Many people gave negative judgment on this book without even reading it. It is not at all shocking and quite funny at times. B.D Hyman made it very clear that her mother was not abusive, but could be difficult and demanding at times. Anyone surprised by this ?
Why do people go back and forth with "who is the best Joan or Bette". They were both stunningly beautiful, incredibly talented ladies, actresses. So what if they didn't personally care for one another. Who cares if each one one have pushed the other off of a cliff? I adore them both. So very glad to have their movies and interviews to watch. Truly they are both wonderful, true Hollywood Legends. I do think that was mean of B. D. to write that book about Bette
There may have been grains of truth to her story, but it doesn't take away from the fact that Bette was a supreme talent who worked her ass off her entire life for everything she had. No book can diminish that.
@@rebeccarpwebb4132 and people have an equal right to say how they feel and think about the expression of said feelings. You feeling envy, malicious? I’m feeling bupkus about your damned envy and malice. Ingrate. That’s what I “feel” about the whole kerfuffle. Davis could have aborted or given her up for adoption. Some did and do. How you feeling about that⁉️🤨
My grandmother was exactly like this. She was tough as hell and could be mean too, but if u are one that she loves, and someone hurts them, even he’ll couldn’t have kept her from avenging u. Her love was more powerful than anything else.
B.D. was in it for the money. After MOMMIE DEAREST came out and was a runaway best seller, she jumped on the bandwagon. I love Bette Davis, even today (2019) and I love and I watch her movies.
I love Betty Davis, My favorite actress from the old era. I wasn't born until the 60's. I have always enjoyed black and white movies verses what they have today. Dam good movies.
Money or not, it doesn't negate the fact that some people who knew Davis have confirmed that she was an awful person. Even her aide in the final years of her life had an extraordinarily difficult time with Bette, whom Bette, in the aide's own words, had contemplated firing.
@@travelseatsyellowlab There's a good interview with Bette Davis and Mike Walace where they both share their opinions. ua-cam.com/video/g857qqY0D90/v-deo.html
@@travelseatsyellowlab Exactly! These people like to equate the art of the artist with the value of the person that artist was. She was an amazing actress no doubt about that. However as a person, she had flaws just like everyone else. There's no need to justify those flaws.
All I know is, I loved this video and found it fascinating. Doesn't change my mind one iota about Bette. A truly amazing and beyond extraordinary actress. And I think her daughter looks just like her!
Bette supported her daughter and her son-in-law for years, this is the gratitude she shows. Bette fought for and earned everything she got. BD didn't and it shows.
It's all about the money. How much can I get. Unsuccessful daughter, son-in-law. Drinkers, bums. Or worse. Just continues on. She said BD was wonderful mother. Wow
Ingratitude is a terrible. We may not like or agree with many things in the way we were raised. Most don't. Most of us dont write nasty, vindictive books trashing our family after they are dead, when they cant defend or explain themselves. My parents were raised during the great depression, they had what l thought were odd and crazy priorities, to me. Then as an adult l read about how bad depression was, then l understood why my parents and especially my grandparents had the values, priorities that they did. Maturely and information help to clarify why they were, the way they were. Bette Davis daughter just couldn't careless, even as a much older woman...
I don't know why people are so abusive to the daughter, we don't know her or Bette - we only know the characters that Bette played, there is no need to get defensive on Bette's part. The daughter is only sharing HER experience as the child of an actress - particularly the adult relationship. She is entitled too to her experiences, they are valid to her. She's actually endeared Bette by sharing her faults, parents are not perfect people even if they're movie stars. You don't need to feel offended or angry, just listen to someone else's experience of their mother and appreciate that account. My own mother is a wonderful person loved by many and was exceptionally talented engineer especially given the male dominated time period at the time - but her relationship with us her children was poor, she wasn't a good parent of children - but no one aside from my sister and I could know this as our father was often absent too. If we were to make that public, everyone would call us ungrateful or crazy because there we were, a picture perfect family wanting for nothing. Often very successful career people are assumed to be all rounders and great parents which can be a harmful assumption because of their public persona. I appreciate these anecdotes, she said nothing nasty, they were actually very endearing. It is pity that the mother and daughter never made up at the end. The adopted son and her assistant however benefitted greatly from this relationship breakdown.
@@Mr17051963 Hi, thankyou ! I have not seen the brother, but it must have been painful for BD to realise that her Mom had rejected her husband and known that her Mom’s love was conditional and she a possession. Narcissists are extremely difficult and cause horrible emotional damage especially to those close to them.
YES YAWLS YO: I can completely comprehend and artfully apprehend and honestly understand: Why Betty Davis +Joan Crawford and other wise women, "don't have a very high opinion of most men".(His hideous hostile human hate history) And this sickness syndrome, ran and runs inside my own biological family females and my mother and grandmother and so said sisters. It seem as if and as though, their brothers who are men, can't tell them anything that they don't wantonly wish to hear. In fact, they have a low opinion about most men, inclusively, their use to be boyfriends and husbands and them as wives. This is a 'Generational Curse'; passed on down to descendants, who would have been actual ascendants!!
When Mommie Dearest, the tell-all about Joan Crawford's supposed abuse by her daughter Christina, Bette Davis was disgusted at Christina saying how awful it was that her daughter would write such disrespectful awful things about her mother, Joan, who did not deserve such things said about her. This was saying a lot, since Bette and Joan were not known for being boon companions. However, Miss Davis went on to say how glad she was her own daughter would never write such a thing about her. It was horribly ironic, and quite sad how daughter betrayed mother.
