In the years since her father, Fast and Furious star Paul Walker, passed away,
Meadow Walker has grown into her own and has started to pursue her
own career in entertainment. Let's dig into some of her untold truths.
In an interview with GQ that was conducted shortly before his death,
Paul Walker said he was, quote, "brought up in a traditional Mormon family where
these ideas about parenting are of structure and sacrifice." He continued:
"To think outside of that idea of family and parenting that I've grown up with is
tough, but also very freeing."
Paul shared with CosmoGirl that growing up,
his father wasn't afraid to show affection — a quality that he picked up. He said:
"My father is so the macho man, but when it comes to family and stuff,
he's always like, 'What's up? I love you, bro."
Similarly, Paul often gushed about his daughter to the press and to his friends,
colleagues, and anyone else who would listen. Dwayne Johnson said of his late co-star to EW:
"[I]t always ultimately came back to family. And very specifically the beautiful and important
bond between a father and his daughter, and how we both realized that over the years."
Paul made the most of the time he and Meadow Walker spent together.
He would take her on outdoor adventures, take her on set with him, and share many different
pieces of his life with her. He even taught her to surf when she was young. He told People in 2006:
"Every day I pick her up from school and we go out on a longboard."
Paul Walker died in November 2013, just weeks after Meadow Walker's 15th birthday.
That same year, Paul opened up to Entertainment Weekly about his bond with his daughter,
who had, quote, "recently started living with him full-time"
after spending most of her childhood with her mother. He told the outlet:
"There's a part of me who feels like I'm making up for lost time.
I was like 'Okay that's it, I'm not working, leave me alone.'"
But as the actor shared with GQ, Meadow wouldn't have it. He said:
"I thought at this point in my life I would need to be home with her,
but she wants me to keep acting so she can travel around the world with me."
Though their life together was just taking shape, any plans Paul had made were cut
off when he died in a car crash alongside his good friend and financial advisor, Roger Rodas,
while attending a philanthropic event. Rumors spread that she was at the scene of his death,
but they were quickly shot down by Paul Walker's official team on Facebook. The statement read:
"We want to clarify that Paul went to the event alone.
Meadow was not at the charity event on Saturday and thankfully, did not witness the accident."
In the years since his death, Meadow Walker has talked openly about her love for her father.
She makes sure to remember him in a positive light, posting happy throwbacks of them together
on social media and always looking on the bright side. On the anniversary of his passing in 2020,
she posted a personal photo of her sleeping on her dad's lap when she was a child. She wrote:
"a silly day to remember in sadness. today's a celebration of the love and happiness
you brought to the world. Here's a photo of my best bud & I napping."
Paul Walker often spoke about wanting to be a better father.
Months before he died, he said to Associated Press:
"I'm still finding my step. I think you always are [...] You want to be
better at it, just something hasn't clicked yet."
But despite his own perceptions of his effort, Meadow remembers him as, quote,
"the most beautiful soul." Her frequent social media posts of him, often with simple captions
like "miss you" or "happy place," show how much he meant to her. She has even taken on
some of his interests — not just a penchant for philanthropy, but also his more private nature,
and his love for the natural world with things like crystals and wellness.
"I got everything I need right here."
After her father died, Meadow Walker found herself at the middle of a custody battle.
In February 2014, TMZ reported that Paul Walker's will indicated he wanted his mother
to be his daughter's guardian should anything happen to him. Speaking with E! News in 2018,
Paul's brothers, Cody and Caleb Walker, said their famous sibling reached out to them
and their mom right before he died. Cody told the outlet that Paul said he
wanted their mother to retire and, quote, "be full time for Meadow."
In March 2014, Paul Walker's mother, Cheryl Ann Walker, filed to be the official guardian
of Meadow, according to The Wrap. The court documents obtained by the outlet, quote,
"claim that the teen's mom, Rebecca Soteros, is unable to care for her because of alcoholism"
and noted that Cheryl, quote, "hoped to fulfill her son's final wish that she
have custody." A source told E! News that Soteros, quote, "doesn't have a problem
or a serious drinking problem" and said her relationship with Meadow "is excellent."
Eventually, Cheryl gave up and let Rebecca have custody, ending the drawn out feud. An
insider told E! News at the time that Meadow was "happy" with the outcome
and, quote, "will live with her mother and they will be getting a place [in California]
and the agreement does involve both the guardianship and estate issues."
Paul Walker was reportedly worth $25 million when he died, and according to People, his will named
Meadow Walker as the sole heir. Also, as USA Today reported in 2016, Meadow also won $10.1 million
in a wrongful death lawsuit against the estate of Roger Rodas, who was driving the Porsche at 100
mph when he crashed into a lamppost, trapping and killing himself and Paul in the crash
and subsequent explosion. Her lawyer noted to USA Today that the money she won was, quote,
"a fraction of what her father would have earned had his life not been tragically cut short."
But Meadow's legal battles weren't over. As her attorney explained to USA Today:
"Meadow's lawsuit against Porsche AG — a $13 billion corporation — intends to hold the
company responsible for producing a vehicle that was defective and caused Paul Walker's death."
According to ABC News, the suit against Porsche was settled privately in 2017.
