Levi Johnston Says Bristol Palin "Is Totally Different Now"
Categories: Celeb Parenting
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King tosses out some pretty direct questions about Levi and Bristol's sex life, including asking if the teens had sex in the Palin's house. Johnston doesn't rise to the bait. "You know, Larry, that I'm a gentleman. And I don't kiss and tell. So I don't think that really matters." He acknowledges that the couple never considered abortion or adoption, and says he fully intended to marry Bristol. He calls their breakup "a mutual thing." "What broke it up?" King asks. "I think a lot of it had to do with, uh, just, people bothering us," Johnston says. "I think it kind of just got to us."
Palin Family Album
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband Todd have five children with short, masculine and certainly unique names: Track, 19, Bristol, 18, (with Levi Johnston), Willow, 14, Piper, 7, and Trig, 8 months (not pictured). Read More
Fredy Perojo, AOL
"We both love each other," Levi Johnston, 18, told the AP in a rare interview about his relationship with 18-year-old Bristol Palin. "We both want to marry each other. And that's what we are going to do."
Paul Sancya, AP
Levi Johnston called himself a "redneck' on his MySpace page.
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Sarah Palin initially hid her pregnancy with Trig from the public, causing rumors that Trig was her grandson via Bristol.
Win McNamee, Getty Images
Gov. Sarah Palin, her husband Todd, and daughters Bristol,16, right, and Piper, 5, at the end of a 2006 inauguration ceremony in Fairbanks. Palin, 42, is the first female and youngest governor of Alaska.
Al Grillo, AP
"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us," read a statement by the Palin when Trig was born on April 18. "We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."
Paul J. Richards, AFP / Getty Images
"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned," the Palins's statement said when they announced her pregnancy. "As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows that she has our unconditional love and support."
Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images
Chuck Heath, 70, (pictured with wife Sally), Sarah Palin's father, said gift boxes for his newest grandson are piling up in the governor's mail room from all over the world. There's no way the family will ever be able to answer every letter, he said, although they are trying.
Charlie Neibergall, AP
Then-Republican U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, her daughters, Piper, Willow, and husband Todd walk out onto the ice to drop the ceremonial first puck before a St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings hockey game.
Whitney Curtis, Getty Images
Sherry Johnston, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston's other grandma -- besides Sarah Palin -- pled not guilty for charges of selling OxyContin. "I was in pain, and I'm still in pain," she told People.com.
Al Grillo, AP
But despite his efforts to be fair and evenhanded, Johnston seems to feel like things "got to" Bristol more than to him. "Ever since the campaign, she's changed," Johnston says. "That wasn't the Bristol I knew before she got pregnant. She's totally different now ... in a big way." This is the point in the interview where I want to pat Levi Johnston on the back and tell him that it most likely wasn't the campaign that changed Bristol, but becoming a mother at 18. Although that's just a hunch on my part.
Johnston seems like a nice kid caught in a situation that not even he really understands. He tells King that "all teens, or most of them, are sexually active." When King asks if abstinence is unrealistic, Johnston replies tersely, "Yeah." It's clear that he's tired of talking about this.
In the end, I'm just left feelng really bad for Levi Johnston. He seems so uncomfortable on camera, so unprepared for the relentless questioning, and so sincere about his desire to see his son. It's impossible to tell what's going on behind the scenes, but I found myself at the end of this interview really hoping that the Palins would relent and let him take the baby home with him for a little while. Of course, I also found myself wishing that he would stop showing up on talk shows, but that's really neither here nor there.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
sharon 4-23-2009 @ 2:10PM
REALLY!!!...HE CAN AFFORD A LAWYER BUT DOES NOT PAY CHILD SUPPORT!!!!! HE SHOULD PAY CHILD SUPPORT!!!!!
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tamlaura 4-23-2009 @ 2:54PM
I totally agree with you. That guy is turning into a jerk.
First he dish the wedding, then don't pay child support, in addition spend all his time on the media :Tyra, late night.... we are tired to see his face. Go get job and feed your child instead of spewing nonsense on TV. That is the time you should have been working.
Talking about parental responsibility. What kind of example does he want to show his child. see him everyday and can't afford a diaper and food or baby sitter????
Su 4-23-2009 @ 2:12PM
Maybe if Levi would stop going all over the USA talking about their lives, he would be home to see his child. IDIOT. A perfect example of why teens should not have babies. Levi's family acts so ignorant, airing their petty problems in the press.
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dave 4-23-2009 @ 2:12PM
If I were Levi I would demand a paternity test to make sure I was the actual pappy of this child.
