British actress Ione Skye, now 54, has unveiled shocking details from her youth in her newly released autobiography, Say Everything, published in early March 2025. Among the most striking revelations, she discloses that Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, got her pregnant when she was 17, and he funded her abortion. The book offers an unfiltered look at her life, from a turbulent romance with Kiedis, who was 24 at the time and struggling with heroin addiction, to her rise as a Hollywood star in films like Say Anything… (1989).
Born in London to folk singer Donovan and model Enid Karl, Skye shot to fame as a teenager, becoming a symbol of the Generation X era through her roles in iconic movies. Her memoir paints a vivid picture of growing up in the spotlight, navigating intense relationships and making tough choices. She describes the pregnancy and abortion as a mutual decision, driven by her young age and Kiedis’s instability, marked by drug use and erratic behavior.
The release of Say Everything has already sparked buzz among readers and fans, reigniting interest in the wild Hollywood days of the 1980s and 1990s. Beyond her story with Kiedis, Skye opens up about other personal chapters, including a fling with co-star John Cusack years after their on-screen chemistry, offering a raw and introspective take on her journey.
Inside her relationship with Anthony Kiedis
Ione Skye was just 16 when she began dating Anthony Kiedis in 1986, a time when the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman embodied the band’s rebellious spirit. In her book, she portrays their early connection as passionate yet chaotic, quickly overshadowed by his heroin addiction. Kiedis would vanish for days, leaving her to grapple with the emotional fallout of what she calls his “slow-motion heroin binges.”
The pregnancy came at 17, thrusting Skye into a crossroads. She had long fantasized about motherhood—dreaming as a child of finding babies at her doorstep or catching “ghost babies” with a butterfly net—but reality hit differently. Kiedis didn’t join her for the abortion procedure, a absence she attributes to his guilt. Still, Skye stands by the choice, viewing it as a critical step for her future with a partner unwilling to commit or parent, especially given his struggles with anger and drugs.
Now 62, Kiedis has no direct contact with Skye, though she remains in touch with his mother. She admits to wondering how he’ll react to the book, though they haven’t discussed it. Her account sheds light on a vulnerable moment for both, exposing the messy intersection of youth, fame, and personal battles.
More stories from Say Everything
Skye’s autobiography doesn’t stop at Kiedis. She recounts a 1999 fling with John Cusack, her Say Anything… co-star, a decade after their hit film. During the 1989 shoot, they shared a mutual crush but didn’t act on it. After her first marriage to Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz ended, she and Cusack finally hooked up, an encounter she describes as a way to “scratch an itch.”
Cusack, upon reading the draft, teased that she made their night sound “meh,” though he found it more memorable. Skye clarifies that her focus was on their professional and intellectual spark, not just the physical moment, showing her knack for blending candor with lightheartedness. Their exchange underscores her reflective tone throughout the book.
She also delves into her bisexuality, discovered during her seven-year marriage to Horovitz from 1992 to 1999. Affairs, including one with model Jenny Shimizu, strained the relationship and contributed to its collapse. These confessions reveal a woman exploring her identity amid the highs and lows of fame.
Key milestones in Ione Skye’s life
Skye’s journey is a tapestry of triumphs and trials, detailed in Say Everything. Here’s a timeline of pivotal moments:
- 1986: Debuts in River’s Edge with Keanu Reeves and starts dating Kiedis.
- 1987: Gets pregnant at 17 and opts for an abortion, funded by Kiedis.
- 1989: Stars in Say Anything…, cementing her status with Cusack.
- 1992: Marries Adam Horovitz, a union that lasts until 1999.
- 1999: Hooks up with Cusack post-divorce.
- 2008: Weds musician Ben Lee, with whom she has a 15-year-old daughter, Goldie.
These events trace her evolution from a restless teen to a grounded mother and artist, shaped by love, loss, and self-discovery. The chronology anchors her narrative, giving readers a clear sense of her life’s arc.
Growing up fast in Hollywood
Starting her acting career at 15, Ione Skye faced both opportunity and hardship. In Say Everything, she reflects on how her father Donovan’s absence—he only acknowledged her at 17—pushed her to seek validation elsewhere. Her debut in River’s Edge launched her into stardom, but the adult world of Hollywood forced a premature maturity.
