Jesse James on 'Nightline': I'm a Liar, Not a Racist

By PopEater Staff Posted May 24th 2010 11:57PM

More sadness-filled nuggets continue to trickle in from ABC's interview with Jesse James, and the latest has the former reality star recalling the moment he told Sandra Bullock about his cheating ways. "I told her basically everything," he said in a snippet aired on 'Good Morning America.' "I had affairs outside of our marriage."

James said Bullock had suspected he was being unfaithful in the past, but "I lied and lied my way out of it. I lied to everyone about everything, even to myself."

But of all the reasons James sat down with ABC's Vicki Mabrey for the interview -- which airs Tuesday on 'Nightline' -- he revealed his main motivation was to dispel charges he's a racist.

"I think out of anything this is why I'm doing this interview the most," he said. "Because dealing with losing my marriage and my son and embarrassing everyone and decimating my life. But to be called a racist on top of that, it makes me really sad seeing the photo and the way I look.

Jesse James Nazi Photo

The photo in question (Us Weekly had it) shows James sporting a Nazi hat and giving a Nazi salute. Compounding the bad press surrounding the shot is James' alleged relationship with stripper Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, who has been photographed wearing similar Nazi gear and reportedly sports a swastika tattoo.

"I don't even remember taking the photo," he claimed. "But I can tell by the look of my face that it was a joke. That was funny then, for like a minute. Looking at it in the context of my life now, it's not funny."

James said he "knew it was horrible" to cheat on Bullock but continued to do so out of desire to derail his life because things were too good.

"It made me feel horrible," James said of the infidelities. "And I knew I would get caught eventually, and I think I wanted to get caught. I don't think, I know for a fact now what it was. It was me trying to self-sabotage my life."

The 'West Coast Chopper' star became visibly upset when discussing the people he has hurt most in the scandal and the irony of the path he took.

"The last person I would ever want to harm is her or the kids," he said. "I spent my whole life with the kids and her, trying to protect her. But the most hurt she's ever been caused is by the person who wanted to protect her."

He continued: "It's really, it's terrible. And she's going to hurt for a long time. It's hard for me to talk about it a little bit, because I still really love and care about her."

Watch: PopEater's Rob Shuter and 'The Insider' Host Lara Spencer on Jesse's Apology

James covers just about all the bases with 'Nightline' -- his cheating, his divorce from Bullock, his stint in rehab and his role in raising Louis, the baby boy Bullock and James recently adopted.

Asked if he's the "most hated man in America," James answers, grinning, "I think it's the 'most hated man in the world,' now."

Since news of his multiple affairs hit the press, James has kept a low profile, and has only been seen dropping his kids off at school. But while he's generally stayed out of the spotlight, the reality star has issued several statements apologizing for his behavior.

When PEOPLE broke the story of Bullock's adoption last month, Jesse released the following statement to the magazine: "My whole life has been full of hard decisions. The decision to let my wife end our marriage, and continue the adoption of Louis on her own, has been the hardest. The love I have for Louis cannot be put to words. Not having him around to love and to hold has left a huge hole in my heart."

The complete interview will air on May 25 at 11:35 PM ET/PT on ABC, and will be previewed on 'Good Morning America' that day.

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Sandra Bullock Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Jesse James and his daughter Chandler return from a trip to the Southern United States. Was Jesse there to finalize his divorce, or were Jesse and Chandler visiting Sandra Bullock and her adopted baby Louis Bardo? EXCLUSIVE May 13, 2010 Job: 100513NB2 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

CHRIS/bauergriffinonline.com

Sandra Bullock Snapshots

In this publicity image released by ABC, correspondent Vicky Mabrey, left, is shown with Jesse James, husband of actress Sandra Bullock during an interview for "Nightline," on Wednesday May 12, 2010 in Long Beach, Calif. The interview will air on Tuesday, May 25, at 11:35 p.m. EST on ABC. (AP Photo/ABC, Patrick Wymore)

Sandra Bullock Snapshots

Sandra and Jesse Snapshots

Sandra Bullock Snapshots

Tags: jesse james, nightline

Comments

(449)

Monday 24 May

By great granny

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Enough said!! Its over and done. Good Luck! Be happy if you can.

By Mr. Leo

The man just likes skanky strange. It happened to Bill Clinton.

By baituo23

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

oubashang

By reiki

People screw up, and it is not our place to judge them for doing so. For my part I hope that this man gets some help, because if what he says is true he has some deep self-hatred in there. I wish the best for all involved, but I do not think this story remaining in the news is for anyone's highest good, and I wish the media would let it go.

Tuesday 25 May

By CMG

YOU'R RIGHT, GET OVER IT, MOVE ON, AND GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU!

By themeeker

Seriously, WHO THE HELL CARES? We like his wife, and we don't give a crap about this guy at all. I wonder why he thinks we do.

By WhoKnew

I couldn't understand why she married him to begin with but now that I hear his voice I will never understand why!!!

By Cherie

Okay, you aren't a racist. You are a lying, cheating, tattooed skank magnet. Way to go.

By Jim

Bill Clinton wasn't getting any at home which is why he went skanky. His wife is a closet lesbian, but then again we don't know if Jesse was getting any from Sandra either or maybe she just wasn't freaky enough?

By hider51210

Jesse, I could understand if it was cheating on McGee with Sandra Bullock. But C'mon man, are you kidding me? Does Cocaine and tattoo ink make a guy nuts?

By fricaseedsoul

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anyone that doesnt believe jesse james is a racist please lift your right arm up to a 60 degree angle with all of your fingers pointed straight out.

By King David

The article said "the one word that James did not want to be called". I've got one for him: STUPID!!!!!!!!! What a moron!!!

By anni

People are so stupid.....Thinking Sandra is "Americas Sweetheart" she married this lowlife. She knew what she was marrying. He had a bunch of kids with a stripper. Sandy likes some dirt in her sandwich. Stop being so gullible. Sandy even, horror, smokes weed. ha ha haha ha grow up America

By george

Jesse, you have apologized enough. Get back on your bike and ride. I know it hurts now, but you will be OK without her and have a much more private and Un-Hollywood life !... Take in a California sunset....and blast up the 101 on your bike for some R & R.

By mark

Nicely put George, I agree. Time to stand up and be a man. There is a lot to be said for a sunset and blasting up any highway of your choice. Divorce, sunsets and Harley's, Been there ,done that.

By Dan

Also, find a woman that likes to swing.

By T REX

That's right JJ....find a woman who wants to play also...the ONLY way to fly...........

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I don't know why he is apologizing at all. You are who you are. Why apologize for it. Two people in a marriage who really don't know each other. Some funny pix of you as 'hitler'? Prince Harry dressed for halloween as a full on Nazi, he didn't apologize. This douche just doesn't want people to hate him, who cares dude.

By deejay

work it JJ, work it!! Milk that bad boy B.S for all it is worth. There ain't no pity party for you in the works. Excuses at this point just don't cut it.

By j

How the heck does anyone be married to gods gift ? I cant stand bullock . Miss Perfect

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