Macaulay Culkin Reveals Hollywood's Dark Side for Child Actors

Macaulay Culkin recently discussed his experiences as a child actor during an appearance on the podcast 'On Film ... with Kevin McCarthy.' He reflected on his role in the 1991 film 'My Girl,' where he played Thomas J.

Sennett, a character who died from an allergic reaction to bee stings. Culkin described how he was actually subjected to thousands of real bees during filming, stating, 'The way they did that, they wouldn't do that today.' He detailed the process of using a substance that smelled like a queen bee on his fingers to attract the bees, emphasizing the risky nature of the scene with, 'Those were real freaking bees, man.

That would not fly nowadays, boy howdy.' Culkin recounted the direction he received to wave his hands in front of his face to create an appealing shot for the camera. He also shared that after filming, he was instructed to wash his hands and sprint into the woods to escape the bees, recalling advice from the bee handler assuring him that 'Human beings run faster than bees fly.' At just ten years old, Culkin humorously questioned his speed compared to the insects.

He noted that they completed four takes without him getting stung, highlighting the precarious nature of the shoot. In another scene from 'My Girl,' Culkin and co-star Anna Chlumsky's characters jump into a lake, an action that raised alarms for Culkin when he discovered that trappers were capturing venomous snakes nearby as bait for snapping turtles, which in turn served as bait for alligators.

Culkin jested, 'Like, oh my gosh, they're throwing bees at me, there's alligators everywhere... Like I said, some of that stuff wouldn't fly nowadays.' His candid revelations bring to light the often hidden dangers child actors face in the industry, igniting discussions about necessary reforms in Hollywood to protect young performers.

According to Fox News, Culkin's experiences underscore a broader concern regarding the safety and welfare of children in the entertainment business.