Jesse James sat down to talk with ABC’s Nightline on Tuesday (May 25) night. He talked about being “the most hated man in the world”, his marriage to “America’s Sweetheart”, Sandra Bullock, his infidelities and he says that he was an abused child.
James claims that the of abuse he experienced as a child is what drove him to cheat on wife Sandra because he was trying to destroy his perfect marriage. According to James, psychologically, he has destroyed everything good in his life.
“I was a terrorized kid. I was petrified of my dad … It wasn’t so much getting the shit beat out of me or getting my arm broken or getting kicked or whatever or punched, it was the in-between time. It was the fear of that happening again,” said James.
He says that as a result of his lack of self-worth, “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. The struggle within myself for the things that I did … to damage marriage and my life and everything else, it’s all me. I’m doing it because, you know, I’ve basically never felt good enough for anyone.”
James said it was during his rehab treatment that the memories returned and he realized his own self-destructions.
James said that he is 100% sure that Sandra will be divorcing him and that he hopes for a reconciliation of being able to have a friendship with her again. James says he loves Sandra and he feels horrible for what he did.
Jesse and Sandra were in the process of adopting a baby, named Louie. He says that he will remain in his life and Sandra will remain in his children’s life.
As this is a difficult time for Jesse, Sandra, and the children involved- we do wish them the best possible outcome.
What do you think of Jesse’s reasoning for his cheating ways?