Sarah Jessica Parker Is Mourning A Tragic Loss

Sarah Jessica Parker has recently been promoting the highly anticipated "Hocus Pocus 2" which is expected to release on Disney+ on September 30. According to ABC News, the "Sex in the City" actor attended the New York premiere alongside her husband Matthew Broderick and their twin daughters Tabitha and Loretta.

Parker has had to cancel her attendance at upcoming events, though, due to an unexpected family emergency. According to Entertainment Tonight, the "And Just Like That" actor first pulled out of the "Hocus Pocus 2" virtual global press conference that was on September 28.

She later had to abruptly leave the New York City Ballet's 10th Annual Fall Fashion Gala, which she was being honored at. A source who was in attendance at the gala told Page Six that Parker arrived at the theater and left shortly after. The media outlet reported an announcement was made onstage, saying that the actor had to leave due to a "sudden devastating family situation." The secretiveness of the emergency had everyone confused and concerned, but now, the reason as to why the "Failure to Launch" actor dipped out so suddenly has been revealed.

After Sarah Jessica Parker suddenly left an event for a family emergency, it was reported that Paul Giffin Forste — Parker's stepfather — died due to an "unexpected and rapid illness." "In his last moments he was surrounded with the love and gratitude of his adored wife Barbara of 54 years, and children, including Sarah Jessica Parker," the actor's family said in a statement obtained by Page Six.

According to a 2000 article in the New York Times, the "Honeymoon in Vegas" actor's family had financial troubles when she was young, even after Parker's mother, Barbra, married Forste in 1968. The article also mentioned that Forste owned a trucking company in the '80s.

But perhaps the most memorable experience for the "I Don't Know How She Does It" actor was when Parker's mother and Forste drove from Cincinnati, Ohio to New York City so she and her brother could audition for a Broadway show. Parker was only 11 years old, and both she and her brother were cast in the show. "Although I did not do every show, I made my Broadway debut with her," Timothy, Parker's older brother, told Playbill. He mentioned that Forste worked as the assistant stage manager and was an understudy in the play, making it a family gig.

Since Sarah Jessica Parker's family released its statement regarding Paul Giffin Forste's death, the "Sex and the City" star has been taking some time to herself. She was spotted for the first time following the tragic news by the Daily Mail, sporting sweatpants and keeping her eyes glued to the pavement. With the premiere of "Hocus Pocus 2" arriving, Parker would normally be entrenched in press tours and promotion, but her social media accounts have fallen understandably silent. 

Although Parker has made limited statements about her relationship with Forste over the years, it's clear that he played a large role in her life. As Oprah Magazine reported, Parker's birth father left when she was just a year old, with Forste joining the family two years later. When he step-father arrived to help lead the family, Parker already had three older siblings ... and she would go on to have four more. 

While Parker herself remains quiet, fans have taken to social media to express their support for the actor during such a hard time. 

Sarah Jessica Parker's most recent Instagram post saw the star expressing her love for libraries. The comment section, however, has been flooded with fans sharing their love for the actor herself. "I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your stepfather," one wrote. "Thinking of you and your family at this time." Another penned, "Sorry for your loss my friend." Their comment contributed three heart emojis to the hundreds in her feed. 

Despite the devastating loss, Parker is keeping her step-father's memory alive through her parenting style, which honors her own upbringing. In a 2008 interview with People, she shared that she was "lucky" to grow up near the poverty line. "I think that if I had been raised a child of privilege, I wouldn't be the working person I am today," she said. She hopes to instill her children with the same hardworking spirit of her parents, who taught her that you "owe your community something" and that no one is "entitled to the benefits" that come with hard work. 

Parker also spoke to Australia's KIIS FM (via Hello!) about this parenting philosophy. "I will do my best to make sure you always have what you need, but I want you pining toward something," she recalled telling them. "I want you to work for something, to dream of it, to will it to happen."