Kelly Rutherford Says Single Mother Status Motivates Her to Work

Astrid Stawiarz/WireImage

When Kelly Rutherford stepped into the role of Lily on the hit show Gossip Girl, the mother-of-two had no problem connecting with her character on a deeper level. For the actress, their experiences of motherhood provided a foundation for which Kelly was easily able to build on.

“There are certain universal things about mothers,” she tells the Los Angeles Times.

“I like that we show that mothers aren’t always perfect. It’s okay to say, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t handle that the best way possible.’”

Feeling her way through unforeseen circumstances has become the norm for Kelly, with her divorce from Daniel Giersch undoubtedly taking its toll. That said, however, the 40-year-old insists her priorities remain her kids — Hermés Gustaf Daniel, 3, and Helena Grace, 4 months — and, in turn, her dedication to her career.

“I’m a single mother with no child support. I have to work,” she notes.

Aside from the necessity to continue on with her career, Kelly feels it is important to teach her children the responsibilities of a working mother.

“I also happen to love what I do and think it’s a good example for kids to see their mother working. My son always says to me, ‘Mommy, why do you have to go to work?’ and I tell him, ‘I have to be able to buy the toys.’ He totally gets it.”

Source: Los Angeles Times

– Anya

Comments

Another dig at Daniel:-(

Please, I seriously doubt that a millionaire fighting for joint custody is going to refuse to pay child support (eye roll).

These two seriously need to grow up. My 17-year old pregnant neighbour is more mature when dealing with her ex.

- Sanja on October 25th, 2009

give. me. a. break.

he’s adorable!

- kai on October 25th, 2009

Correct me if I am wrong, but she CHOSE to divorce her husband. She makes it sound like he left her and two kids in a shack with no electricity and she had to go to work to put food on the table. She’s even teaching her son that she goes to work so she can buy him toys. Her children are beautiful, but something about her just rubs me the wrong way.

- The Writer on October 25th, 2009

The Writer, I agree and just cant sympathize while shes always carrying expensive Birkins- uggh-

- Erin on October 25th, 2009

She’s on a hit show that is all about current top fashion. I would bet that most of what she’s carrying around she’s gotten for free from designers and from her wardrobe on set because it’s good advertising and free publicity for the merchandise. That’s how most of these celebs get their expensive merchandise. It’s freebies because the designers and the companies know that they’ll be spotted out and about with them and it’s not going to cost them money to advertise their product.

- Caitie on October 25th, 2009

I think this says it all, “I also happen to love what I do and think it’s a good example for kids to see their mother working.” She wants to work. That’s a perfectly good and acceptable thing. She doesn’t need to justify to others with the whole “I’m a single mom, I have to work.” Just admit that you love what you do and want to continue doing it. Nothing wrong with wanting to work and have a family. Men do it all the time without justification, so can women.

- finais on October 25th, 2009

I’ve really tried to like her, but she just needs to shut her mouth! Enough with the jabs at your ex! Grow up!

- AngieInOregon on October 25th, 2009

I like Kelly, I don’t agree with her airing her dirty laundry all the time but lets face it in most divorces that happens it just happens that she is a public figure who chooses to do it publicly. Also like someone mentioned she probably gets alot of the stuff for free.
Also because this has always been a pet peeve of mine, whether or not she could survive without child support is not the issue, imo, the issue is that he is not taking responsiblity for his children.

- Micheley on October 25th, 2009

wow everyone stop bashing kelly- we dont knows whats going on, who are we to judge?! ugh

- Tina. on October 25th, 2009

As much as it appears that Kelly sometimes doesn’t think before she speaks, we have to give her a break. Her relationship was obviously toxic with her husband so she left. The rich and famous have a different lifestyle than most and it takes money to sustain that. We shouldn’t criticize her for wanting to maintain the lifestyle she has with her two children. Yes she’s got nice things but it takes money to keep nice things. Leave her alone.

- Devon on October 25th, 2009

Yeah, sorry. I can’t muster much sympathy for her…or her so-called single motherhood. Kids are adorable, though!

