I’ve never really been into Bear Grylls at all. I guess I just lack the “going on crazy outdoor adventures and risking our lives for no real reason” gene. I’m an indoor cat, if you will. I like the air conditioning. I like cooked food. I like NOT climbing mountains. But some of you really love Bear Grylls, and I think for the most part, he’s pretty harmless. He likes to explore and travel and go on adventures, and he seems to enjoy bringing that world to kids in particular, which is why NBC has given him a show, Get Out Alive, which airs on Mondays. To promote the show, Bear did Us Weekly’s “25 Things You Don’t Know About…” and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t know that much about him in the first place, but he seems like an interesting guy:
1. My book Mud, Sweat, and Tears was voted most influential in China last year.
2. I set the ball on fire when I threw out the first pitch at an L.A. Dodgers game!
3. I’m ambidextrous. It’s helped me a few times in the wild.
4. At bath time, I get in with my three boys (Jesse, 11, Marmaduke, 6, and Huckleberry, 3, with wife Shara, 38). It’s getting crowded!
5. I took my eldest tandem paragliding when he was 3 years old — no fear, just wide-eyed joy!
6. At home, I play guitar and piano.
7. I have Mike Town, my teacher from Eton College, to thank for encouraging me to climb.
8. I pick up the kids from school in an old London cab we own.
9. After filming, my crew and I usually sit at some bar in the middle of a jungle village, happy to be alive.
10. My crew is my greatest resource.
11. People ask if I eat bugs at home. No!
12. My family comes way before work.
13. I carry a picture of my family in my shoes.
14. I have an island hideaway in Wales.
15. I train six days a week, but short and sharp — 30-minute workouts.
16. I have had the same five best friends since I was 8 years old.
17. My Christian faith is my secret strength and backbone.
18. I pray every day with my children and my wife.
19. I cried when I reached the summit of Mt. Everest. Like a baby.
20. My favorite book is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
21. I had to be rescued by the coast guard when I was 8 years old.
22. My hero is my late father, who taught me to climb.
23. I learned from my father to not listen to dream stealers.
24. My other hero is Roger Federer! He is amazing.
25. I’m inspired by the saying “Faith and fear may sail into your harbor, but only allow faith to drop anchor.”
He takes baths with his 11 year old, his 6 year old and his 3 year old? Help me out, parents: is that very common? I would think that the 11 year old would be like, “No, I’m over this” and leave. But I guess it’s no big deal with the 6 year old and definitely the 3 year old, although a 3 year old might not have really understood the whole paragliding thing, right? That seems… unnecessarily dangerous.
I’m also surprised that his training is schedule is so slim – only 30 minutes for 6 days a week? It’s probably mostly to maintain what he has already, right? And the part about his Christian faith – I didn’t know that about him either. Good for him.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
People who strain so hard to live on the edge bore me.
A few of my friends and I from Climbing Club read his book when we decided to have a go at the Seven Summits Challenge, to see what his experience of climbing Everest was like; what I took from it was that he’s a very earnest and very sweet, family-orientated bloke.
I rolled my eyes at the part where he was supposedly invited to apply to the Security Services in a few years time after badgering a recruitment officer(?), but I honestly don’t think he’s got a mean bone in his body. I think that’s a pretty decent quality to have 🙂
My 2 boys bath together and they’re just-turned 7 and almost 2, but I don’t get in. I hop in the shower with the younger one, but haven’t showered with my eldest in a couple of years. I have a friend who bathes with her son still and he’s almost 7. I’d feel weird about it.
When we were kids, my 2 siblings and I (we’re very close in age) my mum would make us sit on the bathroom floor and play so she could have a bath. She didn’t like leaving us alone. But yeah, that stopped when we got to around 6.
I think it’s weird that the wife gets in the tub too. So it’s not just him with his little boys and preteen son, their mom is in the tub at the same time too. Strange that she wants to sit naked in a tub with her 11 year old son.
My husband takes a bath/shower with the big brother(6).
They put a tent in the backgarden and sleep out in summer. I’ve never had a worry. Actually can’t wait till the younger one is old enough to participate. Then I’ll have the house only for myself….ah heaven
I think the father-son sleeping out is very sweet.
My son adores it!
They read something then light some lanterns then watch the stars and talk…it’s amazing time for both.
I’d want to join in, Micki!! Lighting lanterns and looking at the stars? I still love to do that.
I find the paragliding more disturbing than bathing together.
Right?!?
I’d let Bear in the shower with me. As long as he took off those hideous flag pants. I see nothing wrong with it.