Per the outlet, Meadow's suit maintained that, quote, "the car's 605-horsepower engine
and lack of safety features" as well as the seatbelt were at fault.
In 2020, The Hollywood Reporter reported that over 20 of Paul's vehicles were auctioned off,
bringing in $2.3 million. The money was set to go to a trust for Meadow.
Meadow Walker has used some of her funds to pay homage to her dad in the sweetest way:
starting a philanthropic foundation. Paul Walker had his own non-profit called ​​Reach Out
Worldwide, connecting people with opportunities to use their skills to help in times of crisis.
In fact, on the night he died, he had just attended a charity event.
Keeping the tradition, Meadow helped found an organization named after her father to donate to
things he would have cared about. According to its mission statement, the Paul Walker Foundation is,
quote, "focused on his passions and dedicated to his legacy." It also reads:
"Paul's passion for the ocean,
a curious mind and a spontaneous heart lives on in The Paul Walker Foundation."
In the Instagram post announcing the launch — which debuted in 2015
on what would have been Paul's 42nd Birthday — Meadow wrote:
"I wanted to start this foundation because I want to share that piece of him with the world.
I want to share that part of him with others."
The Foundation has many altruistic interests, but focuses on marine life and conservation. Per EW,
Paul once shared in an interview that he studied to be a marine biologist before
acting, saying he, quote, "thought [he]'d make one movie,
pay off my loans, and go back and finish school." Obviously, this did not pan out,
but his passion for the environment remained and is still part of his legacy, thanks to Meadow.
In addition to the Paul Walker Foundation and her charitable efforts for the environment,
Meadow Walker has used her platform to build a school for less privileged children
with Pencils of Promise. The nonprofit's site reads:
"With the support and leadership of Paul Walker's daughter, Meadow,
PoP has partnered with the Jasikan community to support construction on a new classroom block
and create a quality learning environment for hundreds of students and teachers."
Meadow announced the project in a 2019 Instagram post. She wrote:
"Today, I am launching a campaign with @pencilsofpromise to build a school.
This is the season of giving and my biggest wish is to provide a space for these children to
learn. Everyone deserves a good education. We are dedicating this school to my dad, Paul Walker."
Having grown up with advantages and access, Meadow is keenly aware that
not all children have the same opportunities as she does — or even the same basic resources.
Having inherited her father's good looks, Meadow Walker is branching into modeling.
In the era of legacy celebrities, it isn't uncommon that many of the most famous models
often come ready-made with recognizable last names and coveted superstar lifestyles.
And Paul Walker's daughter sure seems to be making it work.
In 2021, she scored the coveted opening spot at the Fall/Winter 2021 Givenchy show. What's more,
she landed a Proenza Schouler campaign and walked the runway for the womenswear brand.
When Vogue asked her about these milestones, she said it was, quote, "an absolute dream come true."
But wait, there are even more modeling credits to go over. As Meadow's Models.com profile indicates,
Walker was featured on the covers of Pop Magazine and Re-Edition Magazine,
plus she walked in a Marc Jacobs show. With both runway and catalogue shoots
already under her belt, her career is poised to take off whenever she is ready.
Paul Walker often spoke about his relationship with the Fast and Furious cast, a closeness which
continued until he died. Speaking with Extra in 2021 to promote "F9," Vin Diesel opened up about
the bond he forged with Paul. He said, before bringing up Meadow, who is his goddaughter:
"To see her with my children is one of the most beautiful things."
Meadow has also spoken often about how she considers members of the cast to
be her family. She called Jordana Brewster her, quote, "best friend,
big sister and mama" on Instagram. In turn, Jordana gushed to Access that Meadow, quote,
"feels so comfortable with us and she feels so included in our universe,"
confirming their connection, and even saying that they text each other about fashion.
"Yeah, it's funny how that works, isn't it?"
Meadow's link to Diesel and his children seems to be the strongest.
As the "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor shared with Extra, she reaches out to him on Father's
Day and often sends him throwback pictures. In 2020, she shared an Instagram photo with
Diesel's children — one of whom is named Pauline in honor of Paul Walker — with the caption:
"family, forever."
Those involved with the "Fast and Furious" franchise keep
their plans for each new movie under lock and key.
However, some of the big players in the films have hinted that there's a chance
that Meadow Walker could make an appearance in the near future as a tribute to her late father.
Jordana Brewster told Access that the cast would welcome Meadow into the series with open arms,
and that, quote, "her being on screen [...] just would be natural." That said,
there may not be too many chances left: As the Associated Press reported, Diesel confirmed at
a press conference that there will only be two more "Fast" films following "F9."
The "Fast" franchise is not the only production with its eyes on Meadow Walker.
A source divulged to OK! in June 2021 that Meadow was reportedly, quote,
"being pursued by practically every studio in town and some TV networks as well." However,
though it may be "natural" to have Meadow take her talents to the big screen, the
source suggests she may not yet be ready to foray any further into the acting world. They said:
"She's flattered, but she doesn't want to rush into anything."
She might not want a full-blown acting career,
but that doesn't mean a "Fast" cameo is off the table. Vin Diesel teased to E! News:
"Let me just—without giving you all of the secrets of 'Fast 10,' let's just say nothing's ruled out."
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