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In his 'Nightline' interview, Jesse James claimed that his father abused him physically when he was a child, landing many in shock.
He posted that he was always scared from him and develop Goosebumps whenever he recounts incident where his dad, Larry James, allegedly broke his arm.
Jesse's father denied he was ever abusive in another article:
"I was a terrorized kid," Jesse said. "I was petrified of my dad ... It wasn't so much getting the @!$%# beat out of me or getting my arm broken or getting kicked or whatever or punched, it was the in-between time. It was the fear of that happening again."
Now Larry tells Radaronline.com that Jesse's story is nothing but a lie.
"None of it is true," Larry said. "My kids were my whole life. I would never ever hurt any one of them. I would have died before I would have hurt them."
Larry also explained how Jesse broke him arm.
"Just to show off...he dove over the fence, landed on the ground, and broke his arm," he said. "He neglected to say that I was right there, picked him up, lifted him over the fence and I never let go of him until his hand was in a cast. I even had them cut his shirt off him at the hospital so I didn't have to let go of his arm."
Larry claims his son fabricated stories of a tragic childhood in order to boost his tough guy image.
But his sister backs him up in still a third article:
Jesse James' sister confirms child abuse allegations
One of the claims Jesse James made during the interview was that he was abused by his father while growing up. Some say that statement was just for sympathy, and Jesse James' father denies the charge, but his sister has stepped forward to defend her brother.
Jesse James' sister, Julie James England, told TMZ that the abuse was real. She said her father was, "very abusive to my mom and us when we were growing up."
#1 - Thu May 27, 2010 10:08 PM EDTIf it actually happened, I pity him somewhat. However it still doesn't justify questionable behavior as an adult.
#2 - Thu May 27, 2010 10:14 PM EDTSo now we know what he says made him an @!$%#.
What's his excuse for choosing to act like one in his marriage?
#3 - Thu May 27, 2010 10:32 PM EDTWhat's his excuse for choosing to act like one in his marriage?
Well it looks like he's studied the playbook. Step one, blame it on your childhood....
I agree that prior abuse is not a valid excuse for cheating on his wife, but I am glad he spoke out about it. We need to eliminate the shame that accompanies being a victim of abuse and learn how abuse changes a person.
Research has shown that the brain of a child who has suffered abuse has permanent changes. This means that child will never be able to react the same as a child who has not been abused. Many develop lifelong fears and hypersensitivity to situations that others do not perceive as dangerous in any way.
Domestic violence is intergenerational. Children who are abused are likely to grow up to be abusive or to be abused as adults. I'm glad to I have not heard any reports of James being violent toward Bullock.
But until we can understand how being abused affects little boys we will never be able to stop the cycle of abuse through the generations. We've focused a lot on little girls. We should spend as much time looking at the abuse of boys.
#4 - Fri May 28, 2010 12:25 AM EDTWe should spend as much time looking at the abuse of boys.
Thank you Loretta for the equality comment. Many times I have noticed you are perceived by readers as anti-male because of your unequivocal avocation of woman's issues it is nice to see you write that, not that I ever doubted where your heart lay.
It is wonderful that his sister had the courage to speak up. It is time we bring child abuse into the harsh light of day. The more that talk the more that heal, believe them when they tell you.
The people who perceive me as anti-male believe that if a woman is pro-women's rights, then they are out to take away male rights. They don't seem to realize men don't have to lose anything in order for women to be equal and to be treated with respect.
They also don't seem to realize that feminists have, from the beginning of the second wave, tried to include men in gaining more freedom from rigid gender roles in their lives. Why should men be forced to live a life they don't want anymore than women? But that's what happens under patriarchy.
However, we can't force men to embrace the idea that freedom and equality for women is a good thing for men too. So I don't bother arguing with them about it. It feels too futile. I'd rather stay focused on what's best for women.
I view child abuse as an urgent issue for all feminists. It doesn't matter if the child being abused is male or female. It's wrong and destroys lives. We will never stop intergenerational domestic violence if we aren't prepared to speak out for all child victims -- including the child who witnesses his/her mother being abused.
Did you know that young boys who commit murder almost always do it to protect their mothers from abuse? How horrific it must be to have to make that decision when your life has barely begun.
I've been thinking about your response all day. What a shame it is that caring about what happens to little boys is considered a statement on equality. That saddens me in ways I cannot explain.
Regardless of gender (or any other differences) we are all human beings and it should make one feel sad that equality was a spoken consideration in this context where perpetuation of a wrong on anyone has no redemption.
I was recently posting on a blog when several women arrived who were angry that I was not advocating to young girls to separate from men completely. One of these women even said she had cut off female friends because they would not renounce their male relatives, like a nephew.
I was surprised at the ferocity behind their feelings. I'm not even sure how women could live without being in contact with men. Or why that should be an aspiration. I've enjoyed many wonderful men in my life, beginning with my father. My life would have been much poorer without them.
None of these women were explicit as to what the root of their feelings were, but I would think there had to be an event or events that inspired them. How deep does the hurt have to go to inspire those deep, deep feelings of needing a complete severance with men?
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