Ray Mears >
Absolutely!
Also: 14. I have an island hideaway in Wales. Lucky bastard! That’s second only to an island hideaway on a Finnish lake for me.
The last bath I had with my kids was about 2 months ago. They are 9 & 7. It was a riot. We hadn’t had one for maybe 10 months, where it used to be every couple of weeks. So clearly they are feeling too old for it. It was our “in case this is our last time, let’s do this so we can remember how much fun this was” bath.
Honestly, it’s a small tub and their limbs are just getting too long for us all.
Creepy. I thought your name was mine. I don’t like it.
The only thing creepy about it is in your mind.
I think puritanical views on this are interesting. People need to remember that if this is a typical event in a family’s life, it is not at all abnormal to that family. It’s all about what is routine and normal for each person/family. If someone decides it is for/not for them, then so be it. No big deal.
I can understand the 3 year old. I can to a certain extent understand a 6 year old….but 11? That crosses a line or me.
Agreed.
The experts are very clear on this. All that matters is if the child is uncomfortable. If it’s natural and normal for the family, it is not a big deal. If the child says, “I need privacy” or anything like that (and parents should ask) then the parent should respect that.
There are many, many cultures where familial nudity is not a big deal. What matters most is that the child never feel that they must tolerate something which makes them uncomfortable.
If you think it is sexual, then you are imposing your sexual thoughts on a child.
I agree completely with you. I would rather be raised to be comfortable with nudity than the way I was raised–where nakedness is locked behind the bathroom door and anyone accidently seeing you is cause for shame.
All at the same time? How big is that tub??
Word. Two adults and three children in one tub??? Is it a Turkish bathhouse or something???
Maybe they wash in the ocean, he lives out there
Maybe they have a bathroom you can play baseball in.
I want a bathroom you can play baseball in
I don’t think the wife joins in bath time. I read that as his sons (who he has with his wife). I think it was just awkwardly worded (although no more awkwardly than I just attempted to explain). 🙂
My sons haven’t wanted me to see them naked since they were 10 or 11. But even prior to that we never bathed or showered with them.
As for Bear, he seems decent. His original show was oddly compelling. One time he reached into a stream, grabbed a salmon and took a bite right out of its side. He was being so earnest and serious yet my son and I found it hilarious.
I think it’s worse that he named his child Marmaduke.
And Huckleberry!! Jesse must thank his lucky stars every day!
Re: only 30 minutes for 6 days a week of working out. That is more than enough and I’m sure its hign intensity. As for bath time. That’s really sweet. 11 may seem old but whatever.
I hate that we even have to make him taking a bath with his kids an issue. They’re his children. Shouldn’t we be praising him for spending quality time with his kids? How is it harmful for them to see his father’s naked body? Won’t that show his children that bodies are natural and don’t have to always be sexual? I love this site and I know you have to sensationalize to get the clicks, but I wish we could stop making an issue out of parents being good parents.
Okay, off my soapbox, back to reading the gossip.
Yeah, America is a little uptight about anything to do with nudity.
I think that if he had been a female, and saying this about his daughters there wouldn’t have been anything said about it. I don’t shower with my mom, but we have seen each other naked numerous times. Sometimes while changing in the same room, or sometimes she’ll want me to rub a body scrub on her back while she’s in the shower-there’s nothing gross or awkward about it and I’m 18.
I agree, I think European mentality is very different than North American mentality when it comes to nudity. Yesterday I went for a visit to my parents house, it was 44 degrees Celsius outside, I walked in and my dad is roaming around the house in his underwear, he knew I was coming over but to him there’s nothing wrong with it he was just hot, a lot of my friends would find it creepy and weird because I’m 24 and he’s 50 but really I think it’s funny
Agreed. Nudity is not a big deal in our house, but my husband was raised in Europe and I’ve begun to adopt his view of it. My son is 11 and it’s not uncommon for him to barge in the bathroom when I’m bathing to ask me a question. It used to make me uncomfortable until I finally realized, it doesn’t even register with him that I’m naked. Additionally, he frequently hops out of the shower and parades his naked little but down the hall to his room without a care in the world.
My 17 year old daughter is much more modest in that department and would die if her brother ever tried to come in the bathroom while she was showering or bathing.
Agreed, if we are in a store and the change rooms are busy, we will share one and it doesn’t matter. My mom has seen my boobs, and I hers, plenty of times. Its whatever.
And I have to mention, I think he is so hot. And I smiled at his flag pants, its funny in a quirky way that he manages to pull off. Good on him.
