While many public figures strive to keep rumors of infidelity at bay, some have chosen to openly address past affairs in their autobiographies. These memoirs offer candid glimpses into personal lives, detailing relationships that sometimes overlapped or caused significant upheaval. Below are several instances where celebrities have confessed to extramarital relationships in their published works.
John Lithgow’s ‘Rampaging Elephant’
Actor John Lithgow, in his memoir Drama: An Actor’s Education, admitted to having affairs with eight different theater costars during the 1970s. He described his behavior as that of a “rampaging elephant.” One of these relationships was with actress Liv Ullmann. Lithgow shared that this period was a significant personal crisis amidst professional success. He stated that he sent Ullmann a copy of the memoir before publication and would have removed the relevant section if she had requested it, but she responded positively.
Lena Dunham’s Chronic Illness and Affair
Lena Dunham, in her memoir Famesick, detailed an affair with a former middle school boyfriend, Nick, during her nearly six-year relationship with Jack Antonoff. Dunham explained that the affair occurred while she was dealing with chronic illness related to endometriosis, shortly before undergoing a hysterectomy. She described reaching out to Nick for comfort, leading to a brief physical encounter. Following the affair, Dunham wrote that she believed her relationship with Antonoff could recover, but they eventually separated, citing a lack of mutual happiness.
Brigitte Nielsen and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Hot Affair’
Brigitte Nielsen recounted an “outrageous affair” with Arnold Schwarzenegger in her memoir, You Only Get One Life. The affair took place in 1985 while they were costars in Red Sonja. Nielsen stated she was unaware that Schwarzenegger was dating Maria Shriver at the time. Schwarzenegger later confirmed the affair in his own memoir, Total Recall, calling it a “hot affair” that ultimately solidified his desire to marry Shriver.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Admission of Fathering a Child
Arnold Schwarzenegger also addressed an affair with his family’s housekeeper, Mildred Baena, in his memoir Total Recall and a 60 Minutes interview. He revealed that he fathered a son, Joseph, with Baena, born just days after his fourth child with Maria Shriver. Schwarzenegger did not realize Joseph was his son until the boy was around seven or eight years old and began to resemble him. He admitted the truth during marriage counseling when confronted by Maria Shriver, who subsequently separated from him after 25 years of marriage. Schwarzenegger expressed embarrassment and a desire to avoid facing Shriver’s prominent family, the Kennedys, as reasons for his prolonged secrecy.
Kris Jenner’s Admission of Infidelity
Kris Jenner, in her memoir Kris Jenner…And All Things Kardashian, confessed to cheating on her first husband, Robert Kardashian. Feeling bored in their marriage, Jenner engaged in an “insanely intense affair” that involved frequent, passionate encounters. She admitted to constant deception of her husband and friends. Robert Kardashian eventually discovered the affair, leading to their divorce. Their daughters were reportedly upset by the revelation and their father’s hurt.
Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford’s On-Set Romance
Carrie Fisher, in her memoir The Princess Diarist, revealed a three-month affair with her Star Wars costar Harrison Ford. At the time, Fisher was 19, and Ford was 34 and married. She wrote that she had hoped for an affair during filming and that the romance began after a party, involving “unexpected exploratory kissing” and intimacy in the back seat of a car. Fisher described Ford as “so handsome” and felt a sense of winning the “man lottery.”
Jessica Simpson’s ‘Emotional Affair’
Jessica Simpson, in her memoir Open Book, alleged an “emotional affair” with her The Dukes of Hazzard costar Johnny Knoxville while she was married to Nick Lachey. Simpson considered an emotional affair to be a greater betrayal than a physical one, especially given her previous emphasis on sexual abstinence before marriage. She stated that she and Knoxville shared a deep emotional connection, which she felt was more significant than physical intimacy.
Jackie Chan’s Mistake and Child
Jackie Chan admitted in his memoir Never Grow Up to an affair that resulted in a child. He described the 2019 revelation as a “serious mistake” and a “bomb going off” in the media. Chan expressed his difficulty in knowing what to say to his wife, Joan Lin, at the time.
Jesse James’s Betrayal of Sandra Bullock
Jesse James detailed his affair with Michelle “Bombshell” McGee in his memoir American Outlaw, an infidelity that led to his divorce from Sandra Bullock. James recounted admitting the affair to Bullock, including explicit details, and the profound shame he felt as she cried. He described Bullock’s departure from the shop where the conversation took place, a moment marked by her visible distress.
Britney Spears’s Allegations Against Justin Timberlake
Britney Spears, in her memoir The Woman in Me, alleged that Justin Timberlake cheated on her “a couple of times” during their relationship from 1999 to 2002. Feeling justified, Spears admitted to reciprocating the infidelity but later confessed the truth to Timberlake. They ultimately decided to remain together following the revelation.
Liza Minnelli’s Complex Relationships
Liza Minnelli, in her memoir Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, described a “passionate romance” with director Martin Scorsese while they were both married to other people. She characterized their relationship as intense and driven by their shared passion for filmmaking. Minnelli also revealed a second alleged affair with choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov during this period, which reportedly led to a public confrontation with Scorsese in front of her husband, Jack Haley.
Ione Skye’s Self-Proclaimed ‘Serial Cheater’ Status
Ione Skye, in her memoir Say Everything, identified herself as a “serial cheater” and admitted to infidelity during her marriage to Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys. She confessed to relationships with Jenny Shimizu, Alice Temple, and Ingrid Casares. The primary cause of her marriage’s end, however, was an affair with a woman she referred to as “Mai Lei.” Skye expressed a lack of full understanding for her own actions but acknowledged loving “Mai Lei” deeply. The marriage reportedly ended after Horovitz allegedly discovered Skye with “Mai Lei” in their pool.
Paul Newman’s Affair with Joanne Woodward
Paul Newman, in his posthumously published memoir The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man, wrote about his affair with Joanne Woodward while he was still married to his first wife. He described this period as “brutal in [his] detachment from [his] family,” noting a significant shift in his personal life after meeting Woodward.
Bonnie Bartlett’s Search for Kindness
Bonnie Bartlett, in her memoir Middle of the Rainbow, detailed an affair with a costar from Love of Life. The affair began after the costar expressed strong feelings for her. Bartlett found the relationship comforting, contrasting it with her husband William Daniels’s alleged temper. She also revealed that she and Daniels had an open marriage in their early years, but this arrangement ended in the 1970s when Daniels allegedly had an affair with a producer, leading them to close their relationship. They have remained married since 1951.
Conclusion
These confessions, shared through memoirs, offer a candid look at the complexities of relationships, even among those in the public eye. They highlight how personal struggles, professional pressures, and evolving desires can lead individuals to make choices that have profound consequences on their marriages and public personas.
