Jesse James Claims He Was Abused By His Father

By PopEater Staff Posted May 26th 2010 07:13AM

Jesse James saved the worst for last in his first interview since his marriage to Sandra Bullock fell apart, telling ABC's 'Nightline' that he was the victim of abuse as a child. "I was a terrorized kid," he said. The former reality star said he entered rehab earlier this year for sex addiction and anger management, but mostly needed to deal with his childhood, which he claims was filled with beatings at the hands of his father. He told ABC's Vicki Mabrey that memories of the alleged abuse influenced his self-destructive decisions.

"I grew up with a huge amount of shame and fear and abandonment on my shoulders from a very young age, and I think, you know, the way my mind rationalized [cheating], 'Well, you know, I might as well do whatever I can to like run her off cause she is going to find out what I am anyway and leave me anyway,'" James said.

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He said all his cheating stemmed from his "emotional shortcomings," as ABC put it.

"The struggle within myself for the things that I did ... to damage marriage and my life and everything else, it's all me," James said. "I'm doing it because, you know, I've basically never felt good enough for anyone."

James said he went into rehab with a "bit of an ego," but after a few days, "I realized, 'Wow, I'm kind of more messed up than most of the people here.' It was like peeling an onion. Every day it was a new revelation about myself and the things I've been doing," he said. "I cried more in rehab in the last 30 days than I have in my whole life. No BS. That's the truth."

After talking with counselors about his memories of abuse, he began to realize its impact on him.

"Bike builder, 'Monster Garage' TV star, all that stuff is a huge smokescreen so that people won't see that I'm a scared, abused kid, a seven-year-old," James said. "He beat my ass pretty good a bunch of times ... I just remember, like, clinched teeth, strained-neck look on his face," James said. "My whole childhood, I never had a chance to be a kid. ... I was always scared."

James' father, Larry James, strongly denied the allegations of abuse in an e-mail to ABC.

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."

He went on to say he doesn't believe he has a sex addiction in the sense that he was out trying to find any sexual partner. The infidelities, he said, were just one piece of his dysfunctional life.

"I think I do things to sabotage my life, including having extramarital affairs, texting, overworking myself, injuring myself, doing stunts and stupid things. I think I do a lot of things in my life that I shouldn't be doing that aren't conducive to being a perfect husband, you know, and the affairs are just one of them."

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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, sandra bullock

Comments

(421)

Wednesday 26 May

By mec1140

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Why is he saying to this anyone else but his wife? The public doesn't need to know any of this. What little credibility he had left went down the drain when he publicly tried to excuse away his actions. The man doth protest too much me thinks.

By emma

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Oh boo hoo. I had abandonment issues and abuse issues and have been with my husband for 25 faithful years. But people don't realize that he was still married when virginal Sandra caught his eye in a garage. She broke up his last marriage and now everyone's so sorry for her? I say cosmic payback's a b.

By Dayna

Ummm, Emma? You have no idea what you're talking about. Sandra Bullock did not break up Jesse James' marraige. Look it up.

By Susann

Why doesn't he just shut his mouth and quit blaming everyone/everything in his life! He messed up....just admit it and suck it up Jesse!

By Rockin

LMAO WHAT A RETART
OH MY I FEEL FOR YA
IT WASNT ME IT WAS MY DADDY O
OH SANDY SANDY SANDY MY DADDY O MADE ME WANA BONE SKANKS
IT WAS MY DAAAAD PLEASE
HELP ME FORGIVE ME SANDY ILL NEVER BONE ANOTHER SKANK I SWEAR
GIMMIE BACK THE RED CARPET AND YOUR LIFE PALLLLEEEEESE

By quartrhoss

Give me a break! I am sick to death of people blaming their "abusive" childhood for all their stupid actions!! At some point you have to take responsibility for yourself. Most people figure that out by their 20's. And I DO know what I am talking about, grew up with a sociopath for a sperm donor and a drunk for an egg donor! While whining about how bad your childhood was please remember there are children who don't survive their childhood... makes you one of the lucky ones, doesn't it?

By Katie

What will your next excuse be Jesse? "I was abducted by aliens and experimented on, and then my hamster died, and then someone dinged my truck, and then it rained, and then the dog ate my hoemwork, and then I had a hangnail, and then,,,,,,and then,,," Do us all a favor and shut it!!! You effed up buddy. And you effed the wrong person. She took a walk. So move on. There is always another skank around the corner willing to tell you what a great lover you are. You know what they look like and where to find them.

By beenthere

Everything he talks about is true, not that it should effect anyone else opinion of him or what he's done, it just say's you are a product of your environment. If you want to be better than you predecessor you need to evaluate your actions before you act.

By RAS

Typical Hollywood B.S. These whack jobs unfortunately influence many ignorant people who think it is fashionable to air out your problems and use them as an excuse to do the wrong thing or not take responsibility for your own mistakes and bad judgement.

By Beth

Sorry, this has happened too many times for these excuses. However, if this is really how he feels then it's time to let go and move on with his life. Start over. I don't think his life with Sandra stands a chance for re-uniting. Too much water over the bridge.

By SunnyB

The look on his face says "Feel sorry for me." Bah!!! Married how many times??? His Dad's fault he cheated???? Get real!

By Irish Pugilist

White trash. period. Boo Hoo about your childhood.. A lot of us had it ten times worse than you ever did and we still hold our heads up and appreciate what we have. You didn't. grow up kid..Since your not man enough to keep your head up, then keep it down in shame. That's your new name. Jesse shames..What a tool. Hey maybe Madona needs some more babysitters. She'll take you back as here errand boy,,lol,,

By kim

Yeah Yeah yada yada. I'm so sick of people blaming everything on their childhood. Mine sucked.... but I don't go running around atributing it to everything that I've done wrong or everything that's gone wrong in my life. We have choices... that's why we have consciences and brains. People like this use the "Abuse Excuse" all the time. Get over it and take responsibility for your mistakes, and move on. There are alot of people out there who had it worse than you and lead productive responsible, happy lives!

By PatrickPain

Can this guy get any lower? He's the only one not taking resposibility for his actions.

By mike

Another hollywood crybaby! I was abused! It's my parents fault. Some grown man, poor baby.

By mjhodor

How stupid to publicize this jerk!! He sure is getting a lot of attention, and he's nothing.

By Mike in PA

Sandra...........Get a Life! You married a KNOWN bad boy! A leopard does not change its spots. Did you think you could change him? If you did you're a fool!

By Makenzie

Yeh! Right, Seems this didnt effect his marraige to a PORN star!

By satan

What other exuses do you need you fu-king loser.Just look in the mirror and what do you see but white trash.

By Melanie

Oh, SHUT UP! I had a father who was physically and metally abused as a child by an alcholic fater and he NEVER cheated on my mother or abused us.
You are such a LOSER!!!!!!!

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