Imagine being hounded about your appearance so relentlessly that it alters your relationship with food forever. This is the heartbreaking reality John Candy's son, Chris, recently unveiled about his late father's struggle with public scrutiny. In a revealing interview, Chris shared the profound impact constant questions about John's weight had on the beloved actor during his heyday. But here's where it gets even more poignant: Chris was particularly struck by the harsh treatment his father endured during interviews, a realization that came while watching Colin Hanks' documentary, John Candy: I Like Me. The Uncle Buck star's weight became such a focal point that it led to disordered eating habits, with John becoming anxious about eating in public due to fear of judgment.
During a special screening of the documentary, Chris recounted, 'I was kind of shocked to see how interviewers treat him. It was just heart-wrenching. You could see his frustration grow, and how he tried to cope with it.' Chris further explained that John developed a troubling eating pattern, often skipping meals during the day and eating only at night to avoid the paparazzi. 'It’s like, how cornered are you?' Chris reflected, expressing the helplessness he felt as a son witnessing his father's struggle. 'You just want to grab him and say, 'Who cares what they think? Just live your life.''
John Candy passed away at just 43 from a heart attack on March 4, 1994, while filming Wagons East in Durango, Mexico. His bodyguard discovered him after being unable to reach him by phone, and a doctor confirmed he had suffered a massive heart attack in his sleep. When asked how his father might have reacted to the documentary, Chris speculated, 'He would be uncomfortable. He wasn’t even a fan of attending his own movie premieres.' Yet, Chris hopes that if John were alive today, he would have found peace with himself, acknowledging, 'I know he did love himself, but it would’ve been a process.'
John Candy: I Like Me premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 4, 2025, and later debuted on Amazon Prime Video on October 10, 2025. The documentary offers an intimate look at John's life and legacy, featuring heartfelt testimonials from family, friends, and A-listers like Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Tom Hanks. But here’s the controversial part: Does society owe celebrities an apology for the relentless scrutiny they face? And how much responsibility do we, as an audience, bear for perpetuating these harmful narratives? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation worth having.
