Levi Johnston, father of Sarah Palin's grandson, Tripp, was on Monday's Tyra Banks Show and the 19-year-old dad is not happy with media reports of him, or his current situation concerning his baby. He wanted to set the record straight on his relationship the the Palin family, his "alleged" drug use and said he may even sue for custody of his son!
Video links after the jump
Levi, joined by his mom Sherry and sister Mercede, spoke with Tyra Banks on a number of issues, including his son Tripp (with Bristol Palin).
Here are some highlights of the interview:
Sherry and Mercede Johnston claim they have seen baby Tripp only once a month because Bristol Palin won't allow more than that.
Mercede: There's so much bad being said about my family and I think everyone deserves to know the truth, we are good people and definitely want to be in Tripp's life and it's really hard because it's complicated to be able to see Tripp.
Tyra: To see him now? Why is it complicated?
Mercede: Mostly because Bristol and I don't see eye to eye. And that's mostly because I have a lot of girlfriends, a lot of friends that Levi's previously dated. So that's the main issue going on.
Sherry: You know it's not like we would go over for dinner or anything, but we started being mutual friends through hockey is when everyone started getting together and that's when Levi and Bristol, one of their first dates was on a hockey trip in Fairbanks and everything escalated from there. They started dating and we get the news about the baby and everything is good. And now it just turned to a nightmare.
Levi wanted to set the record straight about what has been said about him, and his family.
Levi: I have seen a lot of stuff, read a lot of things in the newspapers and news and it's time we get our story out there. I have seen a lot of stuff saying I've done steroids and drugs and cheated on Bristol and that kind of thing, and it's not true.
Tyra: What does it feel to read those things about you that are lies?
Levi: It's ridiculous how someone could come up with a lot of things like that. But at the same time it's kind of funny, they ain't got nothing better to do than pick on young kids.
Tyra asked Levi what went wrong with his relationship with Bristol:
Levi: I think it it was after we had had the baby, things got a lot complicated. We started fighting. We just wouldn't seeing eye to eye with each other anymore and we thought it would be better to be friends and try to work things out this way.
Levi added that he's considering taking Bristol to court - he wants custody of his son.
Levi: I can come see the baby and that kind of thing but [Bristol] won't let me take him anymore.
Tyra: You can't take the baby out of the Palin house?
Levi: Not very often, no. Added, when asked about custody: We haven't gone to court. I think it's probably looking like it. We didn't want it to go that way.
The Palin family issued a statement after they learned of the Johnston family's appearance on the show, and accused them of wanting to "cash in" on the Palin name. Through their rep, said, "We’re disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship."
However, Tyra wanted her viewers to know, her show's producers did not pay Levi, Sherry or Mercede for their time on the show.
Tyra said, "One thing that i want to make very clear to everybody is that the Johnston family is not getting paid to be on The Tyra Show. There is no exchange of money. They came here on their free will and there are journalists that pay for interviews. I am not saying that's the worst thing in the world but what I am saying is that you all are not being paid and you are just here and I think it's so important and I think they deserve a round of applause because everybody is getting paid these days for interviews."
You can see video clips here and here.
Oh, I have this sneaking suspicion things are about to get nasty between these two families. And guess who pays the price? Baby Tripp.
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