Experts: Sandra Bullock Affair Reports Will "Bolster Her Fame"
Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Experts predict that Sandra Bullock won't suffer professionally now that reports have surfaced that her husband of five years, Jesse James, allegedly carried on an 11-month affair with a tattoo model.
"Ironically, it can actually bolster her fame," Karen Sternheimer, a sociologist at the University of Southern California who studies pop culture and celebrity, tells the Associated Press. "She has tried to keep herself out of her career as much as possible. This development... adds to her image as a sympathetic figure that especially women can relate to."
Look back at Jesse and Sandra's happier moments
Bullock pulled out of the London premiere of The Blind Side Wednesday after Michelle McGee came forward claiming she had a relationship with James. Veteran publicist Michael Levine doesn't think overseas box office revenue on her drama will take a hit as a result.
"If anything, it would engender a massive amount of sympathy toward her, and she's already exceedingly well liked,” he says.
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When celebrities face marriage problems, their fans are reminded "that they're humans," says Sternheimer.
"They might not be just like us, but they go through a lot of the same things," she continues, "and it makes people feel all the more connected to celebrities."
"[Bullock] spoke openly about how wonderful he is and how he changed her," adds Sternheimer. "It's the fantasy, the Jerry Maguire you-complete-me fantasy, and to have it come crashing down so soon is the drama side of it."
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But Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman laments how news of the affair now overshadows her big Academy Award win.
"I don't think it's really fair to her," he tells the AP. "We could have given her at least a month to enjoy her Oscar."
Tell Us What You Think
13sandra bullock is a class a celeb and why is she with someone like jesse james. sandra can do a lot better once a cheat always a cheat been there.
Pitiful. Shame on him. I don't think it will hurt her career or anything for that matter. She should remain about the same. She is a great actress. Brian @ TheCelebrityCafe
Sandra has and always will be a smart, intelligent, successful, and beautiful woman, I can't imagine anyone breaking her heart or doing something like that to her, she's so sincere, loving, and kind, even in her acting she brings that out. And as for that other woman, if it's true he cheated with her it's a shock, she looks like Marilyn Manson with boobs and not in a good way either, that would be enough to make the family dog move out the house too. Her modelling is not sexy or attractive at all, it's disgusting.
Please...it is Jesse that needs to repair the marriage not Sandra...He needs to be doing some serious arze kissing if you ask me and imo there aint enough of that in the world to make up for a year long affair...a one night stand would have been bad enough... but this guy was dog ging Sandra for a year...supposedly the last text the sk@nk in question received was on the 14th of this month...when was he planning to end this???????! Piece of work! Men like him are sorry they get caught...that's about it. Sandy you deserve better...do not take him back you might get an std and furthermore he surely has done this before...he just got caught this time...these losers always think they can get away with it...I have seen this happen so many times when guys have the most amazing wives and still look for opportunities...sickening...bad boy bad smoy...the straight arrows are dogs too...look at these phoney politicians...JOhn Edwards...he came off as a "good guy" but man he makes Jesse look like a boy scout... what's a woman to do?
Unbelievable, Sandra didn't have much time to revel in her Oscar win and then this white trash slimy sphincter destroys her life.
so sad, look at the way she looks at him in all the photos, I think she really loved him
she never loved him anyways so its ok... but its still cheating. so that's not ok. at least she wasn't like jennifer aniston who actually loved her husband. my opinion..............GO BACK TO MCCONAGHEYY!!
Oh well isnt that wonderful. Her career will flourish but her personal life is destroyed. Good to know. Im sure that was her biggest concern. *ends sarcasm*
Agree with Marnie here. I think Sandrawill disappear for a year.Movies,shebeen there done that. Getting an Oscar adn a god guy in Jesse behind her and being a step-momto his three kids from two mariages, that is real life. PSYCHE !! Little did she and we know he was all a lie. I just think she might not take movies for a while. Hopefully Leo Decaprio and Keanue Reeves is boosting up their gal pal.
i really hope she DOES become bigger and that her husband and the $kank just disappear without a penny
Judy Garland was also once thought of as "Americas Sweetheart" She died at the age of 47 of a drug over-dose, alone and owing thousands and thousands in back taxes. She quietly battled drugs and alcohol living most of her later life in and out of hotel rooms often skipping out on a bill she could not afford to pay. Yet, America never knew that side of our beloved "Dorothy". We only knew her from the characters she played on the "silver screen" and therefore assumed (as you are doing to Sandra Bullock) that she is the person she is pertraying in the movies! LOL...people, people If Sandra were so perfect, then why would she have allowed herself to marry such a peice of trash? HMMMM? Just something to think about!
Unfortunately, Sandra's Oscar award will always have an astericks next to it. She won the Oscar for best actress but it will always be linked to the affair. This time next year we will be talking about again because it will be awards season and the commentators will say remember last year with Sandra.... I do hope that Sandra stays strong though.
I think she will get so many job offers now that Jesse had the affair. I think it has everything to do with the kind of person she is and the timing of her award. Look at what happened to Taylor Swift. Her career has never been better because the public really cared about what had happened to her. The same sympathy will go to Sandra and her career will skyrocket. Good luck Sandra, wishing you the best.