O'Neal: Maybe Tatum Drama Caused Farrah's Cancer

Well, this probably won’t help their already fragile relationship: Ryan O’Neal thinks family drama, much of which revolved around his kids, may have caused partner Farrah Fawcett’s fatal cancer. "What bothers me the most is that there was turmoil during my love affair with Farrah. A lot of it caused by my family, by my kids. All of them, but particularly Tatum,” O’Neal said yesterday on Piers Morgan Tonight. “I just think that if she had never met us, would she still be alive today? Because nobody knows what causes cancer.”

He pointed out that Fawcett didn’t smoke or drink, and exercised every day. “And then we came along. The four of us. And gradually she got weaker. I don't know.” Morgan noted that his assessment would be “harsh” for Tatum to have to hear, prompting O’Neal to respond, “Sorry Tatum. But you probably know, too. But it’s not Tatum. I was the catalyst.” The New York Daily News notes that his disturbing comments continued: Tatum “was not supportive" of the relationship, says O'Neal. "She was cruel. She wanted it to go down.” Click for a recent interview Tatum gave about her father. (More Ryan O'Neal stories.)