Gisele's Vanity Fair Profile: On Tom Brady, His Son And Leo

Gisele graces the May cover of Vanity Fair and the NY Post got an early look at the accompanying profile. The whole interview and some of the photographs are now online here, but the Post dug out some highlights.

The Brazilian supermodel has never met Bridget Moynahan, the mother of husband Tom Brady's son John:

"When we are in LA, we have Johnny 50 percent of the time," Bundchen said of the toddler.

"He's a little angel -- the sweetest, most cuddly, loving baby. I feel blessed to have him in my life...

"I understand that he has a mom, and I respect that. But to me, it's not like because somebody else delivered him, that's not my child -- I feel it is, 100 percent."

Of the news Moynahan was pregnant, which she and Brady found out when they had just started dating.

"It was definitely a surprise for both of us," Gisele said with a rueful smile, referring to her and Brady.

"In the beginning, you're living this romantic fantasy; you're thinking this can't be true, it's so good! And then, whoops -- wake-up call!"

Read the whole article, in which she also calls ex Leonardo DiCaprio "a really wonderful person."

Comments

[IrishTaco]

Good luck to all of them. At first when I read it I did think it was a dig until I took her Brazilian heritage into account. I don't think I would have the strength. Both of the women are trying to make the best of the situation one would hope.

[IrishTaco]

To clarify: Bridget's strength in having another woman involved in raising her son.

[Simmadown]

Bridget has sole custody and Brady only has visitation rights, so Gisele is not exactly "raising" her son.

[eglegal]

As a stepmother myself I read this with article with some interest. My stepdaughter's mother had no interest in meeting me (whether in person or over the telephone as she lives in a different country) although she divorced my husband many years ago. I even flew to the country where she lives, she dropped her daughter off and never came out of the car!!!! . I met her for the first time this year at her sister-in-law's wake. My stepdaughter has visited with my husband and I for the entire duration of our relationship and I have cared for and nurtured her sometimes for months at a time. Not once has her mother been concerned to know who I am although her daughter has been in my care. It's not up to Ms. Bundchen as to when she meets her stepson's mother. It's up to Ms. Moynahan.

[LadyM9]

The fact that Gisele has not even made an effort to meet her stepson's mother speaks volumes. If she loved him as much as she claims to, she would want to meet (and have a cordial relationship with) the most influential person in his life--his REAL mother.

[MissDJ]

Really, it wouldn't be up to Gisele to usurp herself. It would be up to John's FATHER to facilitate a meeting between his current wife and his former wife.

Aside from that, the MOTHER of this child has more culpability than anyone, I think. I don't care how famous she is. It would be impossible for me to leave my child in the care of someone I've never met. If this situation speaks volumes of anyone, I think it speaks volume of John's mother.

And if I ever read another woman saying that she feels my child is 100% hers, I probably wouldn't be all that comfortable. I mean it's a catch-22: I'd be happy she adored my child so much, but would she adore the child so much she'd try to TAKE HIM? I don't know about this one.

I wonder how Gisele will feel when she starts pushing out biological children.

[LadyM9]

Before Gisele starts commenting on Bridget in national magazines, she really should take the time to actually meet Bridget. Gisele needs to stop acting so insecure and broadcasting their dysfunctional parenting relationship (e.g. the stepmother doesn't want to meet the mother, but wants to claim the child) to perfect strangers. After all, Bridget will be in Tom's life forever, because she is the mother of his child.

But considering how often Hollywood couples split, who knows how long Gisele will be in Tom's life..

[KatoAto]

Anyone "siding" with Giselle is quite obviously a step-mom.

The NATURAL (natural meaning, not in a "step" relationship) is disgust. PARTICULARLY about never having met the mother of the child.

That's just ALL kinds of ridiculous.

[limber]

Actually, people who have experienced successful blended families could also see Giselle's comments in a positive light.

She loves her husband's son as though he was her own. That kid must feel pretty damn loved, with three affectionate grownups looking out for him.

[lioness39]

I am a mother who wishes that my kids had been treated more kindly by their stepmother. I would have loved to have had a Giselle take over that part of my kid's life. Unfortunately it didn't happen. God bless Giselle and her attitude toward her stepson. It is so absolutely cool.

