During a recent appearance on the Pretty Basic Podcast, the 33-year-old actress shared what she described as the “meanest thing” her dad ever said to her. Kelsey split from Greer’s mother, stylist Barrie Buckner, when Greer was just 4 years old. The two later reconnected when Greer was 16.
Greer explained that her father once told her he had suggested she not keep his last name. According to him, it might have made her life easier since he wasn’t going to be very present while she was growing up.
Hearing that years later was devastating.
Greer said she was around 19 when he told her, and she immediately broke down in tears. To her, it felt like confirmation that he knew he wouldn’t be around and had planned his absence in advance. While she admitted his thinking wasn’t entirely wrong, the comment still cut deeply.
She also addressed a common misconception about their relationship — that she didn’t know her father at all until she was 16. Greer said that wasn’t true. She has a few clear memories of spending time with him before he left, though they were limited.
Their reconnection happened in a surprising way. While Greer was doing community service as Miss Teen Malibu at a Christmas tree lot, Kelsey approached her and asked if she was Greer. She immediately recognized him. A lunch meeting followed about a week later, which marked the real beginning of their relationship.
At the time, Greer said she was eager to jump right in, excited to finally have her dad back in her life. Her mother encouraged her to slow down and give everyone time to adjust. Greer followed that advice, even though she was ready to move forward immediately.
Today, Greer says she and her father have a good relationship. Kelsey helped pay for her college education, though she joked that she does not have a trust fund.
Kelsey has also publicly acknowledged that he has regrets. Earlier this year, he said he has been “playing catch up” with some of his older children and admitted he neglected a couple of them early on. He said he’s trying to make up for that now and believes it’s never too late to show up as a parent.
The actor recently welcomed another child with his wife, Kayte Walsh, bringing his total number of children to eight. Speaking recently, he shared how meaningful it has been to have a young child at home again, calling it a blessing and saying he feels deeply grateful for his family.
For Greer, the past may include hurt and complicated feelings, but her story shows how honesty, time, and effort can slowly rebuild even the most fragile relationships.
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