One of my biggest goals when starting out to do the podcasts was to just show everyone a side of the contestants that maybe they didn’t see on the show. You get an edited version of a television show, and plenty of people automatically assume that’s who these people are. Since doing interviews starting in January, I’ve seen your responses and it looks like a lot of you are coming around on some of these people. All I want to do is present them to you in real, raw, candid conversations with no editing, and just let them be them. It’s up to you to decide what you think. James Taylor’s interview for podcast #21 today is no different. The guy has screwed up royally. He admits all of it, tells some stories about it, and really opens up during the hour we talked. Can’t thank him enough. Do I expect everyone to love him? No. But I think his story is important to listen to because, without admitting it, he’s speaking for a lot of guys in this franchise. Not just recent ones, but plenty in past seasons. James is just one of the few (besides Bukowski) that can actually admit what the show turned him into, which was a person he didn’t like anymore. Really appreciate him coming on and I hope you like his honesty in this week’s podcast. Again, any comments or replies to this podcast on social media, I would ask that you include James in your replies, his Twitter is @james_mccoy_t. He’s not begging for forgiveness, he understands not everyone will believe him, but he says he’ll do his best to change his behavior over the last year, and that’s all we can collectively ask of him. It’s up to him to put that plan into action.
You can listen to today’s podcast on a number of platforms, but you can also tune in by clicking the player below:
Subscribe: iTunes, RSS, Stitcher
Music written by Jimmer Podrasky
(B’Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI)
(SPOILERS) James Taylor joins me and immediately begins talking about why he wrote the text in the first place, the reason behind sending it to the “Bachelor” girls (4:54), addressing is this a publicity stunt to get on people’s good side for “Bachelor in Paradise” (7:35), his thoughts about going on Paradise this summer (11:14), what he’s tired of hiding from (14:00), apologizing to the other women in the franchise (20:10), what exactly is he sorry for (24:05), the other guys in his circle and where their head is at in all of this (29:05), does he think he’ll now get “cut out” of their group (33:12), what is his plan going forward and how he wants to carry himself (35:18), how drugs and alcohol played a role in his behavior (41:55), and then we end with talk about the pecking order of this franchise, one’s popularity, and a little on JoJo’s season and what his schedule is like musically (50:00).
Facebook – James Taylor
Twitter – @james_mccoy_t
Instagram – jamesmccoytaylor
Here are all your “Survivor” goodies this week from EW.com, People.com, and Reality Blurred.com. Our “Survivor” recapper Bryan Fischer will have his recap posted tomorrow. Needless to say, one of the most memorable episodes this show has ever had, and that’s saying a lot considering they’ve done over 500 episodes. All these people have opinions on what happened last night, but for my money, what comes out of Zeke’s mouth is what’s most important. It’s his story, and I made sure to include the link of everything he had to say about it. It’s no doubt worth the read. Hats off to him for how he handled everything that night, and how he’s handling it today.
EW.com – Dalton Ross’ recap
EW.com – Probst Q & A
People.com – Stephen Fishbach’s blog
Reality Blurred – Andy Dehnart’s recap
Hollywood Reporter – “Survivor” Contestant Opens Up About Being Outed as Transgender
Tomorrow I’ll be releasing more of Rachel’s guys. I know I promised every day this week, just means I will double up on tomorrow. I’m up against the clock as I have an appointment that just came up, wanted to get this column and podcast posted, and I didn’t have time to complete the guys’ bios this morning. I apologize and you’ll get them tomorrow. Hope you all enjoy James and his honesty. What you want to believe is your decision. It’s not my job to take a side on this. I heard everything he said. I just hope he stands by it and changes his ways. But only his actions going forward will let us know. It seemed to me like this bothered him, he knows what he did was wrong and he wants to change. But so do a lot of people. It’s not just as easy as snapping your fingers. Seems like a good guy though. I’m rooting for him.
Send all links and emails to: steve@realitysteve.com. To follow me on Twitter, it’s: www.twitter.com/RealitySteve. Instagram name is “RealitySteve,” or join my Reality Steve Facebook Fan Page. Talk to you tomorrow.
michellem
April 14, 2017 at 8:40 AM
Hey RS,
I enjoyed the interview with JT. I believe he sees that his behavior isn’t matching his values. One thing that struck me is it was all about HIM and how HE is perceived and what kind of example HE is setting. I know he was nervous but there was no mention of an understanding of how his behavior has been hurtful to many of the women. No overt expression of compassion and respect. Kind of a skirting around (no pun intended) “I know I will never see them again…kind of leading them on” implication of hurtfulness.
The concern he expressed was about the effect his behavior has had on how they perceive him. But this is the start of his journey, maybe he’ll grow into the rest of it.
kimmyfromdablock
April 14, 2017 at 4:56 PM
I just made a comment about this in Steve’s latest column. I heard James talking a lot about these girls throwing themselves at him, so perhaps he rationalizes that he had no choice in the matter. I thought it was a poor attempt at damage control with his eyes firmly on future opportunities. In other words, I got busted by two girls in a tabloid and I am guilty by my association with Luke Pell. I better do something if I want to roll Paradise into something good or at the very least make sure I can still sell concert tickets.
He’s bought into his own image and it’s pretty funny. It’s so fleeting, it’ll be over before he blinks.
allaboutme
April 15, 2017 at 5:05 AM
I felt like he was almost bragging during some parts. Since nobody was talking about this, I think he wanted to be known as a “stud” too so he wanted to make it very public, get his name out there more for whatever reason (concert tickets, BIP as kimmy mentioned). The whole interview was boring, AshLee would have been soooooo much more interesting!
pumpkin
April 16, 2017 at 7:57 PM
I disagree with earlier comments. I found James’ schpiel refreshing. I,for one, have been the victim of guys like this and it was affirming to have one of them actually admit that he was being a jerk and on an ego trip, and the reason he ghosted someone wasn’t because he didn’t like the girl. How would have he known if would have liked her? He wouldn’t.
He might have let someone good pass him by, but that’s his problem.
I don’t think he’s perfect at this point but it’s a process.
yoyotono
April 16, 2017 at 9:22 PM
I’m definitely not going to listen to James Taylor trying to do damage control for a whole hour. I’ll bet Steve will have Luke on here next trying to do the same thing (only Luke will probably talk about being in the military the whole time and thinks women should s*** his d*** the rest of his life for it and he can treat people however he wants cuz he’s “really important and famous”).
Yes, people make mistakes (everyone’s human) and one bad chapter does not define who he is as a person if he is willing to actually make changes and not just talk about it. At least James admits it, like Steve said.