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lcindylewis 4-23-2009 @ 2:58PM
My thoughts exactly. It looks like the Palin's are hiding something. That very well could be the paternity of this baby. I sure wouldn't put it past them. Looks like this Levi kid needs to wake up and do what any astute young man would do, MAKE SURE THE BABY IS YOURS FIRST.
dr 4-23-2009 @ 3:26PM
THEY ARE ALL WHITE TRASH!!!
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sharon 4-23-2009 @ 2:27PM
You know I am sure the Palins allow him visits ...he is not there because he is ashamed by his behavior...he stopped his visits..not them..I am so tried of men who blame women for lack of visits.when it is there own doing ...if he really wanted to see his son...nothing would stop him..not even his guilt!!!!!
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KondoMonster 4-23-2009 @ 5:56PM
It shouldnt matter if the Palins do or do not allow him to visit his kid. Its his own kid. He is the father. So why the hell does he need permission from the Palins to visit his own kid. As far as I know, this guy is going on these tv shows to pressure the Palins so he would have somewhat of a normal relationship he can with his child. His family has nowhere near the power the Palins have. If he went thru the normal routes, he would've been trampled on. The Palins obviously dont what him around for some reason. Maybe he's not the real father. They're just making it worse for the baby. They are not looking out for the best interest for the child.
C.C. BLYTHE 4-23-2009 @ 2:36PM
Trash. Did you listen to that family on Larry king ? How could he stoop so low as to even give that air time ? Dees Dems and Does
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lyn 4-23-2009 @ 2:42PM
There is nothng peculiar here, a judge will not even order an infant of that age to leave it's mother. The baby is only 4 mos. old and he wants to take him and do "stuff" with him. He is imature, and Bristol is protecting her child. Wasnt Levi's mom arrested for selling drugs at one time right after the campaign? No mother would allow their infant child out of their reach. It is a no brainer.
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s.carr 4-23-2009 @ 4:41PM
IF he is the father he should have to pay some kind of support. IF she is denying him his rights as a father, which does include being able to take the child anywhere on his visitations, then she CAN be held in contempt of court and MADE to let him have his visits. I have been through this. It don't matter anymore. A father has rights to his child. I went to jail when my 11 and 12 year olds didn't want to go with their dad any longer. They were old enough to tell the judge what I'd been trying to tell all along, but she still put me (a school teacher) in jail for contempt. With her mother as the gov.of the state, I'm sure his whole family is being made out to be "trash." But remember Bristol "loved" this guy. They supposedly made a baby. He was with her through out her mothers humiliations (she brought on herself) and he stood by the whole family as part of the family. NOW they are saying all this crap about HIS family. People there are always two sides to any breakup. This one seems to have about 8 sides and they are all sideways in their opionions. IF THE BABY IS HIS, HE SHOULD PAY CHILD SUPPORT, SHE SHOULD HAVE TO LET HIM TAKE THE CHILD EVERY OTHER WEEKEND OR WHATEVER SCHEDULE CAN BE MADE. NO MATTER WHO HER MOTHER IS OR ''TRIES TO BE.'' He is at least "wanting" to be a part of the baby's life, even without a blood test. HAVE THE BLOOD TEST FIRST LEVI. Then have your lawyer fight for your rights as a father. Fighting the governor of the state will be an uphill battle, but the law is the law, fathers have rights as much as the mother. Pay your support and then fight.
isisaquaria 4-24-2009 @ 7:16PM
Not true. I have several friends who are in split families--
Judges are beginning to say Dads deserve equal time--mom pump and pack it f My best friend from high school filed for divorce before the last child was born and as soon as the child was old enough to go to daycare (6wks) daddy started his overnight visitation---he is now six months old and spend one week with mom and one week with dad.
She tried to say something and the judge simply said--argue and the baby can go on formula and you can see him 2hrs a day at daddy's house.
This is not a new thing--but it used to happen rarely.
Michele 4-23-2009 @ 3:16PM
The baby is too young for an 18 yr old kid to take him out in a car. Maybe if an adult was with him. I wouldn't want a kid to take my baby off for a weekend.What if he forgets to feed or change him? Has he had parenting and baby care classes? It seems too risky right now.
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dmrebol4 4-23-2009 @ 2:48PM
Pay the child support. No excuse not to. diapers, toys tec at his house. who cares. pay the mom the money she needs to take care of the baby the rest of the time. i went 18 years without child support but then was told to allow visitiation. when they came with the police to pick up my son for a visit i told the cop it would be over my dead body so i hope he had a bullet. because hse was nto getting my kid.
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kathy 4-23-2009 @ 2:57PM
He, should take the money he's making off the talk shows and give some of it to the mother.
