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 katie

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Same here Melanie. My father was abused his entire childhood by a violent and sadistic drunk. Yet he turned out to be a loving and supportive father. I am what I am today because of him. He raised 5 boys and 2 girls. None of us ever arrested or on drugs. All of us attended college. He made sure of that. He made the choice to NOT use his abuse as an excuse, as a crutch. He remained faithful to my mother. IT'S ABOUT CHOICES JESSE!! Stop making excuses. And, shut the h-ll up!! Jeez.

By Ray

WHAT??!! so now it's his dads fault?

how lame

be a man jesse, you screwed up just be man enough to admit it.

By kenny

jesse you phuked up stop your whining put your big girl panties on take your knocks and please go away .You playing the sympathy card is a joke .

By Granma

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I don't care what responses I get, you can keep all negative ones
But I know for a fact people cheat because they want too...not because "my sister was loved more than me " OR , "I never had new clothes , I wore hand me downs," OR, " my daddy made me do it..( cheat)." I have lived a life that has been a hard one, mean, unloving parents, poor as a church mouse, been homeless, raped..worked 2 jobs to keep my kids together. I never drank as an excuse.....and truthfully when I cheated it was because I WANTED TOO..! I don't go around saying " Poor me " and go to therapy, hard work is the best therapy.
Be a man Jesse and admit it is your fault,don't blame childhood.

By Charles

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

JESSE JAMES: YOU'RE A TYPICAL FAILURE GIVEING BLAME TO OTHERS FOR YOUR SELF-INDUCED WEAKNESS AS A HUMAN BEING. TYPICAL OF A "BIKER". YOU'RE NO GOOD! NOW WALK OFF THE PLANET AS THE WORLD CHIMES IN WITH "GOOD RIDDANCE! YOU NON-ENTITY!"

By Sandy

Jesse is a dirt bag that had a good thing. He couldn't leave the low life behind him and hooked up with a bunch of gross women. He only proved he was way below Sandra, and he needed to stay down among the trash. Cheating was bad enough, the women that he cheated with looked like they were ridden with disease, the lowest of the low. Cheating was like a knife in the heart, then seeing what he cheated with was like a slap in the face! He should be forgotten by the world. He's already gotten too much attention. With all the infidelity going on, I've got to say Sandra not putting up with it shows that a strong, confident woman will not allow herself to be treated like that. Being in the public eye I'm proud of her to set an example!

By Snake

Poor fella daddy didn't love him! Hey dummy maybe you aren't good enough for anyone!

By RobbieK

Unbelievable. We have a President skipping the visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, blowing off the oil leak in the Gulf, and killing the economy. We have North Korea ready to start war with the South. We have the Hitler of Iran driving full speed ahead with a nuclear weapon. And this abuser of a woman is what you idiots care about? Better wake up, it's time to take back your country fools!

By thunder

Robbiek:

Why must you conservative idiots use any forum to try and push your views off on people? Why don't you try praying away the worlds problems instead of blaming them all on the political party you obviously hate.

By Tim

Human-Nights:
Jessie the J-OFF!! Now has been abused by his father. This clown should have grown up outside of Pittsburgh, PA where I did. Then he would know the meaning of real hard fathers. We all turned out great some self made millionares and successful bussiness owners..I like to read this clown smashed his head into a phone pole off his bike. Be doing the world a justice.

By Pooh27361

His treatment as a child, if true, can affect the adult he became but at the end of the day; he and he alone is responsible for his actions.

By Red

Oh Jesse, blah, blah, blah and more BS. There is no excuse for cheating except being a weak and ignorant person.

By rkatk

Blah, Blah, Blah, excuses...dirt bag

By Mary

I bet his dad isn't around to defend himself! Even if he was abused as many have been, you should let that past make you a better person today. Not use it as an excuse to be a total jerk !

By avmsmgr

the POS is making himself look worse every time he opens his trap, what a f'ing crybaby, admit you are just a lying, cheating, Federal Rat (let's not forget that little detail) and now you say "my daddy beat me" ! you give real Men a bad name punk. Too bad your daddy didn't have a condom that night.
Quit crying, stfu and go lay down and lick your __ts

By tenbears

Wha, WHa, Whaaaa. I think I hear the worlds smallest violin playing. My daddy was mean to me. Guess what douche, you don't live with your daddy anymore so man up and take the blame. What a real tough guy.

By J

oh please.... no more I was abused excused... just ride off into traffic somewhere....

By WTF??

I think he may be on to something...I have experienced something similar to this myself. My blessing is that the woman I loved recognized the possibility and gave me another chance. We are now very happily married

By craig

Maybe CASTRATION would be the answer to Jesse's problems.

By KC

Sorry Jesse, MILLIONS of people have came from an abusive parent, and thousands LIVE in abusive homes..Thats no excuse to be a fool. Some men just LIKE TO CHEAT..Sure they're sorry, "Oh forgive me crap" but.....a cheater is a cheater. He may own up to his stupid error but you were married to a beautiful, lady.
I know in future, she'll date a man who is honest.
In fact, NO LADY OR MAN should cheat; where does it get you?

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