Michael Kutcher was angry in 2003 that his famous twin brother, Ashton Kutcher, revealed in a TV interview that he (Michael) had cerebral palsy, etonline reports. Michael was diagnosed with the condition when he was three and tried to hide it as he grew up. He was too ashamed of his condition and was often bullied in his teenage years. But his famous brother spilled it on national TV and that brought a family row.
“I was very angry,” he said. “Very angry. I remember speaking to him about it. I didn’t want to be the face of CP. I never talked about it.”
But today, Michael is happy that Ashton revealed his condition on national media. He is even grateful for it because of the fame and social engagements the announcement had brought into his life. Although Ashton made the revelation innocently in the course of the interview, he didn’t anticipate that his brother would not like it or that it would serve to bring him fame in some way.
It started when one woman who watched the TV interview contacted Michael and invited him to speak at an event. The woman called from Iowa and wanted him to meet Bella, her 5-year-old daughter who had a severe form of cerebral palsy, before speaking at a gala where people with the condition could talk about their life.
That event and others that followed changed Michael’s life. Today, he is married and has three children. He is also the spokesman for Cerebral Palsy Foundation and an advisor at Joshin, an app that helps families take care of persons with disabilities, People writes.
“Chris [the Kutsher family called Ashton Chris] did me the biggest favor he’s ever done because he allowed me to be myself,” Michael explained. “I realized I needed to let go of the shame I felt and be a champion for people like Bella,” Michael expressed. “I was finally ready to tell my story and I knew because of my twin, I’d have a big reach.”
He went on to reveal that Ashton loves him so much and always stood up for him and other members of the family. He said as a kid, Ashton fought kids who called him the “R” word and ensured that people treated him with respect. He recalled that if anyone invited Ashton for a sleepover, he insisted that Michael must also be invited for him to honor the invitation.
On his own part, Ashton said the life and actions of Michael teach him that “life isn’t about running around challenges – it’s about running through them; Mike has a relentless work ethic and a deep compassion for others.”
Source: etonline.com