Jump to content

Levi Johnston

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 205.56.145.36 (talk) at 22:42, 3 August 2010 (changed "was" to "is the former". "was" is generally used on Wikipedia in reference to the deceased.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Levi Johnston
Johnston at the 2008 Republican National Convention (September 2008).
Born
Levi Keith Johnston

(1990-05-03) May 3, 1990 (age 34)
Alaska, United States
Known forFather of Sarah Palin's grandson
PartnerBristol Palin (2005-2009, 2010)
ChildrenTripp Easton Mitchell Johnston (b. December 27, 2008)
RelativesKeith Johnston (father)
Sherry Johnston (mother) - divorced 2008
Mercede "Sadie" Johnston (sister)

Levi Keith Johnston (born May 3, 1990) is the former fiancé of Bristol Palin. He first received media attention in August 2008 when U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin announced that her daughter Bristol was five months pregnant and that Levi was the father. Levi and Bristol broke off their engagement in March 2009, and Levi had several public feuds with the Palin family for which he later apologized. The couple announced they were engaged again in July 2010.

After working in the Alaskan oil fields, Johnston began pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, aspiring to be a model and an actor.

Family life and education

Johnston is the first of two children born to Keith and Sherry Johnston. He has a younger sister, Mercede "Sadie" Johnston.[1] The family is of Mexican and Canadian descent.[2][3][4]

Johnston attended Wasilla High School, playing on the hockey team, but dropping out of school in his junior year.[5][6][7][8] He worked full-time on the Alaska North Slope oil fields as an apprentice electrician,[9] quitting in January 2009.[10]

According to Johnston, he and Bristol began dating during their freshman year of high school.[6] After losing a promise ring on a caribou hunt, Johnston had Bristol's name tattooed on his finger.[6][11]

On September 1, 2008, Sarah Palin announced that her daughter, Bristol, was pregnant by Johnston, and that the two would be married.[12] Johnston denied claims that he was being pressured into a shotgun wedding, stating, "We were planning on getting married a long time ago with or without the kid. That was the plan from the start."[6] The couple's son, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, was born on December 27, 2008,[13] but the two broke off their engagement in March 2009.[13] In May 2009, Johnston said that their relationship was improving and that they were determined to jointly raise Tripp.[14] Later, Bristol began a child custody case against Johnston, seeking sole custody and child support.[15]

In July 2010, Bristol Palin and Johnston announced that they had reunited and were engaged for the second time. The public statement was made before the Palin and Johnston families were informed of the decision,[16][17] Less than three weeks later, there were reports that they ended their second engagement.[18][19]

Media attention

During the 2008 U.S. presidential election

Johnston attended the 2008 Republican National Convention with the Palin family.[20] While Sarah Palin was delivering her prime-time nomination acceptance speech, the cameras frequently cut away to Johnston and Bristol.[20] Johnston shook hands onstage with Sarah Palin's running mate, Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain,[6] and was treated as a member of Palin's family.[21] Fox News commentator Dick Morris commented that McCain's decision to welcome Johnston to the stage was a good move, because it would help McCain show "a nonjudgmental", tolerant attitude, while still sending the message that unwed teens who become pregnant should marry.[22]

2009 interviews

After his 2009 breakup with Bristol, Johnston gave a series of nationally televised interviews.[23][24][25][26] He appeared on The Tyra Banks Show with his mother and sister, saying he wanted to dispel rumors that he had "done steroids and drugs and cheated on Bristol".[27] Remarking on Bristol's public appearances to promote sexual abstinence,[28] Johnston told The Early Show that "abstinence is a great idea, but I also think you need to enforce, you know, condoms and birth control and other things like that to have safe sex. I don't just think telling young kids, 'you can't have sex' - it's not going to work. It's not realistic."[29] In another interview he said that he was "pretty sure" Sarah had known that he and Bristol were having sex in the family's mansion.[23]

The Palin family denounced Johnston's statements as lies, with one public statement reading, "Levi and his family... for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration..."[30]

In August 2009, Johnston publicly speculated that Sarah Palin's early resignation from office was due to long-standing marital difficulties, the pressures of the job, and lucrative book and other media offers.[31][32][33] In a September 2009 Vanity Fair interview, Johnston alleged that Sarah Palin initially wanted the couple to keep Bristol's pregnancy a secret and offered to adopt the baby and raise him as her own,[34] but that he and Bristol rejected the plan.[34] In response, Sarah told the media the statements were "untrue, malicious, and appalling", emphasizing that she highly appreciated her children and commenting that Johnston's photoshoots were "attention-seeking and desperate".[35]

2010 follow-up

In July 2010, a week prior to the announcement that he and Bristol were engaged a second time, Johnston issued a statement expressing regret for his accusations against the Palins:

Last year, after Bristol and I broke up, I was unhappy and a little angry. Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true. I have already privately apologized to Todd and Sarah. Since my statements were public, I owe it to the Palins to publicly apologize.[36]

Other activities

Johnston hired Anchorage, Alaska, attorney Rex Butler (who was previously best-known for representing criminal defendants and handling civil litigation)[37] to represent him in his pursuit of a career in the entertainment industry.[38]

According to Tirdad Derakhshani of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Johnston was "shopping around a memoir" concerning his time with Bristol.[39] Politico reported in April 2009 that focus of the memoir had been changed to show the true story of the Palin household.[40] The Associated Press reported in July 2009 that Johnston was also pursuing a movie deal.[41]

Johnston and comedienne Kathy Griffin attended the 2009 Teen Choice Awards together. She later stated that he was "surprisingly sweet and courteous" to her.[42] Johnston and Griffin's acquaintanceship is documented in the sixth season of Griffin's reality television series, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

In October 2009, Johnston appeared in a television commercial for Roll International makers of Wonderful Pistachios, as part of their "Get Crackin" advertising campaign.[43][44] The commercial features Johnston, with a bodyguard, opening a pistachio as a voice-over states, "Now Levi Johnston does it with protection."[45]

It was reported that Johnston would pose fully nude for Playgirl Magazine,[46] however, following a statement by Sarah Palin that referred to Johnston's "aspiring porn career",[47] it was announced that Johnston's photo shoot would not show full frontal nudity, but glimpses were possible.[48]

Johnston is an avid hunter who has hunted bears, caribou, and elk.[11] In September 2008, it was reported that there were "antlers scattered about the yard of the Johnston family home."[11]