Loved Bette Davis as an actress, but I’m sure living with a high profile actress/actor couldn’t be easy as I’m sure they live their life as if they are the only one that’s important comes with the territory, but B D has her mothers backbone and stood up for herself which I applaud her the only way for her to survive.
I do not believe that Barbara Davis is fabricating most of these scenarios. What made me believe it is when she detailed how harsh and cruel Bette Davis was to her sister, Bobby. When Bobby died in 1979, her daughter, Fay, had made arrangements for her final disposition and Bette threw her weight around and got her way by taking over everything like a big bully. People are only defending Davis because she was such a star in her time, and think these people can do no wrong.
Having listened to one of her teaching videos, Hyman now says that she wrote 'My Mother's Keeper' so that Bette would feel ''outrage'' and she would ''go away'', so it wasn't because she wanted to ''get through to her'' at all like she initially claimed. In her second book ('Narrow is the Way'), she claims her brother didn't try to talk her out of the first one, but that is completely contradicted by what he has said in documentaries. The ending of the second book is very telling, she recalls the time she and her husband were watching Bette on a talk show. She spoke about how hurt she had been by her daughter's betrayal, and then the cover of 'My Mother's Keeper' flashed on screen. Her words, "It was only two weeks before I was due to start my paperback tour and mother had unwittingly engineered a free plug of the book. Jeremy and I laughed so hard that I don't know whether there was any more to the interview." What a really childish and spiteful thing to do to the person who, by her own admission had given her all her love and devotion, no child abuse, and something she fails to mention either on television or in print, an absolute fortune over the years. I feel so sorry for Bette! It really is terrible what Hyman has said about Bette on her religious shows (which she only got because she is the daughter of Bette of course). I would put a question forward to B.D., what sort of Christian keeps up such a long vendetta against her mother? She just wants people's money (now she can't leech off mum) with her religious CDs and books to help pay her grocery bills which, let's be honest, judging by the size of her must be enormous.
@@haylotroutman7826 Thank you -- I do try! lol. Just listen to the ingrate's testimony on UA-cam: ''A Long Day's Journey into Shite' - this no-name harridan isn't just the one sandwich short, the whole flamin' picnics gone haywire! Bitter old fruit loop!
She admitted that she and her husband laughed at Bette talking about the book. Soooo...instead of listening to her mother's words on the book, the first thing that popped into her mind was that it was giving the book free publicity.
@@PungiFungi Yep! $$$$ -- The Hymans desperately needed money and sold out Bette to get it (thinking she was going to die). The pair of them disgust me.
Sadly, alcoholism deteriorates relationships and Bette Davis exemplifies the symptoms. Hollywood requires narcissism for stars to compete and win. It's good to forefront these issues.
I read her book. Even if everything B.D. wrote is true, all it shows is that Bette Davis was a difficult woman. She in no way deserved to be held up to the world's judgment, especially since Davis seemed to be in as much pain as she was causing. To make a money grab when your mother is ill with cancer and post-stroke is horrible.
@@relaxedyou4059 it's not shameful, it's just her story and her only way of forcing her mother to listen to her. Bette is the true cause of her own dirty laundry being aired in public, because she was too bull headed to even listen to her own daughter's complaints. And BD had some quite legitimate complaints to say the least. LoL. So is that truly unconditional love on Bette's part? Doesn't sound much like any kinda healthy love, more like possession and ownership. And for those who say that BD simply wrote a book of lies to make money and trash her mother, I say that if BD was capable of doing such an evil thing, she would have unhesitatingly made up some child abuse stories as well. That would be even more shocking and grab more attention for the book. But she didn't, she kept her integrity and gave her mother pretty much glowing reviews on her upbringing. No money-motivated person, bent on destroying someone's reputation with lies, would have resisted telling lies about her upbringing, especially after seeing how successful Christina Crawford's book became. Christina's book was a true story also. A hugely successful best seller and the reviews of Mommy Dearest is where the term TELL-ALL originated. But Bette did this to herself. Her refusal to listen to her daughter and stop trying to make her life a living hell truly backfired when the exasperated but clever BD came up with an idea to trump her mother's narcissism. Simply put, Bette got what she indirectly asked for. And the book didn't ruin her reputation. It actually made me feel sad for Bette that her narcissism caused her to feel so hurt and unloved by her daughter's independence. She was and is still my most favorite actress of all time. The book didn't make me feel any anger at Bette's behavior. I only felt exasperated by it. Now when I read Christina's book I despised Joan. And when I read the book by former Supremes singer Mary Wilson, I lost all respect for Diana Ross. But I lost NONE of my respect for Bette Davis after reading BD's book, cuz it just didn't paint Bette in a despicable sort of light. Not at all
@@mrs.847 I mean, the circunstance does matter though, because when what happened in the relationship is abuse, then the child owes nor¿thing to that parent (like the Christina Crawford case). I havent read this book nore im very aware of the particular incidents in their relationship, but if it was just a complicated relationship and no abuse was taking place (no abuse of any kind, not only physical) then she probably shouldn´t publish it knowing that it will damage her mother for no reason (this assuming her mother really did nothing that could be considered abuse).
4 years later Bette was dead… I have had a twisted relationship with my Mother as well, but I know that it would cripple her morale, her self esteem, and her self worth as a human and as a mother in any respect to say things like this on TV never mind an entire book. I feel so bad for Bette.
***** You didn't actually watch the interview, did you? Her daughter acknowledged she had a great childhood. It was when she was an adult and married that her mother treated her like