Levi Johnston: Palin called her baby ‘retarded’; Palin: Levi is selling his body


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Levi Johnston continues his “I once knew Sarah Palin, let me tell you all about it” media tour. Levi doesn’t have anything else of interest to offer the public – well, apart from a view of his goods – so he’s profiting off the one thing he can for as long as he’s able. But being that Johnston is only 19 and neither mature nor bright, he’s coming up with some ridiculous things to say about Sarah Palin in order to get publicity. Mind you, I am no fan or support of Palin. But I can’t believe much of anything Levi says after he claims Palin called her baby son Trig – who has Down’s Syndrome – “retarded.”

Levi Johnston appeared on CBS’ Early Show Wednesday, where he explained his reasons for spilling unflattering information about the Palin family and said he was keeping some “huge” secrets. Among other things, Johnston said Palin joked about her son Trig’s Down Syndrome, calling him her “retarded baby.”

“I was just in shock the first time I heard it,” he said, when host Maggie Rodriguez expressed disbelief. He also said Bristol took care of the baby much more than her mother: “Sarah was never home.” Johnston also said that Todd and Sarah would fight in front of their kids.

He said he was going public because the Palins betrayed him and backstabbed him: “I really don’t care anymore … Now it’s my turn … I told a little bit of stuff, and you know, I’m just not going to take it anymore.”… “If she’s going to go out there and say things to me, about me, I’m going to leak some things on her. I mean that’s just how it is,” he said. He added, however, that there are some things he won’t say that would really hurt Palin. “I’m not gonna go that far,” he said.

The Washington Post offers more of the CBS interview:
When asked whether he resents Palin, Johnston says, “Well now I’ve heard all the things she’s said. You know, the Sarah Palin I knew before, it was — it was her putting on a front, it was her being fake to me and now that everything’s slowly coming out and I’m hearing more things, you know, and things she’s said and done, you know, I see the real Palin,” Levi responds, before stepping through the looking glass.

[From the Huffington Post]

Here’s why I don’t believe the “retarded” comment: it’s an insult teenagers – and particularly teenage boys – use. It is not something most adult women would use, particularly not an educated one in her forties. I don’t even believe it’s something she said that was taken out of context or that Johnston misheard. It seems like exactly the sort of thing an unsophisticated nineteen year old would say. Like I said, I’m not Sarah Palin’s fan, but no part of me believes that comment is true, especially given what a desperate famewh*re Levi Johnston is. It terms of the fighting in front of the kids, who knows? And Bristol, being their oldest daughter, would be the most likely kid given babysitting duty. It clearly didn’t turn her off to the idea of having children.

Sarah Palin did respond, and her comments are priceless.

Palin how now issued a statement responding to Levi’s remarks. “We have purposefully ignored the mean spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on our family. We, like many, are appalled at the inflammatory statements being made or implied.” Palin also went after CBS and Levi’s intentions to strip for Playgirl: “CBS should be ashamed for continually providing a forum to propagate lies. Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies — those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention.”

[From the Huffington Post]

Did Sarah Palin just call Levi Johnston a prostitute? I think she just called him a prostitute! I never thought I’d agree with a word this woman said, but I love it. Celebitchy pointed out that this is all very interesting timing, considering Palin’s book is due to come out next month, around the same time as Johnston shows his johnson in Playgirl. I love how obvious and uncouth he is in his attempts to grab some of the fame from Palin. Next he’s going to claim she tried to seduce him. I can’t wait.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

58 Responses to “Levi Johnston: Palin called her baby ‘retarded’; Palin: Levi is selling his body”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. NJMDPS says:

    He’s a DOPE.

  2. Susette says:

    At first there was a part of me that actually felt kind of sorry for him. He clearly lacks maturity, intelligence, skills or prospects. A part of me thinks that his stupidity makes it easy for him to be misguided and given poor advice by smarter, greedy adults.

    But the more he talks, the more he sounds like a Baby Jon Gosselin. He really seems to be a douche at heart.

  3. viper says:

    Yeah…

    I’m blank. What do you say about somthinglike this?! Its as if my mind just got warped or microwaved into mush.

