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S8E6: A Very Special Episode (Patreon)

Published:
2024-02-28 03:18:37
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2026-06
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Content

Bret shares his reason for not releasing a podcast last week, discusses the highs and lows that led to a personal tipping point and complicated clarity revealed as he responds to questions from Platinum listeners on the air.    

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Comments

Elizabeth

🩷🩷🩷 This confirmed me needing to get my tween daughter better therapy. Thank you for sharing your story

Sértő-Radics Sarolta

This was unexpectedly uplifting. Bret sounded full of love and life. Good for him. Keep going. Thank you.

Christy A

Sending love to Bret and GREAT job Adam. ❤️

Michael Madonna

Thanks for this episode Brett and I wish you calmer seas ahead. Adam, great job , your collaboration in these discussions are so valuable 👏 Last thing Brett don't discount Al anon entirely. I'm 8 years alcohol free and I've found 12 step programs to be really helpful for the addicted and for those that love the addicted, peace!

John Q. Thompson

As someone whose dabbled in EVERYTHING and I mean everything.. speed, H, 3mg of Xanax a day for years, methadone and lastly ketamine. There is hope to come back from the edge and be normal again. I'm on a very low dose of Suboxone which keeps me out of withdrawals and feeling normal, which I hope to be off completely by year's end maybe. But I must say therapy and talking about yourself and being accountable is probably what I credit more than anything these days. Also, Kratom never did anything for me, always thought it was bullshit, but maybe that's because I was too heavily into opioids and on Suboxone so it wouldn't have worked on me anyway.

Kerry

You are amazing Bret, so appreciate this episode. At times it was hard to listen to cause it hit home in ways I’m incapable of putting into words. Thank you Adam and Bret both. I hope and wish the best for Todd.

Poetical Gore

he should have made a whole episode on gay for pay just to troll us....

Lanark

It’s cool that Bret doesn’t care about the way Todd treats him and if Bret was the only person affected by Todd’s behaviour it would be no problem. Unfortunately, Todd does a lot of harm to other people. Most notably, he has used the court system vexatiously to inflict financial punishment on people who did nothing wrong, just because he hates them. Bret paid for these lawsuits. I’m glad that all Todd did was threaten me because I couldn’t afford to hire a lawyer to get his case(s) dismissed. I’d end up in huge amounts of debt. I hope they can recover their losses. They shouldn’t have to pay so Todd can “learn a lesson”. Todd also vowed to spend the rest of his life trying to get a lawyer fired because that lawyer had the audacity to not capitulate to Todd. He is also suing 2 judges and 2 court clerks for not doing as he demanded. This was months before this most recent incident. It will costs tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for this tantrum to be cleaned up. He’s made false allegations to the bar, attempting to get the lawyer representing Google fired. Vindictive doesn’t even begin to cover it. So many people have been harassed, abused, threatened, stalked and defamed by Todd and they do care, they don’t just accept it like Bret does. Why should they? Todd also attempted to bribe people into filing false “affidavits”. So I wouldn’t take his word for it about charitable donations and just giving money away. He got one woman to give a statement claiming one of the defendants in one of his lawsuits was a satanist who ate babies. Todd spends hours every day going round the internet trying to convince people that this guy is a human trafficker. Bret says he doesn’t care about his reputation, which is fine, but Todd is not just Bret’s problem and I think it’s important to acknowledge that and to ensure those people are compensated and apologised to and protected in the future when Todd inevitably dies this again.

Bee Garns

I’m only 20 minutes in and I’ve already got tears in my eyes. I wish there was someway I could have helped. I tried a couple of times (once in 2021 and recently this year) to reach him. I don’t know what I would have done and maybe he would have turned on me too? This was such a honest and touching episode and I know I couldn’t ever speak out about my own personal life in the way Bret has. Thank you for speaking so openly and honestly. I’m glad I’ve rejoined the podcast and the BEE community after nearly 3 years away.

Thomas Edwards

Thank you for sharing. Wishing all involved well.

Jeffery Williams

I understand you will probably never actually read this post, but you bring and have brought so much joy to people with your BEING Bret Easton Ellis! I am about the same age as you and alone. I find myself looking back and yearning for my younger self! I am Jeff “nobody” from “Nowhere” but damn man you need to keep being BRET EASTON ELLIS! Fuckin’ rock star writer that we all love!! Take care and wish best for Todd!

richard owain roberts

am going to listen on my run. will say more later, after my run.

Matteo Persivale

very sorry about this whole situation, hope everybody involved finds some serenity — health is paramount for all.

Ellie

Yeah, i was super confused when I opened Twitter, super worried about you both actually. I’m really sorry, really really sorry, it can be so hard when you have all this love for someone who’s losing themselves. My dad was addicted to alcohol, and I was terrified watching him, for years I was silent because he kept telling me he was okay when in reality he wasn’t. My mum would also abuse psychiatric drugs, so I am glad you decided to make this, you’ve made a huge impact with your books and creations and you don’t deserve to suffer in silence, you’ve brought me and others sooo much joy! Thank you for speaking up on this, like actually thank you. It’s really an awful situation to be in, especially with your loss as well, but oddly relieving for me to hear about because family mental health issues/addiction is really tough, something lots of people go through I’m sure! Sorry this comment is such a mess haha, very emotional subject, i know it must’ve been so difficult to watch Todd just talking pure gibberish, brain just melting… Big thank you to Adam as well, thank you for everything both of you. I don’t normally comment but yeah, it’s a very emotional subject. I understand what you mean because there are always multiple sides to people, it’s upsetting for me to see you getting blindly hated for the things Todd has said and done. He’s not your DOG, you don’t watch over him 24/7 because you shouldn’t have to, you’re partners!! Idk it’s insane to me how anyone can see you as some bad person for any of this. I have so so so much respect for you.

Adam Long

Appreciate the episode and wishing for the best outcome for all involved.

David Martignetti

I’m sorry but I am undecided on supporting Todd’s presidential campaign

Bee Garns
>>130947209

I mean I corresponded with him for a while in 2017 where he actually gave me some good advice on my film criticism and I pursued that type of writing rather than fiction as that’s clearly what I excel at. He also helped me when I ordered some items too. I don’t know if I could say we were ever friends but we were friendly. But then in 2020-21 so much happened in my own life that I stopped talking to him regularly and noticed his behavior had become erratic. Last year he emailed me out of the blue congratulating me on my wedding and pregnancy so we exchanged a few messages. Then recently I started to notice he was having confrontations on Twitter with several people so I asked him what was going on but he was reluctant to talk about it. I offered to talk to him as I wasn’t sure what support network he had but he just kept making very little sense.

Stephen
>>130937252

Damn dude care to provide some context? And tens of thousands to to taxpayer is nothing, especially in the nearly bankrupt state of California.

E

Thanks Bret; I hope this helped you. And continued prayers for Todd and his recovery and you for your peace of mind

Lanark
>>130937252

Bret knows about these lawsuits Todd has been filing. They are publicly available so easy to look up. I’m more concerned about the thousands of dollars normal people have had to spend because of Todd’s lunacy. Here’s a good place to start: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68121442/todd-michael-schultz-v-michael-c-thompson/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc Docket 20, the judge finally - after 5 bullshit lawsuits - has started the procedure to deem Todd a vexatious litigant. Bret paid for these lawsuits, which have harmed innocent normal people (not just taxpayers, not huge corporations like Google). Todd has enacted this over a year. This isn’t one drug induced meltdown, this is a vindictive effort to destroy lives.

Virginia Gonzales

If this even means anything to you Brett you have always inspired me. I even made a podcast to try and mimic your film reviews that always come across so poetic to me. Thanks for sharing your struggles. Sending hugs🖤🖤

Rebecca Poliskin

The calm and non-performative honesty/discussion of what is happening right now in your life is such great modeling (I know this isn’t your point) of a sane adult. You have no idea how grateful I am to hear these words. Thank you.

Nikki Ferrari

Bret… you don’t just chalk everything up as doing the best you can and moving on with your life. The reason you have wounded bird syndrome in your mid 50s is because you haven’t actually moved on with your life. All of this stems back to your relationship with your father. I hope that you do a little more therapy and focus a little more on yourself. You will then be the best possible partner who can help Todd if that’s something you decide to continue doing. If logic cured anyone we would all be just fine.

Eric Z.

Al-Anon meetings really do sound like the best next step.

Graeme

Adam’s best episode. Love how he pushes back against Bret. Really good/hard episode

Happyhead

….and the enabling continues

Steve

I'm going to say what many of us must be thinking: couldn't Bret have done much better than Todd? I don't really believe that Todd has these hidden qualities that make up for all the problems.

Kelly Morris

Sorry to hear about your sister and about Todd's struggles. I hope he can heal and turn things around. Hope you're taking care of yourself, too. Having once dated someone who was supposedly "in recovery" but later turned out to be lying to me, just want to say ... be careful? It's hard to admit that a relationship is abusive when you love someone ... Might be worth asking the psychiatrist if Todd's medications contributed to his psychosis. Stimulants like Adderall can cause mania in some patients, and pretty much any antidepressant can cause akathisia, either when starting or too abruptly stopping it. If the shrink isn't paying attention, a medication side effect or withdrawal symptom can be misdiagnosed as bipolar or psychotic disorder. Maybe it's not a med side effect, but the doctor better be sure. I'm not a doctor ... just been through a version of this shit myself as a patient. I lost a decade of my life to psychiatric malpractice, learning these things the hard way. But things have started to turn around. It can be done. One day at a time. Good luck. Wishing you both the best.

MisterBlasty

Glad u are back Bret. Just glad to hear your voice. Not going to give u advice. U will figure it out

Seneca Garcia

This pod is a joy to listen to, and the best monthly therapy bill that I trust more than a physician

Tim Rinaldi

Hey gents, lots of love from Taiwan. Hang in there.

Chris De Burgha

Adam is so so so invaluable in these podcasts and for bret. Bret is a star obviously but Adam really carries the show too

Stevan Popovic

Not an easy situation. Adam good job. Having seen friends and family go through this. Its a horrible experience. Exercise does help. Medication is a placebo. If people knew about stoicism. There resilience would be better in life.

Vickie Lynn Marshall

Great episode BEE. Your empathy for Todd is so warm, loved when you spoke about how you completely understand how sensitive to criticism he is- even though your past allows you to have a completely different reaction to criticisms. Thanks for talking about the different pieces of the human experience. ❤️❤️

Erick

Todd sounds like a narcissist. Sorry Bret's going through this

Happyhead

I, for one, am incredibly disturbed by this episode. Bret is still in near total denial of Todd’s malicious, destructive, and, yes, dangerous behavior. And he’s still enabling. He kind of writes it all off as the kooky, BPD ramblings of his failed artist BF even when faced with the harsh reality that he’s been arrested, committed, and is still lashing out, refusing to see family or even go to court. Bret still refuses to watch the YouTube videos which would really give him a good window of insight into just how maliciously evil Todd truly is at his core. He dances right around the little matter of Todd domestically abusing him, says he “doesn’t care” that Todd threatened him online from his own X account, never addresses how Todd has assaulted, threatened and burglarized his neighbors. He is still in full tilt denial and will let Todd back into his life willingly once again. Maybe he has a death wish. Maybe he does want Todd to pull a Sid & Nancy. Maybe he does want to be evicted from Doheney, dropped from his publisher and current movie projects deaded. Maybe, in the words of Rip, he’s just “so much further out there than we realized”

Lanark
>>131164265

Hear hear. I don’t think Bret will ever see Todd for what he is, I don’t think he wants to see it. But Bret’s money is paying for Todd to repeatedly harass innocent people through the pro se lawsuits he’s filing. Bret admits he’s too scared to even disagree with Todd or tell him when he’s wrong. Todd is a narcissist. It’s obvious. And Bret was an easy mark.

Lanark

Well done Adam for pushing back and saying what needs to be said, respectfully.

Happyhead
>>131145857

You mean when he kept refusing to respond to criticism from Adam and from listener’s questions?

Bazayer

Felt uncomfortable listening to this episode but like Bret said he's lived his life in 'public' for so long now that talking about this stuff on the podcast isn't much of a stretch for him. Found it interesting that Bret didn't really know how to answer the question about having a support system for himself and instead started talking about Todd and his needs.

Steven Carrier

This comments section is disgusting. I’ve known both Bret and Todd - y’all couldn’t be less supportive. It takes time for these things to sort themselves out. Just lead with kindness.

Mary

Thank you for sharing. I think a lot of people can relate to loving someone with addiction/severe mental health problems and feeling helpless or even unconsciously enabling. I’m wishing for Todd’s recovery.

Happyhead
>>131199922

No axe to grind. I don’t even know these people. But if you can listen to this episode and not realize how far gone Bret is in his slavish devotion to a destructive force that he is still so willingly naive about, then it’s just blind celeb/artist devotion at this point

Jessyca Estrada

Adam lol you are spot on and I don’t think Brett gets it

GC

A thoroughly engrossing and wonderfully candid episode. Props to Adam for saying some pretty hard-hitting home truths to Bret. A fantastic ep. Now I want to know if, amid the craziness, Bret liked The Curse??

Darren Ankenman

Mental health issues aside, you kinda want someone who has a little self awareness that can admit when they’re wrong and own their actions

Jim Weaver

Tuned out after about 40 minutes, but heard enough to understand what Bret is going through. God bless him and Todd, and looking forward to Bret’s future interviews and reviews.

Bee Garns
>>131199922

I think a lot of people here are being supportive, but Todd and Bret have acted in a manner that has been somewhat disrespectful towards the fans. Todd purposely scammed fans out of their money by not sending them their books. Bret should have known about this as it’s his work that Todd was selling as BEE’s assistant. Then there’s Todd’s behavior towards those in the writing workshop where he threw people out and did live streams ranting about them. Then there’s the racist tweets. And the tweets where he insults Dylan Farrow and says she’s “too ugly to have been sexually abused”. Then there’s tweeting the word “fa**ot” on Bret’s twitter account. Then there’s the time Todd pushed Bret to the ground in August 2021. Then there’s the lawsuits that Todd brought up against several people. I consider myself to be a kind person, I reached out to Todd in 2021 and this year but I didn’t know the full story. I don’t think being kind is working with Todd. He must *want* to change and should stay the hell away from Bret, the fans, Twitter and YouTube. I genuinely do care about Todd in the sense that I wouldn’t want him to hurt himself or others but I can understand why so many people are upset and why they might be vocalizing their feelings. Truth be told, he’s really caused a lot of damage and only time will tell if anything can be fixed. Again, apologies to all those reading my long posts. There’s a lot to say on Todd Gate.

Knokkel knokkel

America is by far the richest country in the world. No way people have money problems here? We are swimming in cash, we are the United States of for Christ sake! The standard of living in Europe is terrible. Even homeless people have freedom in the US. In Europe or Norway they have no freedom or money for that matter.

Patrick
>>131199922

Todd is my friend IRL (as he would say). Has always been very genuine, generous, and gregarious with me. Only wish him the best and hope to see him soon. #godspeed

Bee Garns
>>131199922

I liked Todd back in 2017/19 when I used to interact with him. He genuinely was very friendly and pleasant to interact with. A bit erratic and “Hollywood” but still offered me some very solid advice. Then something happened and he completely transformed into this person we see today. Truth be told, he’s done a lot of damage whether intentionally or not and needs to be held accountable. Just because he was kind to me 6 years ago doesn’t excuse his behavior since 2021.

Bee Garns
>>131164265

The fact that when Bret and Todd first hooked up, Todd came to Bret’s apartment with his backpack and laptop, is a clear indicator that Todd was always planning on staying at the condo. If you read Todd’s interviews from around that time, he’s always name dropping Bret. He probably hoped his association with Bret would be his ticket to success.

Adam Marzec

The most loving word is “no”. Its all to easy to be like “sure” or “whatever” to the ones we love.

Harold B
>>131269369

Standard of living for average citizen in many Western European counties is higher, they lean much more socialist than the USA

Neil G.
>>131199922

yeah, Todd is a POS but he seems like a good rebellion against the woke-tardic, over sensitive shit that you obviously are 😂😂

Neil G.

Michael & Todd was the postmodernist, bullshit version o' Fitz & Zelda...in the same way that American Psycho was the postmodernist version of The Great Gatsby...'cept, both novels are masterpieces 😂😂

Bee Garns
>>131199922

You don’t know me. I’m actually quite anti woke. I don’t believe in any form of censorship. I just try to be a decent person and help others out even if I don’t like them. Todd is a drug addict, how is that part of a “good rebellion”? I’m done having any further discussion with you as frankly it’s a waste of my very valuable time.

Jonathan Davis

It’s hard when you love someone that’s a mess and needs to get their shit together.

Patrick
>>131199922

I’ve never experienced this behavior but “needs to be held accountable” sounds ominous. He’s in enough hot water as far as I can tell. Maybe you can kick him in the balls when he walks out of the psych ward if it makes you feel better?!

Michael widman

Todd is a loser at this point. I’m afraid his misery and destruction will Rub off on you. Don’t let it happen. Misery loves company.

Lars Johan

Kinda sounds like Adam thinks Todd is a piece of shit. I think I agree

Mitch Jordan

Listening to this you can tell Adam sees Todd as a lost cause, Hope Bret is doing well, the relationship seemed very toxic and hopefully it concludes in a healthy way.