Page 107 of Off Script
Chuckling wryly, Willa shakes her head. “No, Becky definitely did not agree to it, but I have a new publicist. I feel like it’s better for me to have a publicist who isn’t a good friend. It became too convoluted when the lines blurred between my professional and personal lives.”
“Seriously?” My eyebrows raise in surprise.
"It was one of the first things my new therapist recommended. Said I need to work on setting boundaries." Willa nods. “Becky wasn’thappy to lose me as a client, but I think she understood the rationale behind my decision.”
“Good for you. What are you doing next?”
“I’m going to take an extended vacation and get out of the pressure cooker that is Hollywood.” As she speaks, a calmness comes over her face.
“How long are you going to be gone?”
“It’s up in the air. Jada is not happy, but I threatened to switch to a new agent if she didn’t agree to time off.” Rising again to leave, she says, “I really want to try to get our friendship back on track, so if it’s okay, I’d like to keep in touch sporadically while I’m away.” Shooting me a doleful smile, she adds, “Don’t worry. Whatever romantic feelings I had for you have faded. I really do just want to try to be friends.”
I stand up and give her a hug. “Keep in touch, Pipsqueak. Good for you for getting out of here too.”
I may have lost Carlisle, but after my talk with Willa, I have a sliver of hope that, given enough time, we might be able to salvage our friendship.
I guess one out of two ain’t bad.
It's Over: Ben and Willa Split Up
Captain Commanderco-stars Ben Sutton, 30, and Willa Radford, 27, have called off their romance, news that was confirmed by Radford’s new publicist, Marjorie Bierman. Their breakup comes less than two months after the couple publicly hard launched their relationship, though it’s believed that they began dating while filmingCaptain Commanderover a year ago.
“After deep and serious contemplation, Willa and Ben have come to the mutual understanding that they are better suited as friends than romantic partners. They started their relationship as friends and remain committed to continuing their friendship going forward. They sincerely appreciate the support that has been shown to them as individuals and as a couple, but they ask for privacy as they navigate their futures separately,” said Bierman at Monday’s press conference.
When asked for a comment from the star directly, Willa Radford responded to our request with this written statement: “Ben will always hold a special place in my heart, but it is for the best that we amicably parted ways earlier this year. We wanted to make this decisionprivately, without the world watching, while we worked through this period of transition. As heartbreakingly difficult as this decision was to make, it also feels liberating. I have spent the past decade focused on my career and prioritizing my relationships; however, in doing so, I lost sight of myself and my own personal happiness. Going forward, I plan on rectifying that, and I am excited to focus on self-exploration and growth."
Scandal plagued their short-lived romance. On the very night that Radford publicly pledged her love for the actor, Sutton was taken into police custody in Tokyo over an alleged altercation with a member of the press whose aggressive tactics infringed on Radford’s safety. No charges stemmed from that incident.
The breakup announcement comes amid swirling rumors that their romance was on the rocks. These rumors have picked up steam in the past few weeks, as the couple haven’t been photographed together since their vacation over the Christmas holidays in the Bahamas.
Representatives for Sutton were unavailable for comment.
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Ben
Luckily, the media fallout from my breakup with Willa is short-lived when another entertainment scandal takes center stage. A well-known, married actress got caught screwing her personal assistant in the alley outside a bar. Then her husband, also an actor, filed for divorce and every major news outlet ran story after story about the sordid affair.
As actors, we work hard to stay in the spotlight and stay relevant, but I’m relieved that I'm not front-page news anymore. The press has moved on, allowing me some freedom to venture out without as much fanfare. There’s still a lot of fanfare, but not as much as there was a month or two ago.
After some personal reflection, things have become clearer to me. While I accept that I’ll never have true anonymity again, I am going to work harder to preserve what privacy I have left. I need to find that delicate balance between creative fulfillment and financial success, while also maintaining the freedom to live a relatively normal existence. If I had made that commitment to myself earlier, I might still have Carlisle.
Valentine’s Day was last week, and my moping hit an all-time high. I'm eager to shake this lovelorn melancholia, so whenTrevor hits me up to meet him for a drink, I readily accept. Trevor suggested that we go to a dive bar that he frequents. I’m praying that most customers will keep to themselves and not bother me. Because a night out with my boys sounds like just what the doctor ordered.
As soon as I walk in, I instantly like the ambiance of the place. It reminds me of an old college dive bar in Austin that I used to sneak into when I was in high school. Cheap beer, loud country music, pool tables, and nothing in the way of décor besides outdated wood paneling and neon beer signs. The lights are low, and for the first time in months, my spirits are high.
Trevor, ensconced on a stool at the far end of the scarred wooden bar, waves at me when I walk into the place. I slide onto the stool next to his. “Cool place.”
“As a Texas boy, I thought you might appreciate it.” He sees me twice a week for our personal training sessions, but tonight he scrutinizes me. “You shaved. Finally.”
I chuckle. Jo wasn’t the only friend who told me to ditch the beard. “It was time.”
“You look like you’re feeling better. I’m glad, man.”
“Me too. Remind me never to fall in love again. It’s not worth the pain.”
After ordering a round of Miller Lights, we shoot the shit and wait for Jordan to join us. The condensation forming on the beer bottle makes it easy to peel off the label and I fiddle with it while we talk. When a hand smacks me on the back, I know Jordan has arrived.
