Levi Johnston with then-pregnant fiancee Bristol Palin, on the night John McCain accepted the Republican presidential nomination. Photo credit: AP.
Since appearing on the Tyra Banks Show and revealing that ex-fiancee Briston Palin’s abstinence-loving mommy, former VP candidate Sarah Palin, knew that the two teenagers were doing the nasty, Levi Johnston says he has been dealing with familial tension whenever he visits with his son, 3-month-old Tripp. He takes exception to the Palin family’s claim that he was never living at their house prior to Bristol getting pregnant. He says that the statements made by the Palins were “Lies” that were spun to save their reputations. His media tour has made his visits to son Tripp very tense – he hopes to be able to take his son for visits without the Palin family interfering, but right now, that’s not happening. Oh, and he also would like to clear up a misconception about his family’s reputation.
Just days after appearing on the Tyra Banks Show, Levi Johnston, Bristol Palin’s former fiancé and father to her son Tripp, talked more on CBS’ The Early Show about his difficulties with the family of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
One point of disagreement: Whether Johnston, 18, ever lived at the Palin’s home. “They said I didn’t live there,” he said. “[They say] I ‘stayed’ there. I was like, ‘Okay, whatever you want to call it’ – I had all my stuff there. So, if you wanna call it staying there, that’s fine.”
“So, they’re lying,” said anchor Maggie Rodriguez. “Yeah,” Johnston replied.
After Palin lost the election and Johnston and Bristol broke up, Johnston says there has been tension during his visits to see 3-month-old Tripp. “I can go over there whenever I want and see my baby,” says Johnston. “But I’m not allowed to take him, and it’s not as comfortable going over there anymore with that family sitting down on the couch. It’s awkward. I don’t know. They just, like, they don’t think of me the same way anymore.”
He adds, “I don’t wanna go over there every day and sit there when her family’s there and try and play with my baby. I want to be able to take him and do what – our own thing with my family.”
Levi wasn’t the only Johnston to defend his story. His mother, Sherry, and sister Mercede also weighed in.
“I mean, look what they’re doing,” said Mercede. “They’re lying, trying to save themselves when they’re the ones that asked for it. They brought him to the campaign. They should have known what was coming. They can’t turn around and try and take it back now.”
As for why Levi is speaking out now, he explained, “We’re not trying to cash in on their name, you know. I’m just trying to get my side of the story out there. Letting people know who I am. Not what the magazines say I am.”
The biggest misconception? “Umm, probably that my family’s white trash,” he said.
I kind of feel sorry for this kid. He got played by the Palins, big time. One minute he was just a high school kid playing hockey; the next minute he was in a suit and tie, shaking hands with John McCain. All because he and his girlfriend had a moment of stupidity. I feel badly for Bristol, too. These two kids didn’t stand a chance for a future together, but without all the media scrutinty and interference by the Palin family, they could at least be successfully co-parenting a baby together. I don’t think either of them knew what they were getting into. It sounds to me like all Levi wants is to clear his name and see his kid. But the Palins have a lot of power in Alaska. Just ask Sarah Palin’s brother-in-law. However, I don’t know if Levi is doing himself any favors by appearing on The Tyra Banks Show and other talk shows. Sure, people are curious, and they are eating this story up. But in the end, this is about two young people trying to raise a baby. He should probably put his time and energy into getting an education, getting a decent job and providing a future for Tripp- with or without help from the Palins.
Bristol Palin holds baby brother Trig at the Republican National Convention, while ex-fiance Levi Johnston looks like he wants to escape. Photo credit: AP.
“He says that the statements made by the Palins were “Lies” that were spun to save their reputations.”
-I actually believe every single word of this. This was absolutely a case of spin control.
Anyway, I’m glad Levi is doing this. Hopefully, some people will take pity on him and realize the Palin family’s true colors. Or at least Sarah and her husband, at any rate.
That kid should sue. His parental rights are being all kinds of violated.
3 months old is still pretty little. I don’t know if I would let my child that young out without me either.
Clearly, those kids didn’t know what they was getting themselves into.
And how much credibility does his mother really hold, isn’t she a drug addict?
It is pretty tacky of the Johnston’s to be airing out their grievances publicly.
he looked so overwhelmed to be in the spotlight at the Repulican convention. poor horny teen, well what else is there to do in Alaska?
I hope he’s able to have normal visitation with his baby WITHOUT the frowny faced Palins hanging around. How uncomfortable that must be! Whatever his family is, they were already that at the time Gov. Palin was the nominee for VP, so it makes no sense to act like this is big news to the Palins. Bristol ought to be able to take her baby to visit his dad at a neutral location so Tripp and his dad can actually do some bonding. It’s the right thing to do for Tripp, in my opinion. No sense making his dad out to be some kind of monster.
I don’t think that Levi’s being tacky at all. It’s obvious that this is his last recourse! It’s talking to the media because everything else he tried hasn’t worked.
How is he going to assert his parental rights with Palin as governor of Alaska? She’s corrupt and as troopergate proved, is not above using her influence to get the decision she wants!
Good to see the 2012 Presidential campaign has already begun.
Ditto MSat!
Photo jojo- Sarah Palin is the governor. How successful do you think he’d be in a custody suit against her daughter? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why he’s doing this. At this point, if he did sue for some form of joint custody and the judge denied it, people would be up in arms.
My gut says don’t trust this kid. But I kinda believe every freaking word he says. And mind you, I’m not an huge Palin hater.
