The Ballad of Jesse James and Sandra Bullock

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 18th 2010 12:02PM

Jesse James has just issued a statement apologizing to his wife Sandra Bullock for causing "pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension" to her this week. What for? The tabloids have been abuzz with salacious reports of infidelity on James' part and the whole mess reportedly led to Bullock moving out of their home. All of it. ALL OF IT, has gone down since Monday.

It wasn't long ago that James teared up after Bullock's Best Actress Oscar win (despite leaving him out of her speech), and Bullock's words of love to him at the Screen Actors Guild Awards: "I love you so much, and you're really hot. I want you so much!"

James claims the "vast majority" of reports about him are false. The controversy was launched by tattoo model Michelle "Bombshell" McGee , who told In Touch Weekly this week that she and James had engaged in an 11-month affair, "including five weeks of sex." Yet even if some of the rumors turn up bogus, it's become obvious that this once-golden couple is now having a major crisis. But before we write their epitaph, it might be wise to travel back to see how it all began.

Remember, when they first emerged as an item five years ago, Bullock and James were the odd couple du Jour. A glam Hollywood leading lady hooking up with a tattoo-covered motorcycle enthusiast coming off a marriage to a porn star? America raised its collective eyebrow.

James met Bullock in late 2004 when the actress arranged for her godson to tour the set of his hit Discovery show, 'Monster Garage.' They soon began dating, quietly, and Bullock publicly acknowledged that they weren't the most conventional pairing. "No one knows what someone is like based on appearance," she told PEOPLE at the time.

Bullock added defiantly, "There are people who look very innocent, loving and churchgoing who cheat on their spouses, don't take care of their children and are horrible to humanity."

Defying the odds, they tied the knot on July 16, 2005, in a sunset ceremony near Santa Barbara. More than 300 guests were on hand, even though they weren't told a wedding was going to take place until after they arrived. The invitations to the party promised a "hoedown" atmosphere, and indeed, there was a bluegrass band on hand.

It was the first trip down the aisle for the then-41-year-old Bullock, who had previously been engaged to actor Tate Donovan. Her past boyfriends include Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Gosling and former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman.

James' marital history is a bit more complicated. Just as he was striking up a relationship with Bullock, he was dealing with a messy divorce from his second wife, porn actress Janine Lindemulder.Things were complicated by a custody battle over their daughter. His first marriage, to Karla James, ended in divorce in 2002 after 11 years and two kids.

In December 2009, James won custody of his child with Lindemulder, who had just finished a six month jail sentence for tax evasion. James, publicly supported by Bullock, successfully argued that Sunny would be in danger if left with her mom. Lindemulder is currently living at a halfway house in Oregon.

Even with all this personal baggage, Bullock and James seemed to have crafted one of the more solid and low-maintenance marriages in all of Hollywood. There were no tabloid covers, no blind sources alleging trouble in paradise; essentially, no drama whatsoever.

The down-to-earth couple even invested in a burger restaurant and were generally only photographed together at red carpet events. Paparazzi didn't even bother with them; a stark contrast to other Hollywood heavies like Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.

Fans are understandably shocked and downright skeptical of the new reports. PopEater asked readers whether they believed the rumors James had cheated. A whopping 75% answered "No," and 61% believe the pair should not even dignify the reports by publicly addressing it.

James inexplicably quit Twitter this week, and Bullock has never been known to go around addressing her private life. But as the story heats up and more is learned about the woman claiming to be James' mistress, do they have a choice?

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Tags: jesse james, sandra bullock

Comments

(206)

Thursday 18 March

By Sherry Owings

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Jesse James is not extactly the poster child for moral behavior...that little tramp he had the affair with certainly isn't either...not saying Sandra Bullock is perfect, but dear God, from all we know she has been the supportive wife...Sandra is beautiful, talented, self supporting... IF THIS IS TRUE...I think Sandra should run, screaming, be thanksful she invested no more time in this relationship than she did...and leave the cheating bastard with his tramp.

By jess

I think that Sandra Bullock has always been a
class act. Rarely have I heard anything negative about her
since she started her career. I pray that she gets away from
all the drama, that she turns to God right now, and also knows that she is so loved by her fans!!! Sandy is doing so well, Ill know she will get through this.

By Tania

I agree with you totally if true Sandra Bullock deserves so much better. She is a geniune funny & beautiful woman-I love you Sandra & support you know matter what you do!