[Simmadown]

The kid is only 1 years old - of course she loves him! She's like an aunt who sees the baby on occasion, and if she's bonded with him - great. But first off, lets see what kind of a stepmother she is to the boy in 5, 10 and 20 years before we reward her with the "Coolest Stepmother" award. And secondly, her remarks showed a total lack of sensitivity towards the mother, as in the woman who gave birth to him and has sole custody and takes care of him night and day.

[lillibelle]

Very moving words of wisdom, Lioness.

[terrymill]

I get that stepmoms want to love the child but when I read Gisele say that "But to me, it's not like because somebody else delivered him, that's not my child -- I feel it is, 100 percent."

it drives me nuts. the child is NOT hers...not 1 % and not 100%..not ANY %..

She can love the kids but to say they are hers is delusional.

[CircleofHealth]

Exactly-- it's all about boundaries and knowing your place. Just because someone is wealthy, famous, and has a nice body doesn't exempt them from having to take second place in the life of this child.

That may not be something that Gisele has to had to confront up until now. Neither is the guilt that some Catholics would feel at (depending on the timing) either stealing a man about to have a child with another woman, or snapping him up so quickly that there was no chance for the two parents to remain together and raise him.

Calling yourself "spiritual," as Gisele does in the article (particularly obnoxious under the circumstances) while rationalizing all of this, doesn't erase a situation that will doubtless go on and on-- since none of these folks appear to be conscious enough to remedy it.

Being spiritual requires something more than loving beautiful little babies-- that's fairly easy unless one is psychologically wounded. What is harder is loving the Mom no matter how inconvenient the situation is for you. Obviously, even though she could strike a thousand yoga poses, Giselle has much to learn about true spirituality. For the sake of all in the family, I hope that she learns it-- and this situation has more to teach her than the vapid pronouncement that she loves the child more than the woman who carried him and raises him with love.

[Girl28]

Ailbhe or whatever your screen name is, you need to seek professional help. So, I'm trying to steal my stepkids from their mother, because I love them and don't treat them differently from my own? Sweetheart, don't assume that I don't have a child of my own, because I do have a daughter with my husband. Also, don't assume that my marriage isn't going to last, because you don't know anything about that either. If you had paused for one moment before going into a psychotic rant, then you would have read the part where I said that I respect my stepkid's mother and I Would Never Try To Take Her Place, Nor Do I Want To Take Her Place.

It's obvious to me that you don't have kids, because if you did then you would know that kids don't want to be treated differently by their parents or stepparents. If a stepparent is treating them differently, that hurts them, because kids are SENSITIVE to that type of thing. Children just want to be loved, you need to learn that before you reproduce.

Also, don't say that I have an ego, because you're the one with an ego. Anyone who would say that a stepparent should treat a stepchild differently than their own child, is putting their own bruised ego ahead of the well-being of their child.

[lioness39]

hear-hear.

[Just Margaret]

I've read a solid number of the comments on this post--and wow. What is with all the suspicion that Gisele is trying to horn in on Bridget's gig as mom to Johnny? How terrible that a woman cares deeply for her husband's child [/snark]
I think that the fact that English isn't her first language is a huge factor in the wording she chose. And what's with the speculation that since she hasn't initiated or forged a relationship w/ Bridget, she must be up to no good? You people have been watching too many Walt Disney movies. We stepmoms are truly vilified bunch.
If only all children had multiple parental figures who all loved them as deeply as Giselle loves Johnny. Perhaps such children won't grow up to post eviscerating, hateful comments about a woman's love for a child.

[marymansour]

Bingo and Bravo!

[rzan1]

I so agree!

[coles1116]

I too was shocked by all of the negative comments regarding this article. It seems too many people are fixated on sematics and missing the SENTIMENT that Gisele's comments conveyed.

[jsomerville5]

What I read from the sentiments is that she's being passive aggressive. A shrink listening to her comments would have a heyday... that she's trying to push the mother out of the picture in her mind.

And since she's been in this country for 13 years, the English as a second language excuse does not hold up.

[BGM1906]

You wanna be therapists, etc should really keep your opinions to yourselves. We already have enough "expert" pundits on the evening news shows. plus, it would be hard for a "shrink" to listen to Gisele's words considering its a print article!