  4. Trillion says:

    Who cares about some dark secret. There’s enough creepy stuff already out in the light of day. Shut up and show your schlong already.

  5. Erin says:

    Sarah Palin is technically educated, but she is not what I would consider an “educated woman.”

  6. moo says:

    Why is this boy relevant? The primary’s are over dood… GO AWAY and get a REAL job!!! God I hate these Fame Whores!!!

  7. TRT says:

    He is such a shallow, uneducated lowlife who just can’t stop having fun with media.
    He should be happy that he made sooooo much money because of Palins and shut the f…. up already. When he succeeds as much as Sarah did (she just had to do something good in her life to get to the position where she was) than he can give him self right to talk about her and her family. For now he is just the LOWEST OF THE LOW!

  8. maddie says:

    When he’s 90 and on his deathbed he still will be bashing the Palins, he has no shame what so ever.

  9. Shannon says:

    Sarah Palin is not what I would consider an “educated woman”. Didn’t she transfer colleges 5 times or something? Now a couple of times I could understand, I’ve transferred myself. But FIVE???

    Not that Levi is an Einstein either. But I think Sarah is the pot calling the kettle black on this one. They are BOTH riding the money train, and she was the one who decided to sell out her family’s privacy in the first place. That’s not any more noble than selling your body.

  10. Firestarter says:

    Scum, he is pure scum. He needs STFU and have some decency. That is his son’s grandmother who is talking about, and whether you like her or not, she deserves to be shown some respect and not talked about by this bitter litte S.O.B, whose only goal in life is to earn money off of the tales he can tell about Sarah Palin.

    Why anyone gives him attention is beyond me. Great example of how to be a man for his son to grow up and see.

  11. Sumodo says:

    In the words of Bluto Blutarsky: “LET’S DO ITTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!”

  12. Andrea says:

    Didn’t his mother go to jail for something involving drugs? I’m tired of seeing this little dude’s face.

  13. Corina says:

    omg Trillion your comment made me spit water all over the screen because I laughed hysterically. So the truth! Palin is bat-sh*t crazy in my book and Levi seems like an idiot but that whole bass-akwards family should just stick together. Or go on a boat with the Gosselin parents and leave the children with anyone who isn’t making publicity a number one priority. I liked Bristol for a while when she was talking about how abstinence only education doesn’t work, but then she got wishy washy and tried to promote it again. Ridiculous all around. Sarah should stick to her flags and you betchas and Levi should stick to Playgirl and let the rest of us have a friggen break already. End of rant. 🙂

  14. lanette says:

    Doesn’t his mother hustle meth? wtf?

  15. original kate says:

    these two snowbillies deserve one another.

  16. Juice In LA says:

    Huh. While I think this kid is 2 eggs short of a scrambled dozen, I can totally see Sarah Palin using the “R” word and about her own kids.

    She’s not really all that educated, and certainly not sophisticated or politically correct- in fact of all the personas they tried on her, the one that sticks as most true is the Country bunpkin (or as I think of it:trailer trash).

    In fact its a weird West Coast phenomenon. When I moved to LA, everyone up and down this coast, including oregonians used the word, and to my gape-mouthed horror you can stroll past the “Retarded Children’s Thrift Shop” on Main Street, in Ventura CA. I shit-you-not.

  17. Bodhi says:

    Ditto Trill! The Palin family has more than enough rope to hang themselves, show us the peen already!

    Anyhoodle, I also take issue with Scarah Palin being described as educated. She has what? barely a BA? I only have a BA, & while I consider myself to be educated, I know for damn sure that I am not remotely qualified to run a town, a state, or the whole damn country.

  18. fizXgirl314 says:

    isn’t it Tripp?

  19. I have to agree that both of them are complete idiots. Who cares about Palin and her family. If she really did say “retarded” how is any one suppose to believe that. we weren’t there and truly I don’t think anyone cares about her anymore…

  20. fizXgirl314 says:

    so what, women sell their bodies all the time… what’s the diff?

  21. nj says:

    The reason why you cannot trust one word out of his mouth is because unless he is dishing dirt, no one cares what he says. No dirt, no audience, no attention, no easy money and cheap fame. So he will keep coming up with dirt, even if he has to make it up. If he has so little character as to humiliate his son’s mother and family on the national stage, a few lies should be no problem.

