Hollywood star Kate Hudson has finally spoken out after being caught in the middle of a heated family dispute surrounding her latest movie, Song Sung Blue.
The drama erupted when the real-life son of one of the film’s subjects accused Hudson and co-star Hugh Jackman of misrepresenting his family’s story.
In the film, Hudson and Jackman portray Mike and Claire Sardina, a married couple and Neil Diamond impersonators from Milwaukee who rose to local fame in the 1990s with their band, Lightning and Thunder.
Michael Sardina Jr. Calls Out the Stars
Michael “Mike” Sardina Jr., the son of the late Mike Sardina from his second marriage, told the DailyMail+ that the biopic was “all lies” and that he had been intentionally left out despite consulting on the film.
He went so far as to label Hudson and Jackman as “monsters” for not acknowledging him during the movie’s promotional tour.
He told the publication, “Every interview that those monsters have been on national television doesn’t even mention my existence at all, even though I was the most prevalent force in my father’s life… because I’m his only son.”
Hudson Responds With Caution
At 46, Hudson has now addressed the allegations, though cautiously.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said, “Honestly, I don’t even know — out of respect for our filmmakers, I’m not the right person to speak to it.”
The situation is further complicated by Michael Jr.’s family dynamics.
He and his sister, Angelina Sardina, became step-siblings to Claire’s two children from a previous relationship when Claire and Mike married in 1994.
A Tragic Family History
The Sardina family story is filled with hardship.
In 1999, tragedy struck when Claire Sardina was hit by a disoriented driver while gardening, leading to the amputation of her leg below the knee.
Lightning and Thunder subsequently stopped performing, and Mike Sardina took up work as an auto mechanic and handyman.
Mike Sardina passed away on July 27, 2006, at the age of 55, following complications from a brain bleed caused by a fall at his Milwaukee home.
Hudson Earns Critical Acclaim Despite Controversy
The controversy hasn’t overshadowed Hudson’s career.
She recently received a surprise SAG-AFTRA nomination at The Actor Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.
Her competitors in the category include Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Chase Infinity (One Battle After Another), and Emma Stone (Bugonia).
Song Sung Blue, directed and written by Craig Brewer, debuted on Christmas Day, grossing $7 million in its opening weekend.
The film has since earned $26,743,920 domestically and $4,965,000 internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $31,708,920.
Star-Studded Cast Brings Story to Life
Alongside Hudson and Jackman, the film features Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Mustafa Shakir, Fisher Stevens, and Jim Belushi.
With both critical praise and box office success, the movie has sparked conversation not just for its story but also for the real-life family drama that surrounds it.
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