The Rielle Hunter GQ Interview: Talking John Edwards Affair, Sans Pants

By Mike Hess Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:50AM

For the first time, Rielle Hunter is opening up to GQ about her tumultuous affair with John Edwards, a tryst that would eventually be the end of his presidential and political aspirations. Hunter, who also appears in a mildly-exposing photo shoot, says that she and Edwards were intimate from the very beginning, and goes into specific detail about their first encounter and how things played out after that, plus the "compassion" she has for Elizabeth Edwards. Details after the jump, and get the full interview at GQ.com!

On Breaking Her Silence: "I feel comfortable talking now, because Johnny went public and made a statement admitting paternity. I didn't feel like I could ever speak until he did that. Because had I spoken, I would have emasculated him. And I could not emasculate him.... He's very supportive of me talking now....

"It's been four years. It's hard to know that people are out there speaking over and over and over again untruths. Lies. Consciously going out there and spinning the truth. Using me and Johnny and our relationship to make themselves look better, to play victim, or to get money."

On Their First Night Together: "I had never experienced anything like what was flowing between us. I sat on the other side of the room. I wouldn't go near him....There was sooo much attraction and sooo much...I want to say love, but it wasn't love at that point...it was just this, this magnetic force field like I had never experienced. It terrified me. And, um, I eventually walked over to his side of the room. [laughs] He was pretty relentless."

On His Marriage Woes: "Well, I was aware of it from the get-go. He doesn't lie to me...and well, first of all, infidelity doesn't happen in healthy marriages. The break in the marriage happens before the infidelity. And that break happened, you know, two and a half decades before I got there. So the home was wrecked already. I was not the Home Wrecker."

Thinking Edwards Won't Lie to Her: "He's not afraid of me. He'll tell me anything and everything.... He has no fear that I'm going to abuse him. And I believe what happened in his marriage is, he could not go to his wife and say, 'We have an issue.' Because he would be pummeled.... Most of his mistakes or errors in judgment were because of his fear of the wrath of Elizabeth.... And you know, the wrath of Elizabeth is a mighty wrath."

On Elizabeth Edwards: "Oh, my God, I have such compassion for her. I really do. I mean, especially when you have terminal cancer... I watched my father die of cancer. It's heart-wrenching to me. But it's also really sad to me, her unwillingness to take responsibility for her part in the marriage."

For more on the explosive interview, visit GQ.com!

Tags: GQ, RielleHunter

Comments

(53)

Monday 15 March

By Joyce

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Affairs don't happen without a willing partner. Hunter knew he was a married man, but she allowed her ego to rule & continued on. She is equally responsible for John's demise; she certainly wasn't thinking of the consequences.
My, isn't her daughter going to be proud of mom. Not. Hunter fits into the same category as the Tiger females.....low-life with absolutely no self-respect. The photos add to it.

By hello lana

I have a feeling she will ALSO find out she wasn't the ONLY girlfriend either!

Tuesday 16 March

By Natasha

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I like the reports of her crying to Barbara Walters about how "repulsed" she is by the photos. HELLO!!! You POSED for those photos. I don't think anyone forced you to pose for a photos wearing only a man's shirt!

By jscruggszoo

John Edwards was the one who took marriage vows. He broke them. And Rielle Hunter also broke the law that forbids a person to fool around with a married person. It is hard to have any sympathy for either of these characters. Anything that went on previously in the Edwards marriage is their business.

Ultimately, John and Rielle will have lives that reflect their levels of (im)maturity.

By Tarheel Blue

If the marriage was broken for 20 years, why didn't he divorce earlier? The fact is he was a married man and she knew it. The other fact is that he has children younger than 20 years old. Elizabeth Edwards should sue her for alienation of affection, not the Youngs.

By Holly

This woman is a loathesome person. So is John Edwards. But to willingly get involved with a married man, especially under these cirumstances, proves she is a woman with major character flaws. How could she do that to Mrs. Edwards? Mrs. Edwards deserves so much better than her husband.

Those photos underscore her lack of jugegment and character. Trying to look sexy with the toys just turns my stomach. FYI, you can show all the skin you want lady, but you look like a dog. My heart goes out to Mrs. Edwards and that poor child that has to be raised by this woman. She is disgusting.

My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Edwards. Now SHE is a woman of substance and class!

By Bebe

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You said it all better than I ever could Holly. What a sad, seriously messed-up history for this little girl, in fact all of the Edward's children.

By Tina

She can spin and twist words and throw out barely veiled assaults on Elizabeth Edwards who is
raising three children and is terminally ill but this does not cover up the fact that there is NOTHING remotely upstanding in regards to values, emotional intelligence or good parenting going on here to anyone with a shred of humanity or intelligence. My heart breaks for Elizabeth Edwards and FAR more so for the FOUR CHILDREN involved. This is an example of people who are so narcissistic, they actually feel they can justify their actions. In my humble yet strong opinion they are not equipped to be even reasonable parents and I send my strongest support to Elizabeth Edwards and ALL four children because they are tied to deeply toxic people.

By Brandy

honestly,i feel bad for the child.and what kind of mother tries to be sexy in a picture,holding their child??? or in what is supposed to be their child's bedroom? to me,it's kind of disgusting. and of course john edwards approves of talking now,he knows she will get more money for the interview they need all the cash they can get,i suppose since he and his wife are getting divorced.

By mary collins finn

In the end these two loathsome people deserve each other. Elizabeth Edwards can hold her head high. I wish her the very best.

By Stephanie

Where are this woman's pants? So much for trying to put yourself in a more positive light. Now we all know you're not only the hateful other woman, but you're just icky.

By dotsiegf

Judge not till your life is over, you never know what you will do in the future.
From a senior citizen.

By Tilly

I appreciate the words of wisdom and know that there is some truth to what you've said. I believe it is okay for people to have scruples and standards. The least we can do is try to do the right thing.

By Mike

Here's try number 4.

By Hillaree

At the top of this page appears Jennifer Aniston. She is cavorting with Gerard somebody now. This bed-hopping drama queen has run out of time with this public. Maybe she should move to Europe and just shrivel up like Bardot and go out of the spotlight. We're sick of her. Not interested. I have a life. She apparently doesn't other than making insipid movies that fail at the box office.

No pants? Lots of class.

Gold-digger.

By Lindsay

Well, John replaced his wife with a mistress. Now his mistress will be his wife and he'll have to replace the mistress with someone else. Watch out, girl, he's a dog, but you will get yours as well when you are replaced.

By Sandra Shea

"Lisa Jo Druck" is pathetic! She definitely looked better before she opened her mouth. She and "Johnny" will get what they deserve. Elizabeth should be happy to be rid of this mess, and move forward.

By Kelly

Yes, I agree with all of the terms used to describe her and am sure there are more that could. What makes these pictures extra skanky is that she chose to include her daughter in them. This is her child's role model? No class!

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