Call it an unforeseen consequence of being a reality star: Thanks to what he’s seen on Bristol Palin: Life’s A Tripp, Levi Johnston is seeking full custody of the son he had with Bristol Palin.
I don’t want to give the wrong impression: I don’t really care that much about Bristol Palin. In my book, she became famous for causing a national controversy (and inspiring a lot of parents to give their daughters The Talk) while her mother was running for a prestigious political office. An office that she did not win, by the way. But what’s happening to Bristol now is interesting because it shows what can happen when you choose to surrender most of your life for the world to see. People may not always like what they see, and things can get complicated very fast.
Here’s the 411: Bristol Palin recently began filming a TV show of her very own, Life’s A Tripp. It’s basically a spin-off of Sarah Palin’s Alaska, all about Bristol’s life with 2-year-old Tripp in Los Angeles. It hasn’t been received well, I’ll say that much. And it turns out that not just critics are fed up with the show — Levi Johnston, Bristol Palin’s baby daddy, is furious.
Remember Levi? The dude who was engaged to Bristol twice but didn’t put a ring on it? It turns out that he’s furious about Bristol’s behavior on her new show, saying that she is on a “downward spiral” and that he wants at least half custody of Tripp. This comes directly after an episode where Tripp allegedly used the f-word when throwing a tantrum…
Yeeeeeeah. That really happened. Apparently Levi is “disgusted” by his son’s behavior, perhaps as a result of watching what’s broadcast on BP:LAT. It hasn’t been the first time Bristol’s done something considered crazy lately. But Levi’s probably going to need a lot of tape from BP:LAT to prove that Bristol’s a bad mother, just because she can say that the footage was edited a certain way for entertainment purposes. It’s almost like using a celebrity’s tweets as evidence against them — are they sufficient evidence if they’re tailored to be read by fans? Is it really from them, or the persona they put out into the world?
For me at least, this is only going to become more interesting as time goes on. It may make some reality stars think twice before saying that next scandalous thing…
[via ABC News]
What do you think will happen with this custody case? Do you think using footage from Bristol’s TV show is valid evidence of her parenting?
guest
I don’t watch the show or anything so I am clueless as to what she is like or anything. From watching this tape (and the other one that is linked), he is going to need more than just this to get full time custody of his son. With that said, I really don’t care what happens in this custody battle. I had completely forgotten about Bristol Palin until this post.
orchid / 123 posts
@Erika_Steele@xanga - I know, I had too! That’s partly why I find this so fascinating — it seems like so much happened in such a short time!
guest
I’ve never cared about Bristol Palin. I was always flat out against her mother, so I didn’t need any sort of controversy to make me look away from the woman for any sort of office. Honestly she shouldn’t even have a show. This Bristol Palin show basically just looks like something MTV (or any station like it) would throw up any time, for whatever reason. Levi is going to need more than that youtube video to win a custody battle.
In any case, Bristol is going to have to learn how to not encourage her child’s bad behavior. He clearly thinks that what he was doing was perfectly fine. Her giggling just kind of enforces it. Happens though,… …. All that being said, Tripp is a really cute name. I like it
guest
It’s like you’re the mom be mature and handle your shit. You know, I mean when that situation comes up be the adult address it discipline him and whatnot.
guest
I think he deserves at least 50% custody if he didn’t do anything wrong. He is the father and it’s weird how some people don’t think that counts for anything.
I also think that the act of making your child the star of a reality TV show alone makes your parenting choices questionalbe and the father should of course have a say in wether his kids life is broadcast for the world to see. Growing up on TV can’t be good for you.
guest
I don’t like any of the Palins, but honestly, this is how most kids raised by single girls who got pregnant too young act. The kids don’t really know how to discipline, they’re still immature so they think it’s “cute” or “funny” when they misbehave because they’re not thinking about how much of a monster this kid will be when he grows up & realizes he can get away with anything. As far as suing for custody, I don’t know the guy & I can’t say if he’ll make a better role model. Honestly, I would send one of those super nannies in to show her how it’s done, before it’s too late & she has a monster on her hands.
guest
Re: that photo up top… what a cute kid!
I hate when parents try to get involved a few years down the line because the other “is a bad parent”. It says up there that he wants at least HALF custody… how involved has this kid even been in Tripp’s life to say he could’ve done any better.
sunflower / 448 posts
Reality shows, I fear, cause many otherwise normal acting people to become the scum of the earth so to get ratings. Never has such baneful behavior been glorified as in “reality TV”.
guest
@raspbxrrryjam@xanga - he’s been non-involved enough to go out on the red carpet with that comedianne that had all the plastic surgery (her name escapes me at the moment), write a book slamming the child’s grandmother and the rest of the Palin family (that’s called divorce poison, and it IS abuse, even if his accusations in his book are true). The fact that the kid swore during a temper tantrum means nothing. In this day and age, it’s everywhere. And no, he will not be able to use that footage against her, because he cannot prove she did not discipline him for swearing. Not to mention, he does PLENTY of swearing in his book. So he really has no room to talk.
guest
I’m – sorry he said the word though because it is often concatenated with hatred and prejudice. ≡
guest
@grim_truth@xanga - Ew. Yeah. If that’s been his approach so far it doesn’t sound like he really A. has any right to try to step in now or B. that he’d do the kid ANY good.
guest
it’d be hard for me to punish a child of mine in front of a camera. heck, i would never allow people to film my daily life for a reality tv show in the first place. i’m sure trip pushes the limits more than usual in front of the camera because he knows mommy will be too embarrassed to do anything too extreme.
then again, i don’t watch this show, so i really have no idea what i’m talking about.
guest
@dw817@xanga - Uhhh. He’s 2, so he’s not in Kindergarten. I’m quite certain that he didn’t learn to “curse” in day care. Those kids can barely talk. Sorry to say, but he learned that word at home from his ignorant family. Smart parents watch their mouth when they have toddlers (they repeat EVERY word they hear).
I have teenagers, btw. Been there, watched my mouth!
guest
Obviously, we can tell your political stance just by how you are writing. :/
Unbiased reporting, I don’t think so.
This is what Levi Johnston is thinking and has always been thinking when it came to Bristol: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
guest
@PrincessVictoria_2004@xanga - I think Levi was thinking about getting in Bristol’s undies. LOL
No one is THAT bright in that family unit!
guest
@beesuze@xanga – Learned from the family then ? Wow … how do you live that down.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v512/jakebogdan/root/january/kids_notes4.jpg
“Kids say the darndest things.”
guest
I was expecting to be horrified, but nothing that bad happened. I was a nanny for a long time, in a very nice neighborhood- even the most dignified, educated woman will sometimes not be able to keep herself from laughing when their kid does something bad, but funny.
guest
A few things come to mind: MOST of us would look like bad parents if a TV creew filmed us, editted the tape for the most outrageous parts, and everyone who hated us had free range to watch it and pick it apart. Losing custody because your kid threw a tantrum? I really hope the person who posted this ridiculous title did so to get more hits, because she will NOT lose custody over that.
Second point: While Levi does come off as a jerk, all guys his age are at LEAST as dumb as he is. It is his child, he SHOULD have at least half custody.
wow.