Her romance with Kiedis epitomizes the risks she faced: a teen navigating a drug-fueled relationship with little guidance. The pregnancy and abortion became turning points, moments where she asserted control in a chaotic life. Meanwhile, Say Anything… elevated her to icon status, though sustaining that success in an unforgiving industry proved challenging.
Over time, stability emerged. Since 2008, her marriage to Ben Lee and motherhood—raising Goldie and Kate (24, from a prior relationship)—have grounded her in Los Angeles. The book captures this shift, contrasting her wild youth with a calmer present.
Fascinating facts about Ione Skye
Skye’s life brims with intriguing tidbits, many unveiled in her memoir. Here are some highlights:
- Childhood dream: Obsessed with motherhood, she imagined finding babies in magical scenarios.
- Bisexuality: Explored during her marriage to Horovitz, leading to notable affairs.
- Painting: A visual artist for over 25 years, she’s exhibited her work widely.
- Podcast: Co-hosts Weirder Together with Ben Lee, diving into life and creativity.
These facets reveal a multifaceted woman who channeled her experiences into art and family, balancing her Hollywood past with a vibrant present. Her creative outlets complement the acting career that first brought her fame.
Legacy of a Generation X star
At 54, Ione Skye uses Say Everything to reclaim her story with unflinching honesty. The book revives memories of a defining era in film and music while humanizing a figure once seen as a mere poster child of the 1990s. By tackling topics like abortion, addiction, and infidelity, she breaks taboos and delivers a grounded portrait of Hollywood life.
Her revelations resonate widely, pulling icons like Kiedis and Cusack into the spotlight anew. For Skye, writing was a cathartic release, allowing her to view her younger self with empathy. The work cements her as a compelling voice, extending her influence from the screen to the page.
Skye’s tale also showcases resilience, tracing her path through fame, heartbreak, and redemption. Her stable life with Lee and her daughters marks a fulfilling chapter, contrasting sharply with her earlier turbulence. Say Everything stands as a testament to a life lived boldly, capturing the spirit of a woman who thrived despite the odds.

British actress Ione Skye, now 54, has unveiled shocking details from her youth in her newly released autobiography, Say Everything, published in early March 2025. Among the most striking revelations, she discloses that Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, got her pregnant when she was 17, and he funded her abortion. The book offers an unfiltered look at her life, from a turbulent romance with Kiedis, who was 24 at the time and struggling with heroin addiction, to her rise as a Hollywood star in films like Say Anything… (1989).
Born in London to folk singer Donovan and model Enid Karl, Skye shot to fame as a teenager, becoming a symbol of the Generation X era through her roles in iconic movies. Her memoir paints a vivid picture of growing up in the spotlight, navigating intense relationships and making tough choices. She describes the pregnancy and abortion as a mutual decision, driven by her young age and Kiedis’s instability, marked by drug use and erratic behavior.
The release of Say Everything has already sparked buzz among readers and fans, reigniting interest in the wild Hollywood days of the 1980s and 1990s. Beyond her story with Kiedis, Skye opens up about other personal chapters, including a fling with co-star John Cusack years after their on-screen chemistry, offering a raw and introspective take on her journey.
Inside her relationship with Anthony Kiedis
Ione Skye was just 16 when she began dating Anthony Kiedis in 1986, a time when the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman embodied the band’s rebellious spirit. In her book, she portrays their early connection as passionate yet chaotic, quickly overshadowed by his heroin addiction. Kiedis would vanish for days, leaving her to grapple with the emotional fallout of what she calls his “slow-motion heroin binges.”
The pregnancy came at 17, thrusting Skye into a crossroads. She had long fantasized about motherhood—dreaming as a child of finding babies at her doorstep or catching “ghost babies” with a butterfly net—but reality hit differently. Kiedis didn’t join her for the abortion procedure, a absence she attributes to his guilt. Still, Skye stands by the choice, viewing it as a critical step for her future with a partner unwilling to commit or parent, especially given his struggles with anger and drugs.
Now 62, Kiedis has no direct contact with Skye, though she remains in touch with his mother. She admits to wondering how he’ll react to the book, though they haven’t discussed it. Her account sheds light on a vulnerable moment for both, exposing the messy intersection of youth, fame, and personal battles.
