In an emotional and faith-filled conversation, comedian Rob Schneider and political commentator Tucker Carlson recently came together for a heartfelt interview that delved into Schneider’s spiritual journey, his strained relationship with his daughter, and the importance of faith in navigating life’s challenges. The interview, which aired on the Tucker Carlson Network, ended with a powerful prayer for their daughters and the nation, leaving viewers with much to ponder about the role of faith and forgiveness in family life.

Rob Schneider blew up his career by telling the truth and then found himself much happier and in the ways that matter, far more successful.

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— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 15, 2024

The conversation began on a deeply personal note, with Carlson addressing the recent public remarks made by Schneider’s daughter, Elle King. The 35-year-old singer and actress had criticized her father during an appearance on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast, accusing him of body-shaming her during her childhood and prioritizing his acting career over their relationship. The comments, which were widely covered by media outlets like The San Francisco Chronicle, painted a picture of a strained father-daughter relationship marred by misunderstandings and unresolved pain.

Carlson, known for his direct approach, didn’t shy away from the topic. “I hate to start with this, but I read what looked like a family tragedy playing out in the news,” he said, referring to King’s comments. Schneider, visibly affected by the situation, responded with a sincere and heart-wrenching apology.

“Elle, I love you,” Schneider said, addressing his daughter directly through the camera. “I wish I was the father in my 20s that you needed, and clearly, I wasn’t. I hope you can forgive me for my shortcomings.” His words reflected the deep regret and sorrow he felt for the mistakes of his past, as well as his hope for reconciliation. “I love you completely, I love you entirely, and I just want you to be well and happy with you and your beautiful baby, Lucky. I wish you the best. I feel terrible, and I just want you to know that I don’t take anything you say personally,” he added.

As the conversation shifted from the personal to the spiritual, Schneider opened up about his journey to Catholicism, a path that has provided him with solace and strength amid life’s challenges. The former “Saturday Night Live” star announced his conversion to Catholicism on X (formerly known as Twitter) last October, describing himself as “the luckiest man in the world.” During the interview, he shared the profound impact that faith has had on his life, crediting his wife Patricia and their three daughters for helping him along this path.

Schneider’s spiritual journey is deeply intertwined with his family’s history, particularly the trauma experienced by his mother during World War II. His mother, who endured and survived the brutality of the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, left a legacy of resilience that Schneider carries with him. This generational trauma, coupled with the kindness and hospitality shown to him by Christians during his youth, set the stage for his eventual embrace of the Catholic faith.

“I found some really happy, content people,” Schneider recalled of his early encounters with Christians. “And I go, ‘What’s going on with these people?’ I was in junior high, and I was like, ‘What’s with these people?'” These experiences left a lasting impression on him, planting seeds of faith that would later blossom into a full conversion.

Schneider’s story of faith is also one of transformation. He recounted how a troubled friend from his youth, who had been experimenting with different things, became “the most peaceful guy to be around” after finding Christ. This transformation left a deep impact on Schneider, who was drawn to the peace and contentment that faith seemed to bring.

“When you spend time reading the Bible, when you spend time with other Christians, you feel the presence of Christ, you just do,” Schneider said, emphasizing the healing and transformative power of faith. Despite straying from his faith at times, he always felt a pull towards Christ, believing that Jesus was telling him, “When you need me most, I’ll be there.”

Throughout the interview, Schneider expressed a profound sense of gratitude for the blessings in his life despite the difficulties he has faced. He shared a reflection that a friend had sent him as news of his daughter’s comments began to spread. The reflection, which spoke to the dangers of holding onto resentment and the importance of forgiveness, resonated deeply with Schneider and informed his response to his daughter’s criticism.

“We’ve been our own worst enemies most of our lives, and we’ve often injured ourselves seriously as a result of a justified resentment over a slight wrong,” Schneider read aloud. “If we’ve been treated unjustly by others, or simply by life itself, we can avoid compounding the difficulty by completely forgiving the persons involved and abandoning the destructive habit of reviewing our hurts and humiliations.”

These words, rooted in faith and forgiveness, provided a fitting conclusion to the conversation, highlighting the power of letting go of past hurts in favor of healing and reconciliation.

The interview concluded with a moment of prayer as Schneider and Carlson bowed their heads and turned to God for guidance and protection. Schneider led the prayer, thanking Jesus for the opportunity to speak openly and honestly about his life and struggles. He also prayed for his daughter, Elle King, as well as for all daughters and people facing difficulties around the world.

“Thank you for this time, Jesus, and allowing me to speak my mind with this wonderful conversation with my new friend Tucker,” Schneider prayed. “And God bless this great country and protect your children. God bless my daughter and God bless all the daughters and all the people that are having problems in the world. And we thank you for all these opportunities that you give us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit.”

“Amen,” Carlson replied, echoing the sentiment of the prayer.