- Stephany on October 25th, 2009

*rolls eyes* I’m so sick of hearing this woman talk. I feel so sorry for these poor kids that will grow up in the middle of all of this.

- JJ on October 25th, 2009

I wonder what else her son “totally gets”. Like all the constant fighting between his parents….Ouch.

- Kit on October 25th, 2009

Believe me, Hermes is not handing out Birkins because they want her to promote them-

- Erin on October 25th, 2009

ugh! I feel bad for these kids! She seems like she’s going to totally bad mouth him and the kids will probably not have a relationship with their father! She says she gets no child support? I thought he was a millionaire? Maybe she’s refusing it!??

- g!na on October 25th, 2009

I don’t think her publically putting down her children’s father is a healthy thing. I read somewhere that she would not let Daniel be there when his daughter was born! He has every right to be a father to his children! She continues these actions her children are going to resent her later on !!!

- g!na on October 25th, 2009

I actually liked her…I thought that this whole relationship gone bad hurt her so she said stupid things etc…. but this post made me sooooo angry!!!! I had to teach them the repsonsibilities of a working mother blah blah blah I am a stay at home mother and I probaly work 10 times harder then her outside job. This woman just got on my bad side. She seems to spew stupid when she speaks. Poor rich woman with no child suport boo hoo! I am sure there are real single moms out there who would walk in your shoes for a day. Yuk! no more feeling sorry for this woman!

- Elisabeth on October 25th, 2009

wow, i second AngieInOregon. i can’t get myself to like this woman, and every interview/quote i read of her seems to bug me!
she’s parading her children around, basically loving the paparazzi, and she bashes the children’s father all the time. whatever goes on between them should stay between them. i feel sorry for how pathetic and obviously attention-craving she is!
adorable kids though! too bad they have to be put through all of this!

- nks on October 25th, 2009

wow, kelly again on CBB. Imagine that! She disgusts me. She needs to spend her time with her children privately instead of attending all of these functions and trying to get media attention. This lady has issues and it is obvious.

- Mandy on October 25th, 2009

hum, I dont see what she said as an insult to the father. In fact if true, I would think ridiculus for him not to give any support. I dont understand some of the views here. Also people blame her for living her husband as he was the most saint person on earth, what I or anyone here have no idea if true.

Said this I am not particularly a fan of her and think in a way she does expose a bit too much the kids lately, but totally disagree that her comment is out of place, especially if indeed she has no support from her saint husband.

- lina on October 25th, 2009

I haven’t read much about Kelly previously so I’m not too sure about her previous statements or behaviour, but I’m a little bothered by how many of the commenters are criticizing her based on her statements here. She is not bad mouting her ex-husband, or really touching on anything that could be seen as debatable. She just seems to be stating that she is not a perfect mother, and is a single mother who needs to work to maintain her lifestyle and support her children. I think that it is slightly admirable that she is depending on herself and and not child support (not saying that it is bad for those who do choose to accept child support). She doesn’t sound like she is complaining about the fact, and I agree with her that it is good for children to see their mothers working (whether it is outside or inside the home).

- jammaj on October 25th, 2009

She sure loves to pimp out her kids huh!? Every time I’m here, she’s schlepping her kids to another event and parading them down the red carpet… and she LOVES to remind the public that she’s getting a divorce.
What a classy lady (eye roll)

- Mrs. R. on October 25th, 2009

I tend to doubt that he isn’t paying any child support. With the way she and her ex behave, it would be all over the news, plus divorce documents for celebrities are often made public. There has been nothing to my knowledge that he has refused to pay child support. If he had, he would be in contempt.

- Jen on October 25th, 2009

OMG, really ? Everytime I see a post of Kelly’s it is like here we go again…

She is exceedingly annoying. The dig she takes at Daniel for child support is unreal. Could it be that she wants alimony and child support and they have not agreed on a number ? Remember Lionel Ritchie’s ex wanted an unreal amount just to live with the “comforts ” that she had gotten used to like lavish lifestyle,plastic surgery etc. These rich people and the stupid things they complain about can be so ridiculous (like Eva Longoria calling complaining about Ziploc bags to get free ones).

