04/23/2007
McGreevey Dirty Laundry Hung Out to Dry
The New York papers have begun having their field day with the McGreevey divorce and the forthcoming release of Dina Matos-McGreevey's tell-all Silent Partner: A Memoir of My Marriage
When last we heard from either camp in the McGreevey divorce, Jim McGreevey had laid down new demands in the bitter divorce and custody battle between Matos-McGreevey and the former New Jersey governor over their daughter Jacqueline. One of the new revelations that came to light at the begining of April was Matos-McGreevey's demand that a nude photograph hanging in the home of McGreevey and his partner Mark O'Donnell be taken down.
Yesterday, the New York Post published the photograph: "The 50-by-60-inch print in the master bedroom of the Plainfield, N.J., home of McGreevey and partner Mark O'Donnell is part of a series called 'Naked Gay Friends' by Manhattan photographer Richard Renaldi, and was featured in Blue, a gay men's magazine. According to Renaldi, 38, and the Yossi Milo Gallery, which sells his work, O'Donnell purchased the print for $3,000 in 2004. The shot was taken in 2000, on the shores of Lake Michigan, where Renaldi was vacationing with his partner of nine years, Seth Boyd. '[Seth] had just gotten out of the water. It's a lovely portrait,' Renaldi told The Post."
The former Gov. says the photograph is no longer on the wall of their home. He also says that claims by Matos-McGreevey that he and O'Donnell occasionally sleep in the same bed with 5-year-old Jacqueline are not true.
Matos-McGreevey reportedly made the claim in a response to McGreevey's recent divorce filing: "It is one thing for children to sleep with a parent or parents. It is quite another for children to sleep with a parent and a third party." McGreevey has said that his estranged wife has "seemingly irrational fears" about his sexuality.
Whatever your thoughts might be about what is tasteful or appropriate to hang in one's private residence or your opinion of Jim McGreevey, the slant on this particular article was tasteless to say the least and attempted in a disappointing and roundabout way to draw a connection between gays and inappropriate sexual conduct with minors.
On to the New York Daily News which spills the details on Silent Partner, reporting that Matos-McGreevey says her only fears about his sexuality then were that he might leave her for another woman: "She was so convinced he was straight, she writes, that her only fear was that he might still be involved with his ex-wife, Kari, who lived in British Columbia with their young daughter, Morag."
Matos-McGreevey also speaks of that day when her husband stood before news reporters and shocked them with the statement "I am a gay American. McGreevey reportedly told her before the news conference: "You have to pull yourself together. You have to be Jackie Kennedy today...You have to smile. And if reporters ask you why you're here, you should tell them, 'I'm here because he's my husband and I love him.' And if the reporters ask you what you think of gay marriage, you should say, 'I'm sensitive to the issue.' Make sure you smile a little more when I ask for forgiveness and thank you for bringing joy to my life."
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Posted 10:15 AM EST by Andy Towle in James McGreevey, New Jersey, News, Photography | Permalink
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Latebrosus, that looks like an advertisment for Richard.
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 23, 2007 7:01:27 PM
Poor Richard or Seth---P-L-E-A-S-E! They love this controversy. It only boosts the asking price of his work among the gay community--let's be real. Besides, both are naked on Bigmuscle.com where they have personal ads. They love the attention.
Posted by: Martin C. | Apr 23, 2007 10:41:03 PM
It is certainly acceptable for you to disagree with me Zeke, afterall, it is the way we became friends! However, it is unlike you to miss important verbage. The last line of my post included the statement "That is only my opinion as I do not know him personally". I believe that this statement clears me of the so called "judging".
On this topic I do have more experience than you. I know what it is like to be married for longer than McGreevey was, and to be a parent. I work daily to NOT take my happiness at the expense of my kids mother. Having said that I do think that there is a line of responsibility to her. She, like Matos-McGreevey, did not sign up for a marriage to a gay man! I knew full well what I was doing and she did not! I will live the rest of my life with that burden. It is one of the reasons I work so hard at telling my story so that NO GAY MAN MARRIES ANOTHER WOMAN! You hurt soooo many people other than your family when you behave this way.
Now back to McGreevey. He appears to me to be a person that is out for himself, media attention grabber type of guy. Now, I understand that I do not know him personally, but I make such "judgements" daily about celebrities, politicians, etc. If I had to know someon PERSONALLY, as you have suggested, I would never make an educated decision in my vote for president. Yes, I know that many here feel as though I do not make that decision well either. However, I still do not feel as though he is making good quality decisions for his daughter or respecting his kids mother! Remember, HER LIFE WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN TOO!
McGreevey wants the attention and a high profile life. I personally do not like those types of individuals as I find them to be fake. And yes she married him so she may very well be just like him, but he still held the trump card; he is gay. For her, it is a gay issue. I respect that and will provide her the space to heal. I did that for my former wife and we are best friends today. WE BOTH HAD TO HEAL.
Taking your points on this subject is a little like those that have never had kids trying to tell me how to raise mine. And to Gary, I will wear my puritanical scarlet A with pride! My job as a parent is to provide AGE APPROPRIATE material to my kids and to get them to adulthood well adjusted and happy. I am not a prude around nudity, but having a LARGE photo of this type in a house with young children is NOT appropriate. As you can tell by Andy's response to my post he does not disagree.
Take care
RB
Posted by: RB | Apr 24, 2007 7:26:33 PM
Ugh, both of them are so pathetic, they should be on Jerry Springer.
Posted by: Boston Dan | Apr 29, 2007 8:46:23 AM