By Erika

maybe you shouldn't point a finger at someone with three pointing back at you. Who are we to judge anybody that we don't know...Let them have their privacy to be as normal as a couple as they can be without people like you judging every little rumor they hear..what a shameful person you all are..grow up and stop judging people!!

By LARRY

you are correct that guy is a big jerk

By JULIE

Did you not read the article?!? This story has not been confirmed! Meaning its most likey HEARSAY! This trashy porn star just wants to get famous and she thinks this is her chance. I bet shes gotten more hits on her website than ever before. Why dont you all WAIT to critizes Jesse after the truth is told by Jesse himself or Sandra.

By Susan

Leaving him - not necessarily so hard.
Leaving three children you have fallen in love with - including a little one that really thinks of you as Mom and won't understand why you left her if you are only mad at daddy? THAT is hard.

This is messy - and I send prayers that the only remaining grown-up in this relationship makes good, thoughtful decisions. The kids depend on it....

To Jesse - you ought to be ashamed of yourself - using Sandra to convince the court for custody, while already blowing up the family you were swearing to a court was stable for that young child. Maybe SANDRA should petition for custody! then she CAN leave you!!

By pnut166

Just goes to show...you can take the man out of the trailer park, but you can`t take the trailer park out of the man !

By pinkthenred

If this is true then I have lost respect for Jessie James. It's not that I had a whole lot to begin with but when I heard he and Sandra were fighting to get custody of his youngest daughter Sunny Kate, I thought he was finally growing up and being a dad. Sunny Kate's mother was portrayed as some sex obsessed drug addict. I can see now that it wasn't about the child just a way to have some control of his already messed up ex wife and using the kid as a pawn. If he really cared he wouldn't mess with this already fragile child's sense of family. Little Sunny Kate has already bonded with Sandra and has had to deal with enough crap for someone so young. Way to go Jessie. As for the girl he supposedly slept with..you are a dime a dozen and I don't find you to be particularly attractive.

By wanda

Men are only thinking about themselves. Every day you hear about some one else. Hollywood stars think they "deserve"it. Those were the words Tiger used. Bullsh--t he just got caught just like this guy. Why do they get married if they are interested in other women. She needs to haul ass out of there.

By dumpster diver

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but the real question is should she investigate these rumors????
men cheat, we all know this so if he did she has to decide can she live with it....

By King David

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Dear Sandra,
Marry me. I guarantee that I would never even look at another gal. People like James are too arrogant to understand class and beauty. I'll be waiting to hear from you. Loads of love.

By gman

IF this rumor is true, they need to both privately discuss the events. If the rumor is true, Jesse made a huge midtake. After watching the Awards, I beleive he was 'touched' by her humanity OR he knew he had made a terrible mistake. I beleive it was a good marriage for both. He married up and she married for love. Jesse at age 40 you might need to atone for this misque; bikes and being a 'big man' will not cut this act. Unless Jess was not a truly happy, he needs to go more than the extra mile. If this rumor is untrue, I wish you both well and hope to continue to see you together... I love the fairy tale.. let it be. gman

Wednesday 24 March

By angel

i thinkk sandra bullock should ignore the dumb drama rumors around and she should have thought of working things out with jesse james and go on private vacation just two of them and talk thing through between themselves and bring the kids with them as a family reunion and things should be okay once the dumb rumors stops..

By mlhammon

That's why you need to stay in your own class!!!

By ricochet

Class has nothing to do with it. Trump is supposedly high class - he not only had an affair while married to Ivana, he brought the tramp on a ski trip they were on...

By ^%*&%$#@(*&#$

You are a freaking moron

By MAGOOS

If this sad story is true I guess Mr.James will go back to his pseudo bad biker image, get a few more tattoos and get a spot on DWTS. Obviously Ms Bullock saw things in him that the public know nothing of; she appears to be a mature, private person with a good sense of judgement and unlike myriads of "stars", no baggage. Again if this is true, Mr.James best get astride one of his two wheeled rides more often and ignore the two legged ones. I hope this is just another trash paper story; Ms. Bullock is one of my few favorite actresses and she does not deserve to go through a public intrusion into her very private life.

By Belle

I couldn't have said it better myself! She is a class act and the media should respect her right to privacy. If her husband did cheat on her, then they need to be able to work this out themselves, not with the whole country peeking in on them. And if he didn't, then these rumors are just the media's way of trying to find a story where there is none.

By edog

Sandra thought she could put her hand on him and make him a saint. GIGO.....Garbage in Garbage out.....can't change the spots on a leopard. She got caught up in the fantasyland of movies. It is called reality, hello Sandra....might want to get a dose of it.

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