Quote from Oladosun Joshua Segun on June 14, 2025, 12:26 PM

Larry Birkhead has opened up about the challenges of protecting his daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, from people who may not have her best interests at heart. As the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, Dannielynn has drawn attention over the years, and Larry has taken careful steps to ensure she only surrounds herself with genuine individuals.

In an exclusive interview, Larry explained how difficult it was to determine who was sincere, especially when Dannielynn was younger and forming friendships. He admitted that some people approached her with ulterior motives, whether to gain publicity or personal benefits. Despite facing occasional setbacks, he has remained vigilant, carefully selecting the people they interact with.

"It’s hard," Larry exclusively shared ahead of Father's Day 2025. "When she was younger and had friends over, or went out, it was tough figuring out who was genuine."

Because of this, the 52-year-old chooses carefully who he and the adolescent hang out with.

"I’ve always tried to protect her," he went on, "not just from media and paparazzi, but even people we let into our circle."

Larry also acknowledged that his efforts have not always been totally successful. "Some had great intentions, but others didn’t," he said.

"Some would say, 'I want to hang out with you because I think I can get on Entertainment Tonight,' or 'Can you help my kid model? or 'We need a vacation but can’t afford it,'" Larry remembered. "You hear all kinds of things."

Larry feels confident that Dannielynn now has a solid group of friends, though he always keeps an eye out for anything concerning. As she prepares to start college, he reflects on his parenting journey, expressing pride in her growth and accomplishments.

"She has great friends—but I’ve learned to keep one eye open," the actor from MadTV revealed. "It feels like I’m always on security duty, always scanning the room. We’ve had to make life adjustments. But at the same time, we’ve had so much support."

During Father's Day, when he gets a ton of heartfelt comments from friends and family about how well he is handled being a single dad to Dannielynn, who was born six months before her mother Anna Nicole died of a deadly overdose in 2007, he is particularly conscious of the generosity of others.

"People come up and say, 'You’ve inspired me as a single parent,' or 'Anna inspired me.' Especially around Father’s Day, I get those comments—and I actually make them repeat it," Larry joked that he would ask, “Could you say that again? Oh, I’m a good dad? One more time, please!”

Nevertheless, nothing is more satisfying than seeing Dannielynn blossom as she gets ready to leave for college.

"Her mom only went to school until the 10th grade, and I’ve always encouraged Dannielynn to aim higher—even higher than me," he shared. "I’m proud of the young woman she’s become silly, smart, fun and beautiful."

It's inspiring to see how dedicated he is to ensuring Dannielynn’s well-being.