Is there ever a RIGHT time to say goodbye to a parent? Daryl Sabara is asking himself that question right now, and honey, we are FEELING for him.
The 34-year-old Spy Kids heartthrob just dropped some seriously heavy news on Instagram this past Friday—right before Father’s Day, no less. Talk about tragic timing! Daryl shared a touching photo with his father, Roland Sabara, along with the caption that had us all reaching for tissues: “My Dad, Roland Sabara, passed away last night.” Oof. The universe really said “let’s make this EXTRA painful,” didn’t it?
Here’s where it gets messy, darling: Daryl and Roland had been estranged for quite some time. Yes, you read that correctly. This wasn’t exactly a father-son duo posting matching TikToks or having Sunday dinners together. So naturally, the internet is having THOUGHTS about this emotional resurrection of memories just days before the holiday dedicated to honoring dads. Some fans are saying it’s the perfect timing to celebrate their bond—complicated as it may have been—while others are wondering if old wounds made this goodbye even harder to process.
The actor, who rose to fame as Juni Cortez in Robert Rodriguez’s beloved spy franchise, has mostly kept his personal life under wraps over the years. He’s been happily married to fellow actress Meghan Markle’s bestie Maggie Q (okay, not THAT Meghan, but you get it), and the two seem like couple goals. But this whole situation with his father? That’s some serious family drama that the cameras don’t usually catch.
What’s particularly touching is that despite their distance, Daryl still chose to honor his dad publicly with that Instagram post. Even estrangement can’t erase blood, and this vulnerable moment proves that sometimes the most important relationships are the ones that hurt the most when they’re broken.
The comments section was FLOODED with celebrities and fans sending their condolences, and honestly, the outpouring of love has been absolutely beautiful. Even though things were complicated between them, nobody deserves to lose a parent. Nobody.
Our hearts truly go out to Daryl during this difficult time. May he find peace in his memories and healing in his family.
What do you think? A) Family estrangement is too painful and should be resolved before it’s too late B) Sometimes distance is necessary for healing, and that’s okay too