With a net worth of $550 million, it’s doubtful Mariah Carey will ever have trouble putting food on the table for her 3-year-old twins, or ensuring that holidays are filled with laughter and presents. But that was the exact dilemma facing her estranged, down-on-her-luck sister, Alison Carey, this Christmas.
With Star’s help, Alison is reaching out to Mariah to try and make a better life for her own children, a 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son, Mariah’s niece and nephew. Star met with Alison, who has battled illness and had past problems with a law, near her home in New York, for an exclusive and emotional interview on Christmas Eve.
When was the last time you spoke to Mariah?
Four years ago, on the phone. There were communications so she could see her niece and nephew. She took them to Serendipity 3 [in New York City] and gave them gift cards for Christmas. They were so happy — and then she just disappeared. They miss her and don’t understand why she cut them off.
How bad are your circumstances?
Decisions I’ve made in my life have hurt my children. They have no tree or presents for Christmas. We don’t have enough food. I haven’t been able to pay the rent this month. I can’t buy my daughter, who’s on her school’s honors list, the clothes she needs — not wants, needs.
Is it hard asking Mariah for help?
It’s harder when you have to go to the church outreach to ask for assistance with food or rent, and they can’t give it to you. And you don’t know if you’re going to end up on the street with your children. But I don’t want Mariah to think I only want her for her money, like everyone else does. I want her to love me again. I want her to be my sister again.
What happened between you?
There’s been a lot of water under the bridge. I’ve done things that were wrong. She’s done things that were wrong. But I’ve reached out to her many, many times through the years in every way I could think of to try and ask for her forgiveness and see if we could start over. We are the only sisters each of us will ever have.
For the full interview, and to read Alison’s heartfelt letter to her famous sis, pick up the latest issue of Star, on newsstands now!
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