References

  1. ^ Holland, Megan (April 24, 2009). "Prosecutor Didn't Know Johnston Left for TV Appearances — Family: Lawyer Said Levi's Mom Needed to Be with Kids Outside". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  2. ^ Guanabee - Johnston's Mexicanness Reported in GQ
  3. ^ Twitter / Mario Lopez
  4. ^ The Daily beat - Shopping with Levi Johnston
  5. ^ Staff writer (December 30, 2008). "Bristol Palin Gives Birth to a Boy". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e Kaufman, Gil (October 13, 2008). "Sarah Palin's Future Son-In-Law Levi Johnston Denies He's Being Forced To Marry Bristol — The 18-Year-Old Has Dropped Out of High School and Says He's Looking Forward to Fatherhood". MTV. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  7. ^ Belenkaya, Veronika; Moore, Tina; Hutchinson, Bill (September 3, 2008). "Bristol Palin's Baby Daddy Is 'Psyched' to Be Father, Says His Pal". Daily News. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  8. ^ D'Oro, Rachel (September 2, 2008). "Levi Johnston's Mom On Bristol Palin Pregnancy: 'This Is Just A Bonus'". The Associated Press (via The Huffington Post). Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  9. ^ Goldman, Adam (October 18, 2008). "Levi Johnston Speaks On Baby, Obama, Sarah Palin". The Associated Press (via The Huffington Post). Retrieved December 18, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (October 6, 2009)."Levi Johnston Goes Nutty in New TV Ad". People. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  11. ^ a b c Staff writer (October 14, 2008). "Johnston Speaks on Bristol Palin, Obama and Baby". The Associated Press (via The Times of India). Retrieved December 18, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Shear, Michael D.; Vick, Karl (September 2, 2008). "No Surprises From Palin, McCain Team Says — Daughter's Pregnancy and Trooper Controversy Were Revealed Before Pick, According to Campaign Aide". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  13. ^ a b Staff writer (April 4, 2009). "Levi Johnston Says Sarah Palin Let Him and Bristol Share a Room". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  14. ^ Saul, Michael; McShane, Larry (May 6, 2009). "Truce: Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston Appear Determined to Jointly Raise Tripp". Daily News. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  15. ^ "Bristol Palin-Levi Johnston child custody fight goes public". CNN Political ticker. December 29 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston are engaged!". Us Weekly. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  17. ^ Jerry Reth (July 20, 2010). "Bristol Palin Levi Johnston Reality Show:Full-Season TV Deal?". TV @ Spreadit.org. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  18. ^ "Bristol Palin-Levi Johnston Relationship Timeline: Cold Again!". AOL. July 31, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  19. ^ "Bristol Palin & Levi Johnston Wedding Off: Engagement Ends Because Of Ex Briana Plum, Says Report". Huffington Post. July 31, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  20. ^ a b Marcus Baram (September 4, 2008). "Levi the Teen Dad Hits the Big Time:Teen Fathers-to-Be Such as Levi Johnston Face Unique Challenges in Their New Roles". ABC News. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  21. ^ Baxter, Sarah (September 28, 2008). "McCain Camp Prays for Palin Wedding — The Marriage of the Vice-Presidential Candidate's Pregnant Teenage Daughter Could Lift a Flagging Campaign". The Sunday Times. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  22. ^ Staff writer (September 14, 2008). "Discuss: Does Bristol Palin's Baby Daddy, Levi Johnston, Belong in the Spotlight?". New York Post. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  23. ^ a b Hamm, Liza (April 3, 2009). "Bristol Palin's Ex Talks Sex with Tyra Banks". People. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  24. ^ Wren, Jennifer (April 8, 2009). "Levi Johnston Addresses Tensions with Palin Camp". People. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  25. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (April 23, 2009). "Levi Johnston Refuses to Kiss and Tell about Bristol". People. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  26. ^ Staff writer (April 23, 2009). "Levi Johnston — 'I Didn't Think It Was Going to Get This Rough'". CNN. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  27. ^ Traister, Rebecca (April 7, 2009). "Much Ado about Levi — Bristol Palin's Ex talked About Sex and Family on The Tyra Banks Show. It Infuriated Sarah Palin -- and Made Me Want to Watch". Salon.com. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  28. ^ "Bristol Palin Says Abstinence Best Path for Teens". USA Today. The Associated Press. May 6, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  29. ^ Staff writer (May 6, 2009). "Levi Pans Bristol's New Message — Tells Maggie Rodriguez Abstinence-Only Isn't 'Realistic' for Teens". CBS News. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  30. ^ Fleeman, Mike (April 3, 2009). "Sarah Palin's Camp Lashes Out at Levi Johnston for Sex Talk on Tyra". People. Retrieved December 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ Staff writer (August 11, 2009). "Sarah Palin Resigned Due to Marital Troubles, Says Levi Johnston". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  32. ^ Standora, Leo (August 11, 2009). "Sarah Palin Has Marital Woes, Almost-Son-in-Law Levi Johnston Says". Daily News. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  33. ^ Schaller, Thomas (August 11, 2009)."Levi Says (Again) Sarah Did It for the Money — Former Son-in-Law-to-Be Is Becoming an Annoying, Broken Record" (includes video; requires Adobe Flash). Salon.com. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  34. ^ a b Staff writer (September 2, 2009)."Levi Johnston: Me and Mrs. Palin". Vanity Fair'.' Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  35. ^ "Sarah Palin Rips Levi Johnston for Selling His Body". People. October 28, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  36. ^ Eunice Oh (July 06, 2010). "Levi Johnston Apologizes to Palin Family for 'Youthful Indiscretion'". People.com. Retrieved July 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ "Playing Defense: You're in trouble. Big trouble. You need a lawyer. You want to see Rex Butler" (PDF). Rights Advocacy Project. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  38. ^ Dominguez, Robert (October 11, 2009). "Levi Johnston Is Working Out Six Days a Week to Prepare for Playgirl Shoot". Daily News. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  39. ^ [dead link]Derakhshani, Tirdad (April 24, 2009). "Sideshow: Pet therapist for the First Pooch?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  40. ^ Allen, Mike (April 25, 2010). "Mike Allen's Playbook". politico.com.
  41. ^ U.S. News staff and Associated Press (July 10, 2009). "Levi Johnston: Palin Resigned to Cash In on Fame". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  42. ^ McKay, Hollie (August 10, 2009). "Kathy Griffin's Date Night With Bristol Palin's Ex Fiance — Controversial Comedienne Kathy Griffin Lived up to Her Kooky Reputation by Walking the Red Carpet with Levi Johnston. Kathy Griffin Has Lovey Dovey Date Night With Bristol Palin's Former Fiancé Levi Johnston". Fox News. Retrieved December 22, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ Condon, Stephanie (October 6, 2009). "Levi Johnston Stars in Ad for Pistachios". CBS News. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  44. ^ Moore, Matthew (October 6, 2009). "Levi Johnston Makes Light of Unprotected Sex with Bristol Palin in Pistachio Advert — Levi Johnston Makes Light of His Unprotected Sex with Sarah Palin's Daughter, in a New Television commercial for Pistachio Nuts". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  45. ^ D'Oro, Rachel (October 7, 2009). "Father of Palin's Grandson to Pose for Playgirl — Attorney Says Playgirl Shoot Next Up for Teenage Father of Sarah Palin's Grandson". The Associated Press (via ABC News). Retrieved December 18, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  46. ^ Staff writer (October 29, 2009). "Levi Johnston Doing Full Frontal Nudity in Playgirl" (includes video; requires Adobe Flash). The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  47. ^ Barr, Andy (November 16, 2009). "Sarah Palin: Levi Johnston Busy Doing 'Porn'". The Politico. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  48. ^ Thomson, Katherine (November 16, 2009). "Levi Johnston NOT Showing Full-Frontal Nudity In Playgirl". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2009.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Levi_Johnston&oldid=377019555"