And I agree with Erin. Anyone who knows anything about Birkins, know that they are extremely expensive (most start at like 8,000 dollars),and there is a waiting list for them (sometimes the waiting list is a few years). So Caitie, I agree with Erin, I doubt they are just handing them out. Also, Kelly doesn’t have just one Birkin, she has many, the pumpkin and esp the beige ones are the ones she is always out with.

If she is that hard up for cash, sell them. I remember seeing single moms do that also on Ebay and Kijiji. But wait.. that is what real moms have to do right when they are barely scraping by and the deadbeat dad is no where to be found to even get child support from him. I know a woman who after 25 years of marriage her husband left her for this young,fine thing. He had made her quit her career to look after kids,and not only that, the world had greatly changed since her career days. She was screwed over so badly in their divorce and shortly after had to move into a shelter because her family was out east so she had to sell off her stuff to get a ticket out there. Imagine someone doing that to someone your mother or grandmother’s age.

Kelly must think she is so clever everytime she opens her mouth. It ends up coming out as snarky,bitter and stupid. I love how she is using the job excuses now though. I remember when things were really rocky with them, Daniel was complaining about her working so much and not spending enough family time or time with Hermes,and then he complained about her working so many long hours being pregnant. The way she reacted was ridiculous,as if he was trying to push her back generations..it was like, you are married to a millionaire, I am sure that you really need to pull the 15 hour days while pregnant. People will do anything for fame though. I hope that in the end, it is all worth it.

- Rach on October 25th, 2009

She needs to stop attacking her husband and just live her life. If she was hard up for cash she could sell some of her bags and be set for another year…….

- Anna on October 25th, 2009

I don’t feel sorry for her at all! She gripes that she’s a single mother working! Kelly you make millions of dollars being an actress! How about real single mothers who have two jobs & are busing tables etc. to put food on the table? Most single mothers in the real world don’t buy or can’t afford expensive 1,000 dollar clothes etc. I look up to the single mothers who bust their butts for their children! Celebrities & their income is not the norm. Most people bust their butts for way less than she makes!

- g!na on October 25th, 2009

I think the Kelly bashers are being unfair–especially those of you who visit this site to see celeb babies and criticize her for showing hers!! She has said some really cool things about her mothering style, nursing, childbirth, etc–she seems very thoughtful and enlightened. I was shocked at first when I hear she didn’t let her husband be present for the birth, but she did explain that they are having a bitter divorce and she didn’t want him stressing her out during childbirth–she has a point; it is a well-documented fact that having threatening people around (people whom the moms feel are threatening)can have a very negative effect on the birth, stopping labor, causing tension when you have to release everything, and so forth.

- babyrama on October 25th, 2009

No child support? Really? The ex-husband who probably spent thousands trying to gain MORE time with his son? Who literally had to fight to be at his own daughter’s birth? Give me a break.

I will almost always applaud a single working mom but Kelly Rutherford has a serious case of verbal diarrhea. She takes every chance she gets to play the public sympathy card while slandering her kids’ father. I don’t doubt that she works hard but to continually demean her ex as a father and as a man to the public only makes HER look worse. Especially when all signs point to the fact that he is and has been a good father, if not the best husband.

I wish Kelly would spend less time talking to the press about her broken marriage and focus on shielding her kids from the fallout.

- Erica on October 25th, 2009

Regardless of the situation between the two of them he needs to pay for his children. I have no respect for men who don’t pay for their kids no matter what. Yes she’s rich and probably playing the victim a tad too often but if he’s not paying that’s disgusting. I agree with those of you who said she needs to stop bashing him every chance she gets though.

Erica sometimes the father shouldn’t be allowed in the delivery room. The biggest regret of my life is letting my ex in when I gave birth. He didn’t help me at all during my pregnancy, cheated on me when I was 7 months pregnant and left me, never paid a dime to help with any baby stuff, and I cried all the time because he was so verbally abusive and mean. Hours after I gave birth I had to lock myself in the bathroom at the hospital because he was screaming at me, I wasn’t strong enough at that time to stand up for myself and get him out of my life. I did everything during the pregnancy alone and I hate that I let him in there at the end to see such an amazing moment, he didn’t deserve it. Just saying, we don’t know the situation, the mom needs to be focused and relaxed during labor, that obviously wouldn’t happen with these two.

