Ashley Dupre's Diane Sawyer Interview (VIDEO)

via ABC:

The young woman at the center of the historic downfall of the governor of New York is finally speaking out.

Ashley Dupré, the 23-year-old former escort who was the target of intense media scrutiny in the days after Gov. Eliot Spitzer's resignation from public office, has stepped forward to give her first television interview. Dupré told ABC News' Diane Sawyer that she does not feel responsible for Spitzer's downfall.

"If it wasn't me, it would have been someone else," she said. "I was doing my job. I don't feel that I brought him down."

WATCH:

Comments

[TiberiusKirk]

Why is prostitution illegal? Prostitution and Pot should be legal.

[megan631]

Prostitution is illegal for many reasons. Many women see it as a form of "violence against women." While some call girls seem to live glamorous lives, the vast majority of prostitutes are sort of forced into it, or they have drug problems.

They're extremely vulnerable. Often there's a pimp in the picture, and the women are living in fear. They can't really say "no" to what the men want... It's dehumanizing. The girls do get beaten up. You should rent the movie, "Leaving Las Vegas."

Lots of prostitutes who seem to be "doing O.K." are actually lesbians, because it's almost impossible to work as a prostitutes and still feel comfortable enough around men to maintain real relationships.

[NotWaldo]

No Ashley, you did not bring Spitzer down. He did it himself. You just went down on him !

[chrysb52]

As a mom of a daughter about Ashley's age, I find this interview heartbreaking. I think most of those making comments here are missing the point. I recall when this story first came out that this young woman escaped from a dysfunctional family situation and ran to New York to try to make it as a singer. So many girls come to Hollywood with stars in their eyes, and something to prove. They run out of money and eventually a "friend" comes along with a line of bull about how they can make "easy" money turning a few tricks. But the devastation to one's self worth is vastly underestimated. It's a maturity issue, but one with huge personal and societal consequences. Diane is right. It could easily happen - and DOES happen- to lots of "nice" girls. People are quick to sit in judgment and make horrible comments about this girl, but I submit that's it's much easier than one might imagine for a little desperation and a couple of bad decisions to place a young person in such a position. I admire Diane Sawyer for focusing on the real story here. How can we use Ashley's story to make sure it doesn't happen to others that we love? Spitzer can take care of himself. Ashley is still a scared child in many ways. My heart goes out to her and her family. She seems smart and I hope she can make the best of it and move on.

[Hypatia63]

Exactly.
And people criticizing her weight gain should consider that weight gain is a classic symptom of depression.
She, and thousands of others like her, need someone on their side.

[ExpatinEurope2009]

There are professional people, teachers and lawyers, working summer months at the Mustang Ranch.

She is not a scared child. Stop living with your head in the sand.

[who38]

Hear, hear.

[mhaven]

I agree. Really, she may have seen this as a means to survive. The alternative being ending up on the street, and drugs.

I don't blame her. Spitzer was the man with the family and the reputation. HE sought her out, not the other way around.

[PanFx]

Oh please, spare me the tender heartbreak moment. If she had any sense of work ethic she would have put on a waitress uniform and earned her money honestly, like tens of thousands of other women. Desperation does not mean one turns to prostitution -- one turns to prostitution out of laziness. Both intellectual and physical. Instead of enrolling in school and working up the ladder the honest way, Dupre chose to effectively "gerrymander" the system. The choice she made was selfish, despicable and morally repugnant. I, nor others, should feel an ounce of sympathy for this woman.

And by no means is Spitzer innocent. Nor is any man who hires a prostitute. All actors involved are to blame.

Oh, and Dupre is not smart. That is why she chose to sell her body instead of educate herself. If you need any further proof just google her name to find her "Girls Gone Wild" video. The off-centered baseball cap alone should convince anyone of her membership in the low-watt crowd.

[blustate135]

I agree - I found her to be a sad lonely girl who didn't feel that she had anyone she could rely on.

[Glowcy]

.
]]]]]]]]]]­]]]]]]]]]] so, shut up already! [[[[[[[[[[­[[[[[[[[[[

[missviv]

Is it just me or does she have total manface? Anyhow, nice crocodile tears...

[texmike]

It's not just you. I find her face a little too manly to be attractive, but then I doubt her face was what she was getting paid for.

[PSTEN]

Wow! That was my first reach as well, how masculine her face is. Wow! Her Jaw is large for a lady.

[LoveFromLondon]

I love it that whores even have their own class system

[missviv]

Isn't that bizzare? I wonder if they look down on street prostitution, 'cos they're "not just having sex". Same principle, darling. At least own your whoring...

[who38]

Yes, they do look down on the street crowd.

[Postroad]

I think she means : I didn't bring him down. He went down on his own on me.

[punisher1]

I am a big fan of Ashley Dupre, I wish she was not a prostitute­... I would probably ask her for a date.. You guys remember the movie pretty woman... She could be the real life one

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

Pretty woman was a movie. Try marrying a prostitute and see how it works out.

[politicalprincess]

punisher1.­..your retarted

[PSTEN]

Dito

[Indubio]

The fact that this woman is a prostitute is irrelevant. I sense an awful lot of childishness male egotism here and it's pretty disgusting. Ashley is who she is and guess what guys.... the woman didn't hack people apart, cheat old ladies, scam poor people, screw millions out of their pensions. She used her looks to earn a living. Good for her. It beats working at McDonald's and no less demeaning. If she were my daughter, she'd have my full support. If she were my girlfriend, I'd support her too.

[arizonastudent01]

well then tell your daughter and your girlfriend.

[arizonastudent01]

eewww! go ahead go for it!! who's stopping you.

[alanps]

Am I missing something here?????

Surely it is obvious that she (as his prostitute) did not 'bring him down'... he brought himself down.

Not sure how that is a headline or even news

[MajorKong]

I've always wondered why it's illegal to sell something that's legal to give away for free.

[Landslide4Obama]

Because the law wants you to get it for free and not pay for it !

[Landslide4Obama]

Because the legal system wants you to get it for free, and not have to pay for it !

[texmike]

Because our greedy government knows that A LOT of money gets transacted in prostitution and they're pissed that they're not getting a piece of it. Legalizing and regulating it would be a huge headache, but beyond that, most politicians won't risk re-election by advocating that moral decisions like this (just like smoking pot in your own home) shouldn't be legislated.

[politicalprincess]

I agree with you texmike

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

And I've always wondered why the government doesn't tax something so lucrative. ;-)

[Wayne106]

They can't keep track of how much you sell or how much you give away. Therefore they can not TAX you for it. SO they just make it illegal.

[ffny]

I guess this adds an additional 15 more minutes of fame for Ms. Dupre.
The power of the "Y"

How much is her bookdeal worth!!

[Catamount]

diane sawyers moral tisk tisk is so f***ing annoying.

[weatherwaxx]

I'm sure she's good at her job, but what the devil is this story doing in Huffpo -- or on television?

Would Diane Sawyer interview the guy who sold Rush Limbaugh his illegal drugs?

REAL NEWS, PLZ!

[lissak]

Hey Diane, there might be a position available at Inside Edition. What a journalist you've become!

[PatCroft]

If "escorting" was legal (as it is in most of the developed country's) this would not be an issue, nor a story, and Spitzer could still be serving the public good. Somewhere, somehow and for some good reason it would be fun to allow people to be people.

If the EAR was passed then perhaps women would be a little less likely to pursue such a career.

[arizonastudent01]

...Spitzer could still be "Happily" serving the public...