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GinaY 4-23-2009 @ 3:01PM
I'm sure this is common among all teen dads and moms. This should serve as a lesson why teens should not have kids. The teens are not prepared for parenthood. They don't have the income to support a child.
It takes two to bring a child into the world. Bristol is just as irresponsible as her ex-fiance.
http://www.sandiegocountynews.com
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s.carr 4-23-2009 @ 5:12PM
EXACTLY!! It takes TWO TO MAKE A BABY. One egg one sperm. Thats it. Bristol is just as responsible, and part of that responsiblilty is to that baby, his welfare and care. Who is paying for the diapers, toys, food etc. that a baby needs? Is Sara paying it out of her gov. salary or is it on the list of "hidden" things a government gets by with? Listed as a $5000 hammer or toilet seat? IF Bristol isn't working to support the baby, someone is, and IF Levi isn't then "someone" is. Is it the taxpayers? sure he may be a redneck, whats wrong with that? We are talking Alaska here. And where is the PROOF of the METH lab business? Seems funny how all that came out AFTER THE ELECTION CAMPAIGNING, just like the trooper that Gov. Palin fired for personal reasons. This whole situation is totally out of hand. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. BLOOD TEST. PAY CHILD SUPPORT, ''''PROVE'''''YOURSELF LEVI, THEN GO AFTER THE PALINS FOR YOUR RIGHTS. Yes every mother wants to protect her child, but he seems to be just as mature as she is. I'm sure she'd be fighting tooth and nail for child support if she wasn't Sara Palins daughter. Thats an embarrassment to them. I think the whole breakup stirred up a "break'down'' with Sara, she/her P.R has gone after this family when they needed to just stand back and let the TWO parents find a way to make it through this. Yes he is young, so is she. Which one is more responsible? the one that forgot the condom or the one that forgot the 'pill'?? BOTH and BOTH should be working this out with a social worker or a remediation session. The baby is the one losing out. The baby is the one that will suffer if he's taken completely away from his father. IF the father starts paying even a little child support, it will be based on his income and hers. If he pays, so does she. They both share custody. IF THERE IS NO PROOF OF THIS ''METH LAB''' THEN THERE SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. I think Sara Palins whole administration and ways of dealing out "the pay backs" to people who she feels have done her wrong is WRONG. And she is getting by with it. NO ONE complained about HER HITTING the t.v shows and talkshows..even during the campaign. She shouldn't have bragged so much about her "pregnant daughter'' and her ''very responsible'' fiance. Now its all "their fault" not hers and her daughters. Seems like the Palins always have to be in control. Even when they should step back and let these two, who are NOW ADULT PARENTS WORK THINGS OUT. Levi, stay off t.v. unless your making money, then pay some support. Bristol, stand up to your mom and let yourself make your own decisions. YOU are a MOTHER NOW. YOU are the one that fell in love and wanted to marry this "man." But only if you were going to D.C?? thats what it seems like. Had him stand by your side, to help YOU and YOUR MOM not be so embarrassed by an unplanned teen pregnancy. Then toss him aside and claim his family is trash and all the "so called" trouble they are. Why would a governor ALLOW her daughter to go out with someone they consider (NOW) to be trash drug users? If he was good enough to be with your daughter as a boyfriend/fiance during the campaign, then lay off and do the right thing. Everyone, should fight to give that baby a 'good life' without the fighting and bitching about everything. That goes for BRISTOL AND SARA AND LEVI TOO. GROW UP SARA, GROW UP BRISTOL. If you loved and trusted him with your daughter, then whats up with him having visitations that he should have a right to.
Karlyn 4-23-2009 @ 3:01PM
What is a Palin - P - pain - A- Another dumb azz - L- Loser - I -I can't can't her - N- No more children without marriage.
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Susan Flor 4-23-2009 @ 3:04PM
No baby should be taken from his mother at 4 months of age. Who cares if he as diapers in his house or not, he still owes child support regardless. Take responsibility instead of crying you can't take your son anywhere. Enjoy the visits at his mothers house and prove yourself worthy of being a dad. Anyone can be a father...now learn to be a Dad.
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Mary 4-23-2009 @ 7:32PM
Exactly!. He wants to take the baby out and "do stuff". What stuff exactly do you do with a 4 month old? He probably thinks it is a toy he can take around town and show off to his friends. Here is probably what happened: she had a baby unwed at 18 and she grew up really fast and he clearly has not grown even a little. Becoming a mother at any age changes you - even more when you are so young with no education or skills and realize this helpless little child is your responsibility. So of course they broke up