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=925691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=925691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=925691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}