is explaining why he and sister rejected ’s offer to adopt them.
Oliver, 48, revealed the backstory on the Sunday, November 24, episode of his “Sibling Revelry” podcast, which he and Kate, 45, host together. When speaking with their guests, and (who was adopted by amid his marriage to Tish), the conversation turned to living with adoptive parents.
“I only say this because my dad — he was around for a little bit, then he bailed. We have a good relationship now, but it took a long, long, long, long time, but we’re there,” Oliver said. “Kurt came into my life when I was six, five or six and essentially he raised me. I’m the man I am today because of him, right? There was a moment when he asked us, myself and Kate, if we wanted to be adopted, and we said no.”
He explained: “Not that we were — you know, very aware of probably what it even f—— meant,” he added. “We were six and 12 or however, I don’t remember the age, but we just said, ‘Well, we don’t need it. The love is right there.'”
welcomed Oliver and Kate during her marriage to , which lasted from 1976 until 1982. Over the years, both Oliver and Kate have been candid about feeling abandoned by their biological dad, but Russell, 73, was quick to take on the role as “Pa” after becoming Hawn’s longtime partner. (Hawn, 79, and Russell have been together since 1983 and are also the parents of actor .)
Bill, 75, who has several kids from other relationships, was not always present in Oliver and Kate’s lives. Earlier this year, the musician praised Russell for stepping up as a dad to his kids.
“I couldn’t have chosen a better man to be the surrogate father for Oliver and Kate,” Bill exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this year. “He’s a straight shooter. There is no BS with him. They were both stellar.”
At the time, Bill said he was hoping for a fresh start to make one big happy family.
“I told Oliver we should throw a party,” he told Us. “Everyone shows up, and we remember that at one point in our lives, we loved each other. And that we didn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Bill shared that after “years of ups and downs,” the family was slowly working their way back to each other.
“There’s no pressure,” he said. “We’re just letting it be what it will be. Because no one is pushing it, there’s no turmoil or issues.”