- Jessicad on October 25th, 2009

What an immature woman.

- Chris on October 25th, 2009

Totally agree with #21 jammaj &#29 Jessicad.
Also, so sorry you went thru all that grief, Jessicad. I’m sure things are looking up though. Sounds like it

- JustMe on October 25th, 2009

I cannot stand this woman.

I wish CBB would stop giving her any space.

- Brooke on October 25th, 2009

WOW… everyone needs to get a life . If you don’t like her, don’t read her interviews. Simple as that. Everyone thinks that because they seen a few pictures and read a few interviews, we know everything about them. We know nothing about this women or her life.

- kat on October 25th, 2009

Jessicad:

I’m sorry you had to experience that. And if Kelly’s situation was anything like yours I can understand why she wouldn’t want her ex there. Unlike your situation though, her ex has seemed to make every effort to be there for his kids and I think it is disgraceful to unfairly badmouth your child’s parent.

kat:

I’m quite sure everyone who posts here has a life. You seem to be insinuating that anyone who disagrees with you does not, which is very mature (not). And I would love to respect Kelly’s privacy if only she would stop blabbing her personal business every chance she gets. Her custody trial/details were spilled by her, her lawyers and her ex (who also should’ve been more discrete) for a long time. Maybe you should be directing your orders towards Kelly, who apparently has no problem with publicly airing her dirty laundry.

- Erica on October 26th, 2009

#34 Erica – Thank you, you said it all!

- g!na on October 26th, 2009

My problem with Kelly’s remark is that it is so unnecessary and it seemed like she had to get at least one dig against her estranged husband.
If Kelly is not getting child support, then she should file papers in court, I’m sure her attorneys know what to do but I think there is a strong possiblity that Daniel was not ordered to pay child support because her income is substantially higher than his. If that is the case, then I could see why she would be annoyed but she should take her complaints to the judge and not to the media.

- Di on October 26th, 2009

whooaaaaa, everyone on here acts like they are so much better than her o.O! get over it

- Tina. on October 26th, 2009

She doesn’t get child support because she and her ex share joint legal and physical custody.

So, he could make the exact same statement: “I’m a single father with no child support.”

- Michelle Z. on October 26th, 2009

So, I take it that if she wasn’t divorced, she would give up her career and be the perfect little stay-at-home mommy, huh? I seriously doubt that would be the case. She always tries to make herself come off as a martyr and I for one am sick of it. If I were Daniel, I would be glad to have this sick chick out of my life.

- Angel on October 26th, 2009

“With no child support”. Seriously. She should really stop attacking him and do what’s best for the children (GROW UP!).

- Natasha on October 26th, 2009

These comments really get under my skin and they shouldn’t.They were made by a perfect stranger whose career I don’t even follow.But they do and I can’t help it.She is not a single mother if the children’s father is still around to contribute with their development.As for no child support,well,then go get some.If she doesn’t get it it’s because she has not bothered to talk to her lawyer,unlike many mothers and fathers out there who struggle alone and it’s not for lack of interest.This woman’s comments are childish and (IMO)she’s thinking of the status and pity points she gets by advertising her divorce and working mother badge than anything else.

- eva on October 26th, 2009

I really wish she would stop dragging her private life into the public. Kelly, it’s nobody’s business that you aren’t getting child support. If you have an issue with that then go do something about it otherwise stop justifying work that you love to do and are paid heavily for by claiming you have no other choice when you do.

- Moore on October 26th, 2009

When will she just stop talking?
I wish she could just get over herself. Afterall, honey….you picked him to father your children. Make your bed and lie in it.

- sue on October 26th, 2009

I don’t have a problem with her comments. I don’t know her financial situation. Regardless of how much she or her husband make, the father should pay child support unless he has no income at all. And a real man would not wait for a court to order him to pay. I don’t care if the parties are wealthy or poor, whatever the child support ordered, it’s silly to say, because a woman is wealthy or making good money she shouldn’t need it. That’s nonsense. You make babies, you have to pay for them. That goes both for the man and the woman.