Still, I think its obvious what went on here and it’s a shame that with all the pressures facing young parents, these two kids ultimately go screwed by a political agenda larger both of them.
I believe him. This was inevitable but crappy none the less. He has no chance of a fair custody trial because of the power of the Palin family. I wish both of the teens luck.
He doesn’t have to sue for custody, he can sue for his rights to have visitation. That’s pretty black and white, since he is the father.
The Palins lied?!? *gasp* Say it aint so! Come on.. They’ve lied all along. She denied any involvement with the entire Troopergate fiasco and then when it finally came out that she clearly had a hand in it did a complete turn around, trying to dig her way out of trouble with semantics and double talk. I don’t know why anyone’s surprised that the same thing is happening again and again. People’s track records speak for themselves.
I believe he’s been more honest than ANY of the Palins and I hope he fights for some custody rights that don’t involve him sitting in their living room uncomfortably trying to develop a relationship with his son!
Not to mention Sarah Palin is showing no regard for Tripp when she calls his paternal side of the family “white trash”. That’s beyond rude to the child. No matter what she thinks about them she ought to keep her freakin’ mouth SHUT for Tripp’s sake. Sarah is a total redneck beeyotch, but she needs to zip it on this matter.
Such a mess. And not a surprise.
I’m inclined to believe his side, but also that he probably wants to gain SOMETHING from all this. I call bull to the whole “I want nothing more than to clear my name/my family.” He wants that, sure. But I’m sure he likes being in the spotlight too. As do the Palins.
It’s a whole big mess up there.
“3 months old is still pretty little. I don’t know if I would let my child that young out without me either.”
uhhhh, if you were a single parent and had split custody with the father, you wouldn’t have a CHOICE as to whether or not to “let” your child out without you. Too bad, so sad. Palin family- don’t have a child out of wedlock if you don’t like splitting time with the father’s family. That’s how the cookie crumbles!
Doesn’t this seem like and episode of Jerry Springer. White trash Granny with a bump-it in her hair screaming that her daughters baby daddy is white trash…
me,
Just in case you missed it… THAT IS HIS KID!!
that baby is his, and he deserves to have at least partial custody. if i were him i’d get a lawyer before the palins take him away for good.
The whole world should have some decency on this one and back off.
DOn’t give him air time to regret what he said.
Dont make this poor unwed mother deal with wearing her mothers abstinance crap.
They are kids for gawds sake. Lets help them help themselves the one way we can.
Leave them all alone.
And as for all you fussing that he should be allowed to take the child on his own…
Where exactly? To the house where his mother was dealing drugs from?
Not a great idea folks. THINK about it.
He doesn’t “deserve” partial custody unless he can prove that he can provide a safe and sustaining environment for the child. What he does deserve is “visitation.”
If he wants custody, he has to go to court for that. He is a teenager without a home or means of his own, and his family is riddled with people who use drugs.
ANY single mother has the choice to fight unsupervised visitation in those circumstances, and any single mother in those circumstances who DOESN’T fight for supervised visitation is unfit in my opinion.
Yes, he is the father. Until he gets a place to live and can prove to the court that he can support the child in safety, he will have to visit his kid according to the rules of the court and the custodial parent.
That’s the way it works…whether the Palins are lying sacks or not.
Oh, and if the kid is trying to make money so he can afford to make his case in court…I don’t think there’s anything tacky about what he’s doing. He’s just doing what he has to do.
However…dragging his druggie mother and his bellicose sister around with him doesn’t help his cause much. They have nothing to do with this, and they are part of the reason he has to visit his son.
And…he DID have the choice to grow up, get a job, and stay with the mother of his child. Young people who “mess up” have tough choices to make. Breaking up with the mother and retreating to his family home full of felons was probably the wrong one.
It is sweet that Bristol is so good to her baby brother Trigg. I can tell from this that she is a good person. I wish her all the best and hope this couple can reach a happy medium.
Her parents need to stay out of it. It is NOT their kid and by the way if he should be out supporting his child so shold she but she is laying at home talking to her old boyfriend, trying to get back into the swing of things again. He needs to be able to finish high school. The pallins are not so hot themselves. SO fasr her sister in law has been bsuted, she got her ex brother in law fired using her power and there was another arrest in their so called squeeking clean family.. They have NO room to talk. Her husband is using her office for his personal crap and people are pretty tired of them but she is not reelected. The 15 minutes of fame went to these peoples heads . Sara was pregnant when she got married herself that is why she thinks nothing of her kids having a kid out of wedlock. I bet her daughter is at home watching both babies while her and the DUDE run Alaska lol
This boy needs to go to court and get visitation rights and make them obey the court order. If mommy wants to date other guys so soon after having a baby with this kid that says a lot about her and it isnt good.
Here’s an idea: why doesn’t he join forces with Alec Baldwin, who wrote a book on parental alienation? Because with the “white trash” comment from Palin, it’s clear the family will try to alienate the child’s affections. Plus, I’d love to see Baldwin hanging out with Levi Johnson, just to freak out Sarah Palin.
Levi Johnston’a behavior is as tacky as it gets because he should not be trashing the mother of his child as well as discussing their personal relationship on national TV. Good that Bristol has a warm and supportive extended family. And Bristol is showing the same good common sense as Gov. Palin to protect her child from the father and family who does not show proper respect to the mother.
^^^^^He wasn’t trashing Bristol. He was most likely trashing her parents.
Awwww, poor Levi-NOT! He knocked up a CASH COW. He’ll always make money from this pregnancy.
Why else would the school’s popular dude knock up the baby whale? Money.