And he seems like a great dad, family man, lots of morals. Can’t think of a single bad thing to say about him.
+1000
Well said!
Absolutely agree! Well said Gigi
Amen to that, Gigi.
Definitely agreed. We tend to make taboos out of things that ought not be.
Brava, Gigi, brava!!!
@Gigi
Have to agree I read a paranormal book by Karen Marie Moning about a girl named Dani (14) who fights and kills Fae the the “heroes ” in the book are a college student turning into a dark Fae prince a man who is ageless and mortal and something else and a homeless older teen.
Every fan was talking about how these men were lusting after her (not) and how young she was blah blah blah so much on the sexual part because she does age and will end up with one of them, but not one of those complaints were about her killing Fae people and how that could mess up her mind but all concern was of her virtue.
THIS
Thank you
I completely agree with you. This is yet another reason why there is so much body shame in this country. Because we treat it like something horrible that must be hidden except when the sex comes out.
Brava Gigi!
Yes, totally agree! How sweet they have relaxed and comfortable guy time together. Being comfortable with your body, without sexualizing it, is a great thing to stress!
I’m very disappointed you are trying to make a thing out of this.
Yep, me too 🙁
I recently gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl and it’s this sort of story and innuendo that made my husband initially feel a bit weird about changing her diaper and giving her a bath. When he told me that he felt that way I felt both sadness and rage; how messed up is this world that a small disgusting subset of society have tainted the wonderful experience of bonding with your child. Luckily he got past this and now both he and the bub just love bath time!
Good for you guys and congrats on the gorgeous baby girl. I gave my own gorgeous baby girl to my husband many times when he was IN the bath. It was wonderful bonding time for them both and made it a lot easier for my husband to get used to handling “his little bit of chubby goodness.” Truly, he was terrified of even holding her when we first came home from the hospital. But after dealing with a naked, soapy, squirming baby at bath time he got over that right quickly.
Anyone who sees something wrong with that needs to scrub out their own minds.
Let’s keep in mind that he’s European and they have a totally different mindset about nudity. Americans are much to quick to sexualize it, while the Europeans are a little more relaxed about, imho. I’m sure their bath time is fun and innocent. I can’t imagine it being anything else.
I hate when ppl bring up the “European” card into the nudity subject when it’s so far away from reality. The way Europeans look at nudity is completely opposite from Mediterraneans to the Nordics, between East Germans and West Germans and also inside any stereotyped cultural group, since people from any cultural background also differ in their beliefs. I’m European, I have lived in different countries in Europe, and 90% of the people I know would never bath/shower with a kid older than 3 years old. While I don’t have a strong opinion against it, I would not really recommend it after a certain age. We don’t really know if it is too much exposition or not. Unfortunately we do live in a world where almost everything is sexualized and this will also be transmitted to children no matter if their parents believe it or not. I don’t see the necessity to expose them to that. You can also have fun bathing in a swimming pool in your swimming clothes.
I totally agree with the other comment to this post. I too am European, and have lived in several European countries. I am sick and tired of Americans always commenting on how relaxed Europeans are with nudity. It depends immensely on the country in question (you know that many Europeans are catholic, right?!?!?), and the specific person in question. I bet you can find as many wild college students in the US or Australia that are super relaxed with nudity as you can in some Scandinavian countries.
LOL Seriously? All I have to say is nude (or even topless) beaches. All over Europe, not so much in the US. I think it’s a great thing that nudity is not as big a deal in Europe as the States. The US sexualizes everything far too much.
BFD
Unless the guy is a pedophile this is a non-issue.
In European countries, the bath time isn’t a huge deal. Whenever my ex (from Germany) had vacations with his family they’d all end up skinny dipping. His brother and he are now in their 30s, share a house and are naked a lot.
It’s just not a big deal.
I can only repeat what I said above. Knowing one weird European who liked to be naked with his whole family does NOT mean that Europeans per say are cool about nudity. We are a large area with lots of different cultures, religions and people with different attitudes towards nudity and sexuality. Please stop making generalisations because you met one german dude who likes to be naked, or saw one topless Swedish chick on a beach or whatever. I bet I could make many many generalisations about Americans that would be far from true, based on the few I’ve gotten to know well 🙂
I totally see where you’re coming from, and I agree, it’s not good to generalize, BUT when I visited France, Austria, Spain, and Italy (on different occasions, all years apart), I (as an American) was surprised by the amount of nudity I’d see in commercials. I saw quite a few shampoo commercials (and billboards) with topless ladies!
Did you have to say that one European is “weird”?