  22. Leticia says:

    Does he have a sense of honor or decency? He is exploiting the grandmother of his child for money.

    I’m not a fan of Palin, so please do not attack me. I’m not defending Palin’s choices or her parenting skills. But she knew that Trig had DS prior to his birth. There is no way that she would have called him “retarded” in a derogatory way, because if she felt that way, she would not have carried him to term. Possibly she used the expression mental retardation as an accurate description of his mental ability, and maybe Johnston is being misleading.

  23. Eveharrington says:

    Sarah Palin is gross. It’s telling that her lame childish vindictiveness matches his gossip tendencies, but he’s not a politician and not old enough to know better. Team Levi all the way.

  24. elvisgrace says:

    Actually, Levi has spoken about the (the retarded comment) in previous interviews, going at least 6 months back. This is not just some new sensational story he’s spinning…and I believe there may be a grain of truth to it. First of all, a teenage boy is far more intelligent and articulate than Palin. Secondly, during the 2008 campain, there were very few pictures of Todd or Sarah holding or caring for Trig. Almost every shot had Bristol, Levi, and Piper caring for, and loving on that baby. Third, what kind of polititian doesn’t have tons of photo ops with their kids? The Palins had them frequently, especially with the middle three (I think the oldest son was living on his own by the time Palin really got into politics) but there are very very few pictures of the Palins with Trig. I think I have maybe, at the max, seen 5.
    I’m not a Levi apologist. I think his saying this in an interview was inappropriate, considering he has a child with Bristol, and will always have those ties, not to mention that Bristol and Tripp both live with Todd and Sarah.
    I just don’t think that this can be instantly dismissed as groundless or far-fetched.

  25. could be says:

    My mom and dad use the word retarded, and they’re both 46. She has kids, she could have picked it up from them.

  26. Goddess711 says:

    I believe it. I’ve got a teenager, I know what they’re like and “retarded” is politically incorrect these days. It’s a “no-no” word especially for the new generation. Palin, on the other hand, has zero going for her. Her grammar is crap when she talks, I’ve watched some of the “a day in the life” of SP, she’s an inbred moron who was thought to appeal to the masses to get votes. Stupid is as stupid does. I think Levi knows more and says more truth than a lot of you might want to acknowledge but at the end of the day, who cares? He’s going nowhere, SHE’S going nowhere and probably TRIG will be writing the Tell All one day.

  27. Oi says:

    I hope to God Bristol keeps the baby far far away from this total loser. Is he even paying child support for the baby? He’s too dumb to even realize what people really think about him. I don’t believe a word he says about anything, especially Sarah Palin. He had all the time in the world to stop dating Bristol and get away from the Palin family BEFORE she ran for VP. And he didn’t. I don’t like Sarah Palin, but this isn’t even entertaining anymore.

    I agree with your assessment of the “retarded’ statement. No way.

  28. la chica says:

    i really wish Sarah Palin would stop responding to this guy. every time she responds, she adds a layer of credibility to his disclosures. i can’t believe that no PR flack has ever been able to point this out to her. oh i forgot, she’s all rogue.

  29. CathyT says:

    The expression “mentally retarded” was coined as a PC euphemism for moron or idiot or mongoloid. Over the years, “retard” and “retarded” has transformed into a school yard insult. The same fate awaits the next euphemism for mental retardation.

  30. Eponymouse says:

    Levi is a douche; no question. Having said that, I live in Alaska and I can assure you that the majority of Sarah’s former constituents think she’s batshit crazy. And, trust me, most people have no doubt that there is a lot of hidden “stuff” that Sarah was/is doing. She’s very calculating. I think there will be quite a few things about her that we will all hear about…just give it time.

  31. lucy2 says:

    I am NO fan of Palin either and do not ever want to see her in a position of power again, but I have to agree that this is mean spirited and malicious. He’s just an idiot loving the attention right now, and the media SERIOUSLY needs to ignore him and stop giving him the platform to spew such garbage.

