Kind of a whirlwind yesterday, but it’s something I expected. Meredith did as well. The reason why I told you in the weeks leading up to yesterday’s podcast that I thought it was gonna be news was because I figured outlets were going to give coverage to a story involving sexual abuse. I would’ve been surprised if that podcast went up and no outlet decided to give it coverage because I feel that’s an important issue that needs attention brought to it. I tried to do my best during the course of that interview. I knew Meredith had some stuff she wanted to say when I’d talked to her the night before we recorded (because I wanted to ask her if she was still married and/or had kids. I had no idea because there was very little about her on the internet), but was just as surprised as you she shared as much as she did and as detailed as it was. Plenty of times I didn’t know what to say because what can you say other than “I’m sorry this happened to you.” She was beyond brave to tell her story to a guy she had never spoken to until last week. I can’t thank Meredith enough for sharing and I hope I was able to help her come to terms with this event is some way, shape, or form.
On recent podcasts leading up to this one, I had mentioned I had some “heavy hitters” coming up on the podcast. I wasn’t even referring to Meredith. I knew she was coming on, and I figured she’d be a good guest with good insight and an interesting backstory from her 2013 People interview about being an alcoholic, but when I hinted in past weeks about big ones coming up, I wasn’t even referring to her. I was talking about hopefully the next two weeks guests. One is definitely still coming on (although it hasn’t been recorded yet), and one said they’d do it (next week’s) but haven’t nailed down when we’re recording yet. I’m heading out of town for the weekend, so hopefully I can get something finalized and record with them Monday or Tuesday.
I’ve listened to bits and pieces of Meredith’s interview at least 10 times. I never listen back to my interviews because I’m too self-critical. But that one, for legal purposes and what not, I had to make sure everything was good to go. I spoke with Meredith on Monday night talking about what to expect, the media attention it would probably bring, people wanting to talk to her, etc. She was fine with everything, she understood that talking about something like this would be a hot topic, and she was ready for what could be coming. Did she express some nerves about it? Absolutely. Who wouldn’t? You’re being about as vulnerable as possible and opening your private life up to plenty of strangers. I told her that no matter what she said and how she came across, she had to be prepared that there would be people out there who thought she was lying, made it up, didn’t believe her, etc. She knew that and wasn’t fazed. She knows none of those people were there so they can’t possibly know what she knows, so their opinion didn’t matter to her.
I also told her that because she admitted in the interview that she still drinks, there will be people who would use that as somehow a way of discrediting her. Some might even go as far as to say she was drinking during the podcast, which I saw yesterday was a subject that was broached on Twitter and emails to me personally. I have no idea if she was. I wasn’t there with her. I know that in the times I’ve spoken to her off air, she speaks exactly at the same cadence – very slow and very deliberate. So it’s not for me to dissect whether she was or wasn’t, and I hope that doesn’t become the narrative of this podcast. I don’t feel that’s important to the content of what she alleges happened 15 years ago on set. And neither does she. Do I like the fact she admitted she still drinks? Absolutely not. And I think you heard that in my voice and in my questioning. But I’m able to separate that from the story she told from 15 years previous. What I do feel is that Meredith is definitely still affected by this, as anyone would be, and I feel awful for her that she had to go through this. Which is why I have nothing but the utmost respect for her sharing what she did when she didn’t have to, and I hope a lot of you do as well. That couldn’t have been easy for someone in her position to share.
Meredith at no point, either on air or off air, has made any mention of wanting to press charges or go after anyone. This was part of her story that she’s shared with very few people, none of which was done publicly. It was intense. I get it. Trust me, I did the interview and I still can’t believe some of the things she told me. I hope in some way what she said on the podcast was therapeutic for her in a sense, and from talking to her, it seems like it was. To go through both parents death in such a short span in your early 30’s, probably very few of us can relate to that. So I can’t begin to put myself in her position to start asking questions about why she handled it the way she did. She acknowledged it, she got help, and I’m guessing this is something she will work through every day for the rest of her life. Maybe Meredith will tell more to other outlets that want to talk to her. I don’t know what the future holds. What I do know, and what I told her off air, is that she can talk to me whenever she wants about anything and I’d be there to listen. I hope she takes me up on that.
Lets lighten the mood a little bit here now. Whew. Ok. The Reality Steve Summer Tour begins today. I’m leaving in a couple hours for my first stop this summer and I’ll be in Denver for the weekend. I will tweet out tonight what bar some of us will be hanging at. Not sure yet, but taking suggestions. Somewhere near downtown I assume. Also, if you are going to attend the Rockies/Reds game Sat night, we are in the right field rooftop area. Myself, Lace Morris, Leah Block, their boyfriends, and others will be there so come say hi. If you plan on going, tweet at me or email me and let me know. They told me it’s standing room only there, and since the Reds are ass this season, I’m sure we won’t be glued watching the game. Just going for a fun time, hang out, have some drinks, and just mingle.
Also, the Reality Steve Fan Appreciation Party is 15 days away. Friday, June 8th at Mandalay Bay. It is oversold and I can’t accept any more people at this point. However, you can “be there” if you have Periscope as I will again be Periscoping the annual Trivia Contest I have. Usually we’ve started around 9:15-9:30 PST with the contest, so sorry east coasters, I know it’s late but if you want to stay up and watch and follow along, you obviously can. I’m going to try and make most of the questions fairly easy this year, because after my Stephen Fishbach podcast, I realized how hard some of my questions were in the past to people who are just casual fans. Die hards will probably ace this year’s test, but I want to make it fair if you’re just a casual observer as well. Should be a fun night, and this is an annual party I look forward to every year. This will be the most attended one to date, as we’re very close to 100 people.
As for the Bachelor world, there was definitely some news this week. Jared and Ashley announced they’ve been dating for two months (something I tweeted about two months ago), and Arie and Lauren announced they set a wedding date on Jan. 12th of 2019 in Hawaii. It’s private wedding and it will not be televised. But they wanted to publicly make sure everyone knew by appearing on a TV show to announce it, the day after Becca confirmed she was engaged this season just so you know. Got it. Moving on…
It all starts up again next week my friends. Recaps on Tuesdays, “Reader Emails” on Wednesdays, and “Dr. Reality Steve” along with podcasts coming on Thursday. I will have your episode-by-episode spoilers for you next week as well. What’s funny is, in past seasons when I spoil during filming, usually there’s still quite a few holes left to fill in once the ep-by-ep stuff is posted. Do you realize I’ve already either tweeted or posted in a column every date this season except for 3? The 1-on-1 in episode 3, the other 1-on-1 in episode 4 that wasn’t Garrett, and the group date. That’s it. Every other date in episodes 2, 5, 6, and 7 I’ve already put out there in some capacity, either it was a public date for everyone to see, I spoiled it on Twitter as it was happening or the next day in a post. So there won’t be too much new stuff revealed in the ep-by-ep spoilers, but there will be a couple things you’re unaware of.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone. Thanks for supporting the site, and thanks for listening to Meredith tell her story. I know she appreciates it. Talk to you next week.
Send all links and emails to: steve@realitysteve.com. To follow me on Twitter, it’s: www.twitter.com/RealitySteve. Instagram name is “RealitySteve,” join my Reality Steve Facebook Fan Page, or listen to all my podcasts at Apple Podcasts. Talk to you next week.