How is being comfortable with nudity equivalent to being “weird”?
The weird comment is just plain mean.
And Europeans DO have a more relaxed view on (topless) nudity. There are a lot of nude beaches, boobs in the newspapers and TV shows and billboards and commercials. In america nude beaches are rare, there is no nudity on tv unless it is a late night show with an 18+ rating. Newspapers and magazines do not show boobs unless its Penthouse and Playboy. Bum cracks get blurred out. The majority of Europeans are much more relaxed about it. Yes, there are countries in Europe that do not have the same relaxed views on it, just like there are Americans that have a relaxed view on it. And if the majority of a place is for something, its standard to say a statement like that. Just like the world thinks America is pro-guns, however there are certain states that have tighter regulations then others.
I find it much more offensive you calling the German family weird then somebody saying Europeans are less up-tight.
In USA, every time they want to talk about some matter concerning nudity or sex and how natural that can be, they always stereotype on Europeans, by bringing up one case they know or heard of. True story!
[to be clear, it’s sarcasm and I don’t think all Americans really jump on the same over-generalization, specially since they only need to meet two different Europeans to know that this stereotype is at all not true.]
My hubby and I used to watch Bear’s “Man vs Wild” show. My husband loves the idea of surviving in the wild, so that’s why he watched it. I have no desire to go out in the wilderness and put my life in danger, but I found Bear to be very attractive (and I love his voice), so that’s why I watched it. There were definitely a few moments in the show where Bear would do something that was shocking. . . the time he jumped into freezing lake and then had to pull himself out, completely disrobe and warm himself over a fire (I was okay with that one, hehehe). . . or the time he gave himself an enema of water contaminated with bird poo as a way to prevent dehydration in case you’re stuck on a raft out in the middle of the ocean. My husband was saying out loud, “Oh, Bear. . . you’ve gone too far with this one. . . TMI”. I have to say, I didn’t need to see him do that particular stunt–it was one of those things that swirled around in my mind and ruined my little crush on him. But I still think he seems like a great guy.
Telling the world that you bathe with your children (well, especially the 11 yr old), might be another example of TMI. I doubt that he’s being a pedophile, but there are things we probably all do in the privacy of our homes that (while not criminal or harmful in any way) are just little tidbits of information that we don’t need to broadcast. I’m sure it’s innocent, but now his poor 11 yr old son is probably going to be teased about it at school, and that will be the end of the family bath fun.
I love it when dads take an active role in raising their kids. His wife is a lucky bitch.
*this!*
Well, if the tub is big enough…
You’ve all missed he most important part of this post. DEM PANTS. Dem British flag pans.
You mean, those awful, badly chosen, ridiculous TROUSERS! But I get your point. Good god how is no one else flinching?
I was scrolling through every post meticulously to see if anyone else noticed them. The bathing situation seems less important once you see that he not only wore those pants in public but that he OWNS them!! Thank you for noticing:)
I’d jump in the bath with him if he wasn’t married. Not his kids, but him yes. Would I ever. My son is almost 4 and he still showers w/ me. 11 is too old in my mind, for MY kid. But Bear drinks his own pee, I doubt his kids care that they all bathe naked. lol
An 11 year old? Sorry, that doesn’t seem appropriate. And what cruel names he gave his younger two sons. Huckleberry?? At least poor Marmaduke can go by Duke.
And Huckleberry can go by Huck. As in Huck Finn. So you’ve got Huck, Duke and Jesse. Sounds like a posse to me.
Yes, maybe he is a fan of Mark Twain.
Why? What do you think he’s doing with his kids? And why would you think that?
Bear & Grubby on the same day
hip hip to the return of mancandy friday (was is tuesday?)
Eh. hip-hip hooray
I don’t think the bath thing is that weird, mainly because he’s a dude and they are all boys. Also nudity is no big deal to him; he’s never had a problem dropping trou on man vs. wild. So their family may be the same – all families vary on their levels of privacy vs. openness about nakedness, etc. Maybe just don’t say that in a magazine? Seems like he’d realize some people may misconstrue that or find it creepy. Some things may be perfectly innocent, but when you say them out loud to strangers they can come across as something else.
Hmm…think I may need to start watching this show! (o: channel, pls?
And I would shower with my daughter at times up until she was 10-11. Then she started to become more modest, so that’s when we stopped. It was necessary at times, our girl has *always* taken her “Hollywood” showers. Mostly it consisted of sliding around the tub, washing was a side thought. :p
Ewww about Bear. I don’t think it’s weird, even though my family never do it and I don’t think , if I had kids I would do it either. BUt Eeewww everything about this man- and his dress sense. Those trousers are an abomination!
