Ina Garten talked about her difficult past and «very lonely childhood»
4 september 2024 в 19:13
Ina Garten candidly spoke about her difficult past and «very lonely childhood».
In an interview, the star of the Barefoot Contessa program recalled growing up in Connecticut with her brother Ken and being afraid of her father, a surgeon, who, according to her, would hit her and pull her hair if she disappointed him.
«I was terrified», - said the 76-year-old Food Network personality to PEOPLE magazine. «I was physically afraid of my father. I literally remember thinking he would kill me if I did something wrong. I was physically afraid of him. And my mother was just not supportive».
Garten continued: «If there is a threat of violence, you are always afraid, even when there is none. So I basically spent my entire childhood in my room with the door closed».
«I think it was just a defense mechanism. Just to keep myself safe».
Garten described her mother as controlling and speculated that she may have had Asperger’s syndrome because «she really didn’t know how to establish relationships». The lack of connection between them led the Daytime Emmy winner, a famous chef, to focus on maintaining strong ties in her own life.
«Everything changed when I met Jeffrey», - she said of her husband, whom she first met when she was 16.
«I think I overcame my childhood just through sheer determination», - reflected Garten. «I just didn’t want to spend my life like that. And I think a lot of people make a decision to live differently, and then they go back to what feels familiar. I was determined not to do that. And then I met Jeffrey, and he showed me a completely different way to live».
After four years of dating, they got married in 1968. «My mother thought I was too young to get married», - Garten said, «but it was the first time in my life when I just told her, 'I know you don’t think it’s a good idea. And for the first time, I really regret telling you this, but I don’t care. I’m doing it.'»
Garten also opened up about physical and emotional abuse from her late parents, Charles and Florence Rosenberg, in her memoir «Be Prepared When Luck Comes», - released on October 1st
In an interview, the star of the Barefoot Contessa program recalled growing up in Connecticut with her brother Ken and being afraid of her father, a surgeon, who, according to her, would hit her and pull her hair if she disappointed him.
«I was terrified», - said the 76-year-old Food Network personality to PEOPLE magazine. «I was physically afraid of my father. I literally remember thinking he would kill me if I did something wrong. I was physically afraid of him. And my mother was just not supportive».
Garten continued: «If there is a threat of violence, you are always afraid, even when there is none. So I basically spent my entire childhood in my room with the door closed».
«I think it was just a defense mechanism. Just to keep myself safe».
Garten described her mother as controlling and speculated that she may have had Asperger’s syndrome because «she really didn’t know how to establish relationships». The lack of connection between them led the Daytime Emmy winner, a famous chef, to focus on maintaining strong ties in her own life.
«Everything changed when I met Jeffrey», - she said of her husband, whom she first met when she was 16.
«I think I overcame my childhood just through sheer determination», - reflected Garten. «I just didn’t want to spend my life like that. And I think a lot of people make a decision to live differently, and then they go back to what feels familiar. I was determined not to do that. And then I met Jeffrey, and he showed me a completely different way to live».
After four years of dating, they got married in 1968. «My mother thought I was too young to get married», - Garten said, «but it was the first time in my life when I just told her, 'I know you don’t think it’s a good idea. And for the first time, I really regret telling you this, but I don’t care. I’m doing it.'»
Garten also opened up about physical and emotional abuse from her late parents, Charles and Florence Rosenberg, in her memoir «Be Prepared When Luck Comes», - released on October 1st
© Kolganov Andrey