[gloriousbeing]

Just because a person says something in print, does not mean there is "sentiment" behind it. People say things they don't mean all the time.
To call a child who lives with their birth mother "100% my child" is a dig at the boy's mother.

[marymansour]

I read that as referring to her emotional investment in the child. Jeez.

[lillibelle]

Funny, I took it to mean that she could not love him more.

[dejavu1972]

I am in my office drinking coffee and reading through these posts. Having two young sons, I can only wish that they will find affectionate and buoyant wives or life partners like Giselle Bundchen. Her affection for her step son is apparent. I, for one, see no subterfuge hidden between the lines in that article. Brady is a lucky guy. My wife and I subscribe to Vanity Fair. I will enjoy this issue and place it in my waiting room when we're done with it.

[FairTalk]

Ity's hard to imagine Tom Brady with such a glamourous model, but this interview has shown that Gisele is grounded and has wonderful values. I hope they can both keep it real, and not allow themselves to get caught up in cheap political tricks.

[mew-too]

Mrs. Tom Brady emerges on Vanity Fair, relating loving tidbits about her husband and stepson and takes a major poop hit from too many posters. Give her a break already. She says nothing insulting about the boy's mom but shares the fact that she loves Bridget's son as her own. If Bridget's head is in the right place, she should welcome that kind of affection from the little tot's step mom.

I agree with noudidnt. far too many embittered moms on this thread.

[TheBlackCat]

I think Giselle's heart was in the right place and she was just insensitive in the way she expressed herself. But I have a foster sister who had a mom, a dad, and a step dad, and none of them ever wanted her. Better a kid has loving parents (even if boundary issues do arise because of it) than no parents at all.

As far as the "embittered single moms" ...come on, go easy on them. I'm a young woman, no kids, first marriage, raised by an in tact nuclear family...but I have a LOT of sympathy for single moms who were left by their men, who then married another woman. I can't imagine what it would be like to see another woman living the life YOU were supposed to have, to see your children calling another woman "Mom." It must be one of the worst and most painful things in the world. I've never been in that situation but I imagine that it would be very difficult to not become bitter from that experience.

No, bitterness is not a good quality, but in such circumstances, isn't it understandable? Whenever I hear someone say "Oh, get over it" in these situations...that was always the person doing the leaving, wasn't it? Oh just get over it and be happy for me in my great new life that you weren't good enough to be a part of!

[Fyrefly86]

Wisdom.

[BGM1906]

Its easy to paint one partner in this scenario as the victim. Its interesting to me how so many woman assume that men just leave their first wives. Obviously, according to alot of women out there, women share no blame for failed marriages. Its always the man's fault and the children suffer. All scenarios are different.

I don't know why Brady and Moynahan split up. I certainly don't know the nature of the relationship of those included in the article...but what I do know is that quite a few posters on here are judgemental without all the facts. It seems to be a common theme on the blogs now.

[jsomerville5]

She kinda does insult her with a passive aggressiveness" I think it's important for the boy to have a good relationship with his mother." Huh ?? She sounds as if she's the boy's biological mother. Extremely condescending and idiotic thing to say. She's talking as if she is the expert on the boy.

[peacecollins]

English isn't her first language. And even if she is fluent, there are emotions and intentions that are lost in translation.

[johnpherson]

Go Steelers!

[GlenRast]

Fat chance of that happening with Brady healthy

[Bostongirl1]

Go Patriots!

[HoneyRyder]

My father is Brazilian so I have traveled there tons of times, and I am always beside myself at how big of a deal Gisele is over there and elsewhere. There is no doubt that this woman is a smart, independent, beautiful girl, but you can walk around the slums of Brazil and easily spot 100 women that look much better than her. She isn't even really brazilian by blood and she she physically does not represent the look of a typical brazilian woman, but that is not the issue.

I think she is kind of a phony and will never understand what the mania that surrounds her in Brazil is all about. Again, I know she is beautiful, but in Brazil she is normal looking compared to the rest. I do believe that her gift is her ability to photograph so damn well. She is very photogenic and from what I hear a very smart business woman.

[phinney]

She physically is not representative of any women, anywhere.

[BGM1906]

Wow, you seem to fit the stereotype of a hater...

[noudidnt]

Wow...there are a lot of bitter single moms out there.