People: Jon Hamm ‘needs’ Jennifer Westfeldt, ‘he has to have that in his life’

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Here are some photos of Jon Hamm at last night’s LA premiere event/party for Mad Men’s final season. Hamm did the white tuxedo jacket thing and it looks like he went solo to the event, although he posed with many of his costars and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner. Hamm looks good, doesn’t he? As we heard yesterday, Jon Hamm recently completed a 30-day rehab program. I think not drinking agrees with him.

But I have to note that at last night’s LA event and at the NYC event earlier this week, Jon’s partner Jennifer Westfeldt was nowhere to be seen. Is she simply “over” going to Hamm’s events? Or is something else happening? People Magazine had an “inside Jon Hamm’s recovery” story last night, which had some interesting details about his relationship with Westfeldt.

Over the past eight years, Jon Hamm has gained legions of fans for his portrayal of anti-hero Don Draper on Mad Men. Last month, the star sought treatment for alcohol addiction, and a source tells PEOPLE Hamm, 44, has more in common with his character than people may think. According to a source, the actor – whose mother died when he was 10 years old – is a complicated person. “He lost his mother at a really young age and grew up without that type of figure in his life,” says the source.

In 2010, he opened up about his struggle with depression after the death of his father at the age of 20 (his parents divorced when he was just a toddler). “I was … unmoored by that,” he told The Observer about his father’s death. Left “in bad shape,” Hamm turned to therapy and antidepressants to beat the illness.

The constant presence of longtime girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt, 45, has also helped “keep him in line,” says the source.

“He needs [Jennifer],” says the source of the stability that the actress brings. “He has to have that in his life.”

Known in Hollywood as the “kind of guy who always remembers your name and makes small talk with the assistants,” according to the source, Hamm opened up to PEOPLE last year about dealing with fame.

“It’s nice that people tell you ‘I like what you do,’ ” he said of his fans, many of whom offer him drinks because of his character on the show. “All that part of it is adorable, but at a certain point, I can’t drink that much scotch! You have to manage your life in the only way you know how in a respectful and proper way.”

[From People]

I’ve heard people theorize about his “need” for Westfeldt before, like it’s a psychological thing because he lost his mother at such a young age, and he loves having the stability of long-term girlfriend who takes care of him. But don’t a lot of 12-step programs believe that it’s very difficult to stay in recovery AND stay in the same relationship you were in while you were abusing substances? These are just idle questions, I have no idea what’s going on with Jon and Jennifer. I would suspect that she’s fully supportive of his journey and she will do anything to keep him healthy.

Oh, and Hamm made a statement on the red carpet last night. He told one outlet: “Life throws a lot at you sometimes, and you have to deal with it as much as you can. I’ve been very fortunate that throughout the most recent 24-hour period, I’ve had a lot of family and friends support me. Obviously there can be a lot of discussion about how much of this is related to that, and honestly I don’t have much to say about that either. I’ve said in varying ways that acting can be a difficult endeavor, certainly not as difficult as the recent example I used of being a baby heart surgeon. But it does present its own challenges, and so does life.”

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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37 Responses to “People: Jon Hamm ‘needs’ Jennifer Westfeldt, ‘he has to have that in his life’”

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  1. Seapharris7 says:

    As far as I know, the addict’s sole focus is recovery. Starting new relationships is usually discouraged during the first few years of sobriety – but overall we hope long term relationships can grow/change for the better.

    • denisemich says:

      Is he acting in MadMen? Is it acting if you are almost the same person in real life.

      Jennifer should run, this doesn’t seem like a healthy relationship.

      • bettyrose says:

        seriously. Don was a misogynistic jagoff in the early seasons, while Jon is a really good guy, but Don grows a lot over the years while it seems Jon took on some of Don’s vices. Like they morphed into each other.

  2. Tammy says:

    It is recommended that you neither end or start a new relationship when you first enter recovery for a year because it takes that long for your mind to think clearly.

  3. bammer says:

    Doesn’t he cheat on her constantly? I hate guys who want their women devoted to them while they do whatever they want.