There’s nothing shameful in nudity if you have an innocent mind. If I ever have children, I hope to raise them the same way.
totally agree… my girls are 5 and 3 and being naked is no big deal .. not like my mother who would scream and and slam the door if busted .. desperately covering herself..i want my girls to be comfortable with their bodies and for us this is normal probably when their older this will be different ..but the moment they love poking my flabby bits
It’s not “good for him” that he’s Christian. It’s not bad, either. It’s entirely neutral. What matters is how he behaves in life. There are plenty of utterly evil people in the world who are deeply religious Christians.
We need thumbs up buttons for comments like this. Love it.
Geesh…that’s an oddly strong and strange reaction to Kaiser’s comment. I don’t think she’s saying it’s good that Bear is Christian or bad if you or I are not. More than likely Kaiser’s digging that Bear has something he calls on for backbone and strength given what he does for a living. Doesn’t matter if it’s Allah, God, stars or mud, just something he draws courage from. We can all use some of that.
If someone is a ‘true’ deep Christian, they wouldn’t be evil. Christians may believe some things you don’t agree with (I know all my beliefs aren’t popular), but the main tenet is that we model our lives after Jesus, who we believe was the human embodiment of God. And Jesus taught love and compassion, regardless of whether or not you agreed with what someone did. Maybe you’re thinking of evil people who masquerade as Christians to further their agenda.
It’s a shame that there are 24 other interesting tidbits about Bear but this is the one that gets headlined. I see nothing weird or creepy about it. He seems like a great husband and father. And he’s sexy to boot (save for that terrible tuxedo/pj monstrosity).
13. I carry a picture of my family in my shoes.
This is a *family* man. Fantastic.
My nephew is 11 and he would be horrified if his dad said that he still took baths with him….that would be totally something the other kids at school would make fun of him for. I’m not sure if I think it’s that creepy, some families are just more comfortable with nakedness.
My son loves this guy and has watched his shows faithfully. To be honest, I knew about him but did not pay much attention. That has changed. I like him!
ooh i love Bear!! he´s the best! and hot!
Bear delivered all of his children on their houseboat. His wife gave birth naturally. They’re both tough as hell and extremely close. I think it’s awesome that they bathe together (and may all very well wear swimming gear – my family did, weird as that may still be to most people). Once the kids hit puberty I’m sure they’re not going to force them into the tub in some weird ritualistic bathing ceremony, but the kid’s only 11 – still very much a kid.
They must have one big a$$ bathtub.
The 11 year old is a bit old for that no? I could definitely see a 6 year old and a 3 year old enjoying that though.
Why is the 11 year old a bit old?
I think he is great – and skinny dipping with your kids is not a big deal.
Not to focus on the family taking baths together part, but it’s also done in Korea, where families go to public bath houses together. I actually hated it, even as a child, but many people enjoy it, even in the States, with the rising popularity of Korean spas.
What do you want to bet, that the fact checker or editor on US weekly inserted the ages of his kids in order to provide some context for the reader. So he tells them, hey I love to have baths with my kids (which is totally normal in Europe, yes) and they insert all the ages. All I can say is the 11 yr old must be mortified!
But just to add that I am a little mortified for BG that CB has made something out of this- you may not have meant to infer something more sinister, but thats they way it reads.
All I can say is…. always will be a FAKE FAKE FAKE…. lame, no one gives a damn about this idiot 🙂 go back to hanging at the nice hotels, lying jack ass. heh
his shirt should say GET OUT ALIVE… or if too dangerous, hit up nearest hotel. ha!
why do you say that? are his shows fake? how do you know?
Exactly!
@Joanna~ Read my post below. 🙂
He’s hot!
I used to like him until he filmed a whitewater segment for his original show. My brother and his friends were the whitewater rafting guides who taught him how to do everything he showed, and they even had to come get him out when he fell into the water in what they called the “kiddie pool.”
This was just before the big scandal of Bear having to admit that experts helped him for each show, and that he slept in a hotel and not out in the elements like he was claiming at the time.
You beat me to it…cool concept for a show, but what’s the point if it’s fake? I just assume that every single thing on TV is fake these days.
Hmmm well I don’t get why his Christian faith is his SECRET strength LOL you got to be loud and proud brother 🙂 don’t hide it under a bushel NO!
By asking you are making an underlying comment that you have no right too. Of all the list this is what pops out? Says more about you than him dear.
i stopped reading after “Marmaduke”. 😯