Showbiz
Voight 'heartbroken' over rift with children
Published Wednesday, Oct 17 2007, 13:07 BST | By Beth Hilton
Jon Voight has claimed that he is "heartbroken" over comments made about him in the press by his children.
In an interview with Marie Claire, son James Haven accused Voight of putting his late wife Marcheline Bertrand through "years of mental anguish", saying: "I wish him well and I hope he finds peace, but he put my mum through years of mental abuse, and it made me care especially for abandoned women and children. That's my religion - helping widows and orphans."
Angelina Jolie has also criticised her father for walking out on Bertrand, leaving her to raise their two children alone.
According to E! News, Voight responded to the comments in a letter, writing: "I find it very heartbreaking that my children want to paint a bad guy portrait of me. I feel it comes from their inability to let go of years of programmed anger from their mother, who understandably felt quite hurt when we divorced."
He went on: "In all truth, I tried to give him and their mother continuous love and support and large sums of money. God knows, for years I've tried to mend this relationship."
In an interview with Marie Claire, son James Haven accused Voight of putting his late wife Marcheline Bertrand through "years of mental anguish", saying: "I wish him well and I hope he finds peace, but he put my mum through years of mental abuse, and it made me care especially for abandoned women and children. That's my religion - helping widows and orphans."
Angelina Jolie has also criticised her father for walking out on Bertrand, leaving her to raise their two children alone.
According to E! News, Voight responded to the comments in a letter, writing: "I find it very heartbreaking that my children want to paint a bad guy portrait of me. I feel it comes from their inability to let go of years of programmed anger from their mother, who understandably felt quite hurt when we divorced."
He went on: "In all truth, I tried to give him and their mother continuous love and support and large sums of money. God knows, for years I've tried to mend this relationship."
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