Sarah Palin Tells Oprah: “Levi’s Still Part Of The Family”
Nov. 12 2009, Published 6:53 a.m. ET
With the holidays quickly approaching, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is putting together her invites for Thanksgiving dinner…and there’s one name that shockingly could make the list!
Palin sat down with Oprah Winfrey in an interview set to air on Monday, November 16, where she reveals that she still considers her grandson’s father, Levi Johnston, part of the family.
When asked if Johnston, 19, will be invited to Thanksgiving dinner, Palin responds, “you know, that’s an interesting question. And it’s lovely to think that he would ever even consider such a thing. Because, of course, you want—he is a part of the family and you want to bring him in the fold and kind of under your wing.”
Johnston, who is father to Palin’s grandson Tripp (mom is Sarah’s daughter Bristol Palin), has been the center of controversy since announcing his intention to pose nude for Playgirl Magazine. Johnston has also been bad-mouthing his once future mother-in-law, telling the press that Palin referred to her youngest son Trigg (who has Down Syndrome) as “retarded.”
Sarah Palin Criticizes Levi Johnston's Nude Pictorial & Calls Him A Liar
But Palin tells Oprah she doesn’t take it to heart.
“I think he needs to know that he is loved and he has the most beautiful child and this can all work out for good. It really can,” she said. “We don’t have to keep going down this road of controversy and drama all the time. We’re not really into the drama. We don’t really like that. We’re more productive. We have other things to concentrate on.”
- 'Hey Mom, I'm Not Coming Back': 'Gut-Wrenching' Six-Word Text Bristol Palin's Son Sent Her About Moving to Live With Dad Levi Johnston
- Heartbreak for Bristol Palin as Son Tripp, 15, Moves Out of Her Texas Home to Reunite With Dad Levi in Alaska
- Sarah Palin Gets New Restraining Order Against Daughter Bristol's Convicted Stalker
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
Sarah Palin Will Finally Appear On Oprah
Oprah also delved into Palin’s now infamous interview with Katie Couric during which she was heavily criticized by the press.
“Must we?” Palin asks Winfrey, adding that she didn’t consider the interview a defining moment in her career. “And neither did the campaign,” she said of the 2008 election. “In fact, that’s why segment 2 and 3 and 4 and maybe 5 were scheduled. The campaign said, ‘Right on. Good. You’re showing your independence.”
Oprah took to the web after the interview, posting a video blog from her office discussing the other discussion points she and Palin would hit including her marriage.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/lPq4QgLGogQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/lPq4QgLGogQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>