    • ell says:

      still, it’s on her that she stays with him. nobody forced her to be a cheater. personally I think it’s a bit pathetic, I don’t I could be with someone who cheats on me.

    • WillowS says:

      I really don’t want to believe those rumors because I like him (or at least how he presents in interviews) and think he’s a good actor. I’m surprised that there never were any pics being that drunk people tend to be sloppy.

      • polonoscopy says:

        Lainey caught it. She wrote a blind about him falling over girls at a party last year.

  4. Jan Harf says:

    Pajiba has a post on why his rehab announcement is so important. It hits the nail on the head.

  5. Lori says:

    Of Course the press is going to turn Jennifer into “mommy” now. Jaysus!

  6. Ruyana says:

    According to other gossip sites he cheats on her almost constantly. I have no respect for him.

  7. zinjojo says:

    I hope he finds the support and help that he needs. And he looks great, I like the white dinner jacket.

  8. ell says:

    imo it’s very doubtful their relationship is healthy at all. he cheats on her and everyone knows it, which means they’re not exactly happy. also the idea of a woman somewhat “mothering” a man is dysfunctional to me. I believe in being supporting in the context of a relationship, but I don’t believe in hanging on for dear life on troubled relationships.

  9. Talie says:

    He definitely seems to have demons and as Don Draper went down in flames over the years, Hamm always returned looking puffier and with bigger bags under his eyes. Hopefully, he got it in check.

  10. Virgilia Coriolanus says:

    So why does everyone think that he cheats on his girlfriend all the time? Because she jacked her face up? I’ve only heard “he cheats on her constantly”………nothing specific.

    • ell says:

      usually when rumours are so insistent it’s because there’s some truth to it. i’m sure there have been more details about him cheating, but can’t quite remember them now.

    • Lori says:

      There were rumours about him with Kristen Wiig both from SNL and During Bridesmaids. I believe there were also a few rumours about him with Rebecca Hall during the Town production. That along with the many rumours of him getting gropy with stranglings at bars when he’s been stumbling drunk.

      • ell says:

        lmao, the set of the town must have been something with affleck cheating with blake lively and jon hamm and rebecca hall.

    • RobN says:

      There are never any pictures so he’s an incredibly careful cheater, if he is one, and that isn’t generally the case with addicts. It’s also true that when people say where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, it’s quite often true that they’re the ones spreading the smoke.

    • Artemis says:

      Lainey actually posted a blind a few years back hinting very clearly that it was Jon Hamm. Since then, it’s always brought up. Lainey’s posts about him afterwards also indicated a change in how she felt about him because he did seem that kind of guy who wouldn’t do that, especially to a woman that has been in his life for so long.

      EDIT: whether that’s true or not, nobody knows. I just feel bad for Westfeldt because she already got shit from Hamm’s fans and then the stuff she did to her face can indicate that she’s quite insecure. I don’t know, I think at this point they need each other equally. Not sure if she’s that stable as she’s made out to be. She probably has her own reasons to stay with a troubled man.

    • lucy2 says:

      I never heard the cheating rumors until the past couple of years, and still haven’t seen anything that seems to prove it. Maybe they’ve had some rough patches, maybe they’ve been on and off, maybe it’s all not true and they’re perfectly happy together, who knows.

  11. Peggy says:

    Jennifer said she wants kids, and Jon does not, she is in her forties now, give this relationship a year or two, and he’ll be getting another woman, and all Jennifer will have is a life full of regrets.

    • Jess says:

      Did she say that recently? I’ve always heard her say neither of them are just dying for kids but if one changes their mind they would explore options. Sounds pretty level headed in my opinion, instead of just blindly bringing a child into the world because that’s what she’s “supposed” to do.

    • Brittney B says:

      Do you know something we don’t? Jennifer has directly addressed the fact that she’s in her forties without a child:

      “I kept feeling like I’d wake up with absolute clarity, and I haven’t. And we have a pretty great life together. The chance that we’ll regret it doesn’t seem like a compelling enough reason to do it. I may wake up tomorrow with that lighting bolt, and I’ll have to scramble to make it happen.”