    I agree Firestarter – this is the other half of his child’s family that he’s talking about this way. It’s disgraceful – someday that child will grow up and will see all of this. His only concern should be being a good father and supporting his child with an honest job, not famewhoring. He’s moronic, pathetic, and just plain gross. Time to grow up.

  32. Popcorny says:

    The slang usage of the word “retarded” only became “politically incorrect” in the past 10 to 15 years (give/take).
    Palin’s demographic age group pre-dates that and used it casually and unhindered.
    So, for all the “education”, it’s a term that (in private) still flows like butter in July and is merely restrained for public consumption (at least by older generations).
    I know because I myself have to restrain the natural urge/flow to exclaim certain words (including “retarded”) now deemed insensitive.
    Anyway, I’m sure she used the word in a “politically incorrect” manner -but I’ll bet the context was not cruel or intentionally insulting.
    That said, Levi is a gift that keeps on giving to the opponents of “Palin 2012”.

    Godspeed, Levi.

  33. loldongs says:

    He’s telling the truth.

    People that dumb aren’t good at lying.

  34. whatever says:

    “Snowbillies”! Too funny Kate. He’s 18, dumb, and loves the spotlight. So, why the hell not use it? He didn’t put himself in the spotlight, Sarah the “snowbilly” used him for her campaignin’ and tossed him out when she lost. Sorry, he deserves to get some vengeance for that. Imagine having to sit next to the Palins and pretend to be a big, happy family. What fake puke-

  35. chessie says:

    Pot. Kettle. Black.

  36. YeaRight! says:

    Johnston might be selling his body for money and fame.

    However, Palin has sold her soul for money and fame.

  37. xxzeon says:

    This kid is obviously retarded himself. Borderline at best. That’s why I think there is probably a lot of truth in what this idiot spews forth.He’s too dumb to know any better. I agree with the writer who questions Sarah’s “educated woman” assumption. Has anyone listened to her talk? She’s a slightly smoother version of the mental giant George W Bush!….for cry-sakes, she didn’t even know what the Bush doctrine is while she was on the Republican presidential ticket. To make matters worse, she claimed that she had professional relatioins with Russia because she could see it from accross the Bering Straight.Get Real…I’ll guaratee you that the ass-clown Levi will dump some totally inappropriate info re: the Pallins…or is it PallOUTS? for Johnson, it goes w/o saying! Peace fr: New York

  38. lucy2 says:

    Popcorny, I don’t disagree that a lot of people still use that word, especially if they were never taught not to. However, I find it highly doubtful that the mother of a special needs baby would do so. That sort of experience usually changes a person, and I would imagine makes them a lot more sensitive to things like that. I know many families with special needs children, and none of them or their friends would use that word now, even if they did before.

    Of course, anything is possible, but I still doubt that she said it.

  39. bros says:

    this, coming from a pageant queen. please STFU palin-like you werent hired for your looks.

  40. Kayleigh says:

    Both of them are trailer trash. End of story.

  41. annie says:

    As the mother of two special needs children who have passed away, there’s no way I believe this story.

  42. George says:

    The only things this worthless excuse of a jerk is the hope that his airway will get blocked and he’ll choke to death. He is a slimeball who isn’t worth the time of day. If anyone believes a single word of what this jerk has to say then they need Health Care quick, to get their head examined!
    Ignore this friggin’ moron!

  43. andrea says:

    i can believe she said it. who the hell knows. levi and the palins kinda deserve each other. poor bristol. and the baby.

  44. Zoe (The Other One) says:

    Snowbilly is my new favourite ‘word I learnt on Celebitchy’ – nice one Kate!

    Trillion bringin the lols – just shut your mouth and get your trousers off Levi!!

  45. Laurie says:

    Has anyone read the The Secret Diary of Palin’s Ghostwriter? It was featured this week on Salon.

    Isn’t it true that the father of Palin’s grandchild has no parental access to the kid? I believe they have excommunicated him from the child. How is that possible anyway? Thing about this kid Levi is he has no ambition to be the President of the United States now does he want to get everyone praying to the Lord between every breath (again Read the Secret Diary of Sarah Palin’s Ghostwriter)…so he can shoot his mouth off I guess. But Palin is supposedly a national figure..I think she is mentally ill. Read the Secret Diary ….

