Cheating on his wife cost Tiger Woods millions of dollars. But reality TV star Jesse James -- who has publicly apologized to his famous wife, actress Sandra Bullock, for "poor judgment" after allegedly having an 11-month affair with a tattoo-covered model -- may not suffer any financial consequences at all. In fact, because James already had a "bad boy" image, his reckless behavior may serve to reinforce his reputation -- and indeed, attract curious viewers to his show on Spike TV, boosting ratings and possibly James' paycheck in the process.
Plus, it's not like James, who formerly was seen on "Monster Garage" and is now the owner of the motorcycle company West Coast Choppers, was raking in the bucks for endorsement deals, as was Woods.
It's an ironic twist that James might become more famous than ever -- and make even more money -- considering how allegedly low down his behavior was.
Not only did James allegedly cheat with Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, a raunchy tattoo model who also works as a stripper, poses on an adult web site and has a penchant for swastikas and Nazi salutes. James also played his lovestruck wife for a fool -- even as she stood by him through a nasty child custody battle involving James' 5-year-old daughter with his porn star ex-wife, Janine Lindemulder. Bullock also defended James constantly when people wondered what she had in common with a biker dude who seemed, to onlookers, to be way too rough-around-the-edges for the Oscar-winning actress known as "America's sweetheart."
The Real Cost of Cheating
It's one thing to consider how a celebrity's private or public behavior might impact that person's career. It's a whole different matter concerning how their behavior affects their personal life. And here's where James is likely to pay the ultimate price. While it's clear that some marriages can survive infidelity, this is one case where I don't see that happening at all.
I think this relationship is completely done. And from the looks of it, so does James. His apology statement suggested that he knows full well that he messed up royally and that he has totally devastated his wife and kids. "There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me," James said. "It's because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way. This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them. I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me," he added.
James new-found status in the doghouse brings new meaning to his popular TV show. It's called: Jesse James is a Dead Man.
For her part, James' alleged mistress doesn't seem too be doing too shabbily. In fact, she's already cashing in on her 15 minutes of fame. McGee was paid $30,000 for telling her story to InTouch magazine, so this obviously won't be the last we hear from her. Stay tuned.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has also been featured in top newspapers including the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times bestseller, 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'
Comments: (10)
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By: Katiedid on 3/21/2010 9:35AM
Obviously insecure ... he just can't operate around normal people!! Even had to have Sandra fight his legal battles for him ... I would NOT award him custody after this dumb stunt!! He can't take care of himself, let alone a child!! He is a child ...
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By: johnny on 3/20/2010 6:03PM
Dad wasn't dad after all, but Florida Supreme Court rules he still owes child support by Warren Richey
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© 2007 The Christian Science Monitor Online
Reproduced under the Fair Use exception of 17 USC § 107 for noncommercial, nonprofit, and educational use.
Florida Supreme Court case raises fundamental questions about the nature of fatherhood and legal responsibilities.
February 9, 2007 — Sixteen months after his divorce, Richard Parker made a devastating discovery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A DNA test revealed that his 3-year-old son had been fathered by someone else.
Mr. Parker immediately filed a lawsuit claiming fraud by his apparently unfaithful ex-wife. He took his case all the way to the Florida Supreme Court.
Last week, the Florida justices ruled 7-0 against him. They said that Parker must continue to pay $1,200 a month in child support because he had missed the one-year post-divorce deadline for filing his lawsuit. His court-ordered payments would total more than $200,000 over 15 years to support another man's child.
"We find that the balance of policy considerations favors protecting the best interests of the child over protecting the interests of one parent defrauded by the other parent in the midst of a divorce proceeding," writes Justice Kenneth Bell for the court.
"We recognize that the former husband in this case may feel victimized," he writes. He then quotes a scholar to explain the ruling: "While some individuals are innocent victims of deceptive partners, adults are aware of the high incidence of infidelity and only they, not the children, are able to act to ensure that the biological ties they may deem essential are present."
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By: Kalynn on 3/20/2010 10:17AM
I AM SOOOOOOOOO mad and disappointed at Jesse James. He had America's Sweetheart and went for the HO, HO, HO, HO. Oh the humanity. Jesse you are on punishment, lock down and house arrest! Shame on you!
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By: katie on 3/20/2010 4:33PM
come on people lets be real here...look at Sandra Bullock she looks so plain and dull...she looks like one of those boring women who wouldnt do anything exciting in bed...her husband found what he was looking for in that tatoo hoe...just like anyone else if you dont get what you want in bed you will look for it somewhere else.
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By: HB on 3/20/2010 4:50PM
They kill me when they say they can't find a good woman, just goes to show you that you can look like a Sandra, face and figure and still get cheated on! I feel so bad for her I love her as an actress, it's a shame this idiot couldn't keep it in his pants what a looooooooooser! Shame on you Jesse!
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By: Eve on 3/21/2010 7:46AM
He's not going to be able to promote his shows on Letterman (as he has in the past) or any other mainstream media, which will shun him because Bullock is America's sweetheart.
Bullock's publicist, Steve Huvane, is known as a pitbull. All the major entertainment media (i.e. US, People, Letterman, Leno, etc) know that if they interview James for his upcoming projects in their show or mag, they will NEVER be granted an interview with Sandra ever again. Who do you think they will pick - Sandra or James?
He may still have a TV show, but it won't be watched by middle-to-high income earners, and it won't get mainstream publicity. Hollywood loves Sandra - she brings in a lot of money for Tinseltown - and will shun James, and he'll fade away. His 15 minutes are up.
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By: eddie on 3/21/2010 7:57PM
When you can customize and build $100,000 dollar motorcycles, and have every celebrity in Hollywood, along with millionares from all over the world lining up just for an appointment to see you......you don't need Sandra Bullock!!!
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By: Romana Davis on 3/22/2010 2:12PM
It is so very sad to see the utter cruelity that was inflicted on an innocent woman who's only crime was to love unwisely.
An injustice was done and yet I find it amazing that it is the innocent that hide their heads in shame while the cheap whore and her whore master keep on dishing out their dirty laundry in public.
Isn't it time that the media stops giving these dirt bags their 15 minutes of fame?
One can only hope that the old expression of what goes around comes around and that when it does come back to them that they too will know exactly what it feels like to be stripped naked in front of the world and know that they were betrayed by those they trusted the most.
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