      Sounds to me like she expected to have kids, but her life took a different direction, and she’s not willing to become a parent just to satisfy that particular milestone.

      It’s also pretty harsh to assume that if they break up, Jon will get another girlfriend but she’ll have nothing but “a life full of regrets”. In this hypothetical scenario, what if she gets another partner too? What if he’s full of regret? A woman’s happiness doesn’t depend on a partner OR a child. In fact, I think many women would’ve had much easier lives if, when their partners “got another woman”, they didn’t have children to raise by themselves.

      • lucy2 says:

        That’s how I read it too, and what she said is not uncommon. Many people early on imagine they will grow up, get married, have kids, because that’s what society ingrains in everyone. But some of those people grow up and form a life that is better suited with no kids, realize it’s not for them, or physically can’t. That’s what I think she was saying, she ended up with a life different than she planned, but not in a bad way.

    • JenniferJustice says:

      They remind me of Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. They won’t last and she will forever be “the one that got away.”

    • Santolina says:

      I think they already have a child — his INNER DAMAGED CHILD, with all its unresolved baggage. He can’t even put a ring on it, which always seemed weird to me. But, now we’re getting a glimpse of why.

    • taxi says:

      Probably have some good memories, too.

  12. Jess says:

    Where are all these cheating rumors? Damn, I hate to hear that! I figured he was a flirt when he had a few drinks but the way he talks about her is very adoring and I don’t see him cheating, hopefully not. I like her a lot, she’s really funny and a great writer in my opinion, plus she’s gorgeous, he’s lucky to have her and I’ve always liked them as a couple.

    Edit-my uncle is an alcoholic and he’s been with his wife for over 20 years, he was never an abusive drunk, just a constant drunk, but after he went to rehab his wife totally lost it and was scared he wouldn’t like her anymore or that their relationship would change too much, he lasted 8 weeks sober! I hope Jon and Jennifer aren’t that kind of codependent and can support each other in healthy ways.

    • lirko says:

      Wow, Jess…that’s very compelling/upsetting (about your uncle and aunt) . These issues related to substance abuse and codependency are so intricate, and different for everyone, and every couple. It’s hard to understand from the outside. Thanks for sharing.

  13. MSat says:

    WHITE DINNER JACKET FTW. (melt)

  14. minx says:

    I’m still a big fan. His stint as gorgeous but dumb Dr. Drew Baird on 30 Rock was absolutely hysterical. He can do comedy and drama equally well

  15. Esmom says:

    I have no idea what he’s like in real life but he seems smart and thoughtful and I like his work. I feel bad that he has to answer so many questions about his rehab. Clearly he wanted to keep it private. Now that he made his statement I don’t think he owes anyone anything further on the topic.

  16. Cody says:

    Maybe Jennifer didn’t come to his last 2 premiers ,because she gets tired of being his enabler.

  17. JenniferJustice says:

    Sorry but I’m not a Hamm fan. He reminds me of Clooney – doofey, not attractive, but women flock to him, so he thinks he’s an Adonis. Re his girlfriend, Jennifer W. My take on all of this is that he’s been known to be a cheater….for decades. I think he got caught…again, and use the old “It’s not my fault because I have a sex addiction” or” drugs & booze made me do it”, hence the rehab and her being MIA. I’m all for supporting addicts seeking recovery, however, I do not beleive and never will that any man is incapable of keeping his dick in his pants. if it comes out, it’s a conscious albeit selfish, decision. He is a cad in my book and Jennifer should have ran years ago, but she won’t.

    Also read something last year re Jennifer and her friends wanting her to leave him bc he cheats and he’s verbally and emotionally abusive toward her. That would explain alot as far as her plastic surgeries and seeming insecurity.

  18. Happy21 says:

    I love him. I can’t wait to see what it’s in store for him after Mad Men. I think he’ll do another TV series. It’d be fun if it were a comedy.

  19. taxi says:

    I’m a Hamm fan and also liked him in Million Dollar Arm.