Follow Zap2it:
Jesse James on 'Nightline': Still loves Sandra Bullock, doesn't want divorce
Twitter
Google
In an interview with ABC's "Nightline," Sandra Bullock's soon-to-be ex-husband Jesse James says that after news broke of his affair with Michelle Bombshell McGee, he went to rehab for sex addiction, anger management and to talk about his childhood. "The main thing I was there for was being a victim of child abuse," James says. "My whole childhood I never had the chance to be a kid. James calls his career a "smoke screen," saying that behind his tough guy image, "I'm a scared abused kid. A seven-year-old."
When he decided to go to rehab, James says that he spoke to Bullock and asked her to take care of his daughter, Sunny, while he was away. "She told me she was proud of me," he remembers. He says he's regretful of his actions, still loves Bullock, and that while there is no chance of reconciliation, a divorce is "absolutely not" what he wants.
"I don't think I have a sex addiction where, like, I'm running around trying to have sex with everyone and I can't stop. I think I do things to sabotage my life, including having extramarital affairs, texting, overworking myself, injuring myself. I do a lot of things in my life that aren't conducive to being a perfect husband. The affairs are just one of them."
As for the infamous photos of James doing a Nazi salute, he believes that if they'd come out before the scandal, people would have murmured but they wouldn't have been outraged. "The truth about it is it was a joke that was probably pretty funny in a party in my house with a bunch of friends," he says. Because the photo came out during the media scrutiny about his infidelity, Jesse believes it was a "perfect storm."
"There's not a racist bone in my body," he says.
The baby that he and Bullock planned to adopt together, Louis, is black. "I didn't care what color he was. My only prerequisite for adopting a baby: I want the baby that needs us the most," James says. Now that they're getting divorced, Jesse's name is no longer on the adoption papers and Louis will take Bullock's last name.
"Adoption agencies are pretty conservative and as long as I'm in the picture, they would run the risk of her not bringing him home," he says.
James has three children who he says were upset with him when he came clean about cheating on Bullock. "They all love Sandy so much, so when I hurt Sandy I also hurt them because I took someone that they really love away from them," James says. He notes that Bullock will continue to be in his children's lives.
Follow Zap2it and @cadlymack on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
Photo credit: ABC
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Featured Partners
Didn't watch the interview, but how could she trust him again. A lot of people have had abusive homes and don't cheat on their spouses. He's a father and had other women in his life before. He should have never married Sandy if he knew he couldn't control himself. He wanted to do what he did or he should have did everything he could to get to his wife if he couldn't control himself. Grow up. You're really not a good example to your children.
What a tool. I can't wait until he is no longer in the news, go away loser.
I actually feel bad for him. There are a lot of self-destructive people in the world who throw good things away. I hope both he and Sandra come away from the experience with better lives.
People need to get real about him. He put his d!*% in another woman. He didn't murder anyone.
He screwed up. He admitted it. And he is employer of people. He is giving jobs to others. That in itself, to a certain extent, qualifies him as more of a good person than bad in an economy like this one. His business is supporting the livelihoods of many others.
@Daryl Zero- I couldn't agree with you more...What he did was bad, but that doesn't make him a bad person. It only means he sucks at being a husband. But other than that, the guy has ALWAYS done great things for communities and charaties. The people that want him lynched are the ones that need to look at their own lives. And I'm going to assume that those talking down on him have at one point been unfaithful. Whether physically or in fantasy.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Which is NONE OF YOU. So shut your mouths.
Most men that cheat don't want a divorce....hence the sneaking around and screwing other people. Men that cheat want the security and comfortability of a family but also want extra sex on the side.
To Daryl-Zero: That's what I said about TIger Woods. He may have screwed enough women to populate a college classroom, but it was not against the law.
Whereas if you get arrested multiple times for DUI and are caught with a prostitute, you keep your endorsements and tv commentator job....Charles Barkley. LOL.
get a life Julie, this guy is scum from a to z. Maybe when your partner cheats on you,lies to you and has zero respect for you will have a different speech.
Julie, you sound like maybe you've cheated yourself, maybe that's why you can be so understanding.
For the record, I've was cheated on in my last marriage. She was quite a young girl, and arrogant too. And my eX didn't show half the remorse you'd expect a normal human to convey, especially considering we have 3 children together. But unlike you bitter winches, I moved on with my life, which is the best revenge. SO LARA, shave your pits and shut up with your rhetoric.