More stories from Say Everything
Skye’s autobiography doesn’t stop at Kiedis. She recounts a 1999 fling with John Cusack, her Say Anything… co-star, a decade after their hit film. During the 1989 shoot, they shared a mutual crush but didn’t act on it. After her first marriage to Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz ended, she and Cusack finally hooked up, an encounter she describes as a way to “scratch an itch.”
Cusack, upon reading the draft, teased that she made their night sound “meh,” though he found it more memorable. Skye clarifies that her focus was on their professional and intellectual spark, not just the physical moment, showing her knack for blending candor with lightheartedness. Their exchange underscores her reflective tone throughout the book.
She also delves into her bisexuality, discovered during her seven-year marriage to Horovitz from 1992 to 1999. Affairs, including one with model Jenny Shimizu, strained the relationship and contributed to its collapse. These confessions reveal a woman exploring her identity amid the highs and lows of fame.
Key milestones in Ione Skye’s life
Skye’s journey is a tapestry of triumphs and trials, detailed in Say Everything. Here’s a timeline of pivotal moments:
- 1986: Debuts in River’s Edge with Keanu Reeves and starts dating Kiedis.
- 1987: Gets pregnant at 17 and opts for an abortion, funded by Kiedis.
- 1989: Stars in Say Anything…, cementing her status with Cusack.
- 1992: Marries Adam Horovitz, a union that lasts until 1999.
- 1999: Hooks up with Cusack post-divorce.
- 2008: Weds musician Ben Lee, with whom she has a 15-year-old daughter, Goldie.
These events trace her evolution from a restless teen to a grounded mother and artist, shaped by love, loss, and self-discovery. The chronology anchors her narrative, giving readers a clear sense of her life’s arc.
Growing up fast in Hollywood
Starting her acting career at 15, Ione Skye faced both opportunity and hardship. In Say Everything, she reflects on how her father Donovan’s absence—he only acknowledged her at 17—pushed her to seek validation elsewhere. Her debut in River’s Edge launched her into stardom, but the adult world of Hollywood forced a premature maturity.
Her romance with Kiedis epitomizes the risks she faced: a teen navigating a drug-fueled relationship with little guidance. The pregnancy and abortion became turning points, moments where she asserted control in a chaotic life. Meanwhile, Say Anything… elevated her to icon status, though sustaining that success in an unforgiving industry proved challenging.
Over time, stability emerged. Since 2008, her marriage to Ben Lee and motherhood—raising Goldie and Kate (24, from a prior relationship)—have grounded her in Los Angeles. The book captures this shift, contrasting her wild youth with a calmer present.
Fascinating facts about Ione Skye
Skye’s life brims with intriguing tidbits, many unveiled in her memoir. Here are some highlights:
- Childhood dream: Obsessed with motherhood, she imagined finding babies in magical scenarios.
- Bisexuality: Explored during her marriage to Horovitz, leading to notable affairs.
- Painting: A visual artist for over 25 years, she’s exhibited her work widely.
- Podcast: Co-hosts Weirder Together with Ben Lee, diving into life and creativity.
These facets reveal a multifaceted woman who channeled her experiences into art and family, balancing her Hollywood past with a vibrant present. Her creative outlets complement the acting career that first brought her fame.
Legacy of a Generation X star
At 54, Ione Skye uses Say Everything to reclaim her story with unflinching honesty. The book revives memories of a defining era in film and music while humanizing a figure once seen as a mere poster child of the 1990s. By tackling topics like abortion, addiction, and infidelity, she breaks taboos and delivers a grounded portrait of Hollywood life.
Her revelations resonate widely, pulling icons like Kiedis and Cusack into the spotlight anew. For Skye, writing was a cathartic release, allowing her to view her younger self with empathy. The work cements her as a compelling voice, extending her influence from the screen to the page.
Skye’s tale also showcases resilience, tracing her path through fame, heartbreak, and redemption. Her stable life with Lee and her daughters marks a fulfilling chapter, contrasting sharply with her earlier turbulence. Say Everything stands as a testament to a life lived boldly, capturing the spirit of a woman who thrived despite the odds.