  46. crash2GO2 says:

    Is no one but myself annoyed by terms that become ‘not PC’. Who decides these things anyway? It annoys me and it stresses me out to have to keep up and always worry that I might inadvertently slip up and say something that will be blown into a nuclear incident like this one has been.

  47. Mairead says:

    Will this little wanker ever piss off?

  48. Andrea says:

    So we can’t say “retarded” anymore? What’s wrong with it? PC is BS!

  49. Paulette says:

    @crash2GO2, I totally agree. Actually, I find a lot of these newer PC terms to be more offensive than the older terms. For instance, I’m more comfortable with “retarded” used in a clinical sense than “special needs child”. There’s something so saccharine about PC terms. They presuppose an abnormal sensitivity in the listener, and put the speaker in a position of condescending to cater to delicacy of the listener.

  50. Statler says:

    ‘It is not something most adult women would use, particularly not an educated one in her forties.’

    This argument would only have merit if Palin was educated.

  51. Wresa says:

    Amen, Trilllion! Bring on that moose schlong already!

  52. Ashley says:

    Call him what you want but her retort was not only insulting to him but anyone who takes their clothes of for money; strippers, models, hookers. So what you take money for taking off your clothes, who am I to judge. You gotta hussel I suppose, make money anyway you can.

    As far as being educated, you were having a laugh right? That’s the funniest thing I ever heard.

  53. bollywoodhunk says:

    it’s a disgusting think’s her describes

  54. Megan says:

    I could totally see her calling Trig her “retarded baby”. Levi lived with the Palins, you know he’s got all kinds of dirt on that family!

  55. JD says:

    “Shut up and show your schlong already.”

    Thank you for making my day Trill.

  56. Trish Dougherty says:

    I do believe she said it and I don’t think theres anything wrong with it. My friend has a mentally and physically retarded child. She loves that baby, I love that baby, we all love that baby. If you don’t find a way to relieve some of the pressure by doing things like saying “Wheres my little retarded baby” with love in your heart, you end up crying and screaming and losing control when you hear ignorant morons saying things like “look at that mom with her retard kid”. It happens ALL THE TIME. Who are we to judge anyway? Sarah- if you ever read this- eff what everyone else has to say. As long as you keep doing right be you and yours and you continue to stand up for what you believe in and you continue to be the voice of those who have none- then you’ll never go wrong. You may not be what society deems as 100% class- but theres nothing wrong with being a little trashy! True fact people- People who make less than $35,000 are 80% -EIGHTY PERCENT- less likely to commit suicide than those who make more that $100,000!!!!!! and 42% less likely to be on a mood stabelizer or anti depressant!!!!!! Someone get me a trailer park and Sarahs #! We can be happy, broke and laughing together while we watch all the old miserable rich prix kill themselves! (I almost sounded reasonable didn’t I!)

  57. jenny says:

    Did everyone happen to see interview between SP and Oprah? This took place after Levi’s comments. When asked by Oprah if SP would invite Levi to thanksgiving dinner she replied with an ingenuine but ultimately positive response about Levi and her “love for him and desire to take him under her wing.” She KNOWS that Levi has a lot of info that could destroy her, and has now taken the approach to avoid further conflict, in hopes that he will not leak and divulge further damaging info pertaining to Sarahs illegal/immoral acts while she was governing the state of Alaska. It is clear that he is telling the truth about the “retarded baby” comments. She doesnt want anyt more turmoil to escalate between herself and Levi, in fear that he could destroy her. Its quite obvious. He is a good for nothing- that is also quite apparent. But I know that she is far more interested in protecting her reputation at this point. The motives of both Sarah and Levi are crystal Clear. The main person I commend through it all is Britsol. She’s a great Mommy and devoted sister to her siblings. I’ll leave it at that

  58. Ashley says:

    This is just ridiculous. No mother would ever say that. I have 2 children with UAtism and I get my feelings hurt so bad when I heaqr of ANYONE getting made fun of because of their disablilty. This must of really hurt the Palin’s when they heard this. I am not a fan of Sara but this guy is a real DOUCHE BAG.