Antonio Banderas is still trying to correct the record about his wife Melanie Griffith’s recent admission to rehab. When the story was initially reported two weeks ago, sources claimed that Antonio had given Melanie an ultimatum – something like “If you don’t get clean, I’m divorcing you.” Within a few days, Antonio denied that particular report, telling Extra “She’s doing fantastic and very little of what is being published is true…I am not going away. I am staying with my family and my wife who I love very much.” Now Antonio has gone on Ellen to talk more about Melanie’s years-long struggles with addiction, and how proud he is of her for facing her demons head-on. In Antonio’s words, “The whole entire family is supporting her, and I am supporting her, and at this particular time more than ever. I’m very proud of her.” Can Antonio get any better?
Melanie Griffith’s recent admission to a rehab clinic isn’t something husband Antonio Banderas is going to sweep under the rug.
“It’s not a rumor, but let me explain to you,” Banderas, 49, tells Ellen DeGeneres in an interview to air on Wednesday’s The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
“It was said actually in some magazine that I said that I gave an ultimatum to my wife. That I present the matter of divorce because she has been involved in addictions and blah, blah, blah,” says the actor. “Melanie has been addicted for many years and we always came out. We said it out loud. It was okay, we were never embarrassed of the situation but what happened she was clean and sober for six years.”
But six years of clean living was endangered after Griffith, 52, had a skiing accident in Aspen, Co., a year and a half ago. Three operations in her knee required her to use narcotics – and come face-to-face with her demons again.
“In March, she came to me and said, ‘I’m feeling a little bit weak in my determination for this … so I just thought to go to rehabilitation by myself,’ ” Banderas said. “So the whole entire family is supporting her, and I am supporting her, and at this particular time more than ever. I’m very proud of her.”
More than that, the entire family is actively participating in Griffith’s rehab program.
“We have been following some type of therapy with other families,” he said. “There are a number of invisible heroes working in AA all around the world. I just say to families, ‘Don’t get embarrassed, just confront this problem head-on. And don’t hide from that because there is a beautiful gift at the end of this tunnel, and it is the person that you love back, and that is what I am searching for.’ ”
He added, “I am very proud of my wife.”
[From People]
This is maybe one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of a family treating an addict with love and respect, and like a responsible, cognizant adult. I applaud Melanie for recognizing that she was in danger of sliding in her recovery, and I think the world of Antonio for being so supportive, in such a smart, effective way. This interview should be used for family-sessions of Narcotics Anonymous. Sigh. I love Antonio. I think I’m going to watch Desperado tonight.
Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith and their daughter, Stella, are shown watching an Easter parade in Malanga, Spain on 4/5/09. Credit: ENF/Fame Pictures. watches the Easter processions in Malaga, Spain, with wife Melanie Griffith and their daughter Stella del Carmen. CR: ENF/Fame Pictures
create-date
04/05/2009
I’m just waiting for the next Shrek to hear Puss N’ Boots’ voice again. So cute!
Only a saint or a fool would stand by such a drunken pile of molten candle wax and silly putty.
Antonio is a saint.
AWESOME! As a woman married to an opiate addict, I was told to “give up” on him or give ultimatums many times. You can’t force a person to go to rehab. When they are ready they will go, as Melanie did. When you love someone you show support by sticking w/ them during the good times & BAD. Good for both of them!
Well Antonio, just know that if it doesn’t work out with Melanie, I will always be here…waiting for you…with open arms…and open…ok, nevermind…I think I’m watching Desperado tonight too…lol
Without a past history of use of pain narcotics dependence can occur in as quickly as a week with many meds.
They appear to be sincere in their relationship, devoted to family and moving along with their lives = )
(Most rehabs use CBT, and a bio/psycho/social model, group meetings are varied. I prefer SMART and WFS).
It is good to hear she has his love and support, and that she recognized that she needed help.
” don’t hide from that because there is a beautiful gift at the end of this tunnel, and it is the person that you love back, and that is what I am searching for.’ ”
Okay that made me cry a little. Ahhh there is still true love in the world. (happy sigh)
Best wishes to both of them.
Why oh why does a self destructive woman like her get such a wonderful man? Life is so unfair.
This is very touching. As a recovering addict, it is so easy to slip back into the old ways especially when having to use narcotics for a real pain control situation. HAntonio is wise about confronting the problem. My brother is still drinking because his family is embarrassed that he has the disease. It sounds like the entire family has been educated and supports Melanie. She will have to deal with this the rest of her life.
Addiction is a painful, horrible disease, sucks the life force out of family members who love the person but hate the addiction. Been there, done that never going back again. When the addicted person in my family died, a weight was lifted off our shoulders..relief was the first emotion, then came the genuine pain of losing a loved one. Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith are couragous for addressing the rumours publicly rather than hiding behind denials.
Good on Antonio for supporting his wife. I know too many people (myself included) who didn’t have the support of their significant other while getting sober. It just makes it that much harder. Makes me appreciate my wonderful & supportive man that much more.
she looks like hilary duff a smidge, just more used up
“drunken pile of molten candle wax and silly putty.”
You made me LOL Popcorny
” Don’t hide from that because there is a beautiful gift at the end of this tunnel, and it is the person that you love back, and that is what I am searching for.’ ”
What could be a more beautiful testament to real love than this?
@ Kaiser, Sassy–I’LL bring the snacks! Who’s got the margaritas?
Please for the love of god, from someone with a REAL disease (and past alcohol addiction problems and an alcoholic father) STOP CALLING ADDICTION A DISEASE. PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE AND MENTAL WEAKNESS IS NOT A DISEASE. My reflex neurovascular dystrophy is a disease, an addiction to alcohol is not.
If keeping Antonio Banderas as a husband is not motivation enough, I don’t know what the hell is.
That is the sweetest thing I have read in a long time. I wish them both luck.
Alcoholism is considered to be a disease because it is similar to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in that the addict needs to drink to satisfy a compulsion. Having said that, however, any kind of addiction is a selfish imposition on others. It’s all about the addict and to hell with everyone else. The substance being abused takes precedence over anything in the addict’s life. Good for Melanie if she actually gets that there are more important things than the addiction and that’s what she wants to hold on to.
Aww that gave me goosebumps! So sweet!
i am madly in love with this display of honesty, support, and kindness.
Melanie is a good person with a Hollywood childhood. She is lucky to have Antonio , he is a great man. Good luck and best wishes to Melanie. You can do it.
He is so sweet. Still hate his haircut though, and she looks very strange in profile – not like herself at all, for some reason, maybe it’s all the procedures on her face.
They never matched, and she’s always been a mess.
I think your blog needs some updating. I would love to read more about this.