I don’t know what it costs for Kelly to live her lifestyle or what it costs to support her children and I’m not going to guess about things when I’m not privy to any information. I wish Kelly much good luck and hope she can put this messy divorce behind her. Daniel is a con man and now that the court has gone through his finances it has come to be known that Daniel is deep in debt. Serious debt and a big part of their divorce was that Daniel wanted Kelly to bail him out. Which she was willing to do, but the amount kept getting bigger and bigger and he wasn’t honest with her about his finances. This is also why the court believes he is a flight risk.

I think Kelly made poor choices is mates. Her first husband was incredibly verbally and later physically abusive. I would have let him too, whether he was ill or not. Then she made another poor choice with Daniel. She married him too quickly and didn’t know his financial status. Unfortunately it’s a mistake a lot women make.

- aroundtheywaygirl on October 26th, 2009

I don’t really see anything wrong with what she said… it all sounded pretty harmless to me.

i think a lot of people are already pre-disposed to have hostility toward kelly…
but if you read her comments here, they just sound like a mom thinking out loud about balancing work and motherhood. I think she most likely has some guilt about leaving her kids to go work and her words here just seem like a normal mom’s thought process on how to justify it in her mind.

really nothing to get upset about.

- fuzibuni on October 26th, 2009

I agree with what a previous poster said: most single mothers would be more than happy to walk a mile in Ms. Rutherford’s very expensive shoes and matching luxury handbags. Lifestyle is a choice. If the lifestyle she prefers requires her to work on the set of a television show in New York, I will not be wasting any sympathy on her.

- que cera on October 26th, 2009

Maybe she should skip on buying the toys and save up for therapy…. Poor kids are most likely going to need a lot of it!

- Nina on October 26th, 2009

sue- Well, Melanie Brown picked Eddie Murhpy to be the father of her child….and do you blame her for being upset with how badly he treated her?

Obviously we don’t know what went on behind closed doors, but I don’t get why people always seem to bash Kelly and act like Daniel was a saint or somthing. And before everyone says, “Well, if he was so horrible, why did she have kids with him…” it’s rarely as simple as that.

I’m not saying this was the case with Kelly, as we obviously don’t know, but…Sadly, a lot of times, women who are in abusive relationships have almost no self-esteem. Therefore, it’s very hard for them to stand up for themselves and leave the guy. Plus, abusive men tend to be very maniuplative and good at convincing their wives/girlfriends to stay with them.

- CelebBabyLover on October 27th, 2009

I dont know this woman from Adam but it seems everytime she says something about her husband it comes off nasty. I’m not judging her in any way but I hope she understands the repercussions of belittling your childrens’ father whether behind closed doors or in public.

On some level it seems as if its a sympathy thing, we should all feel sorry for her because she is a single mother and to some extent I dont because it appears that the father wants to be a part of their lives and for whatever reason, that is not happening. And I am just speculating on this.

The whole single mother without child support is a bit much. We get it, you and your husband are no longer together but, at some point people dont want to hear you lament on such things.

I work with single mothers everyday, they dont have penthouses, work on a hit tv show, get a six figure salary and definitely dont have a man fighting to come see their kids. Some have two, even three part-time jobs….their kids are failing in school because they are parenting themselves while mom is out working a double to make sure the rent is paid, food is on the table etc.

I think when it comes to celebrity mothers complaining about being a single mom, when they either choose to be or can afford help it just turns my stomach because they truly dont understand what it is to really struggle and really be without support and understanding from anyone….all they have is their kids.

So while I may not judge Kelly, I dont feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for the kids who are such innocent lil ones and will have to pay for the mistakes and immaturity of their parents.

I also wish Kelly to get off the pedastal about being a single mother without child support.

- Dee on October 27th, 2009

I honestly don’t see what she said that was so wrong.

- Terri on October 27th, 2009

Sorry to say it but she’s full of it.

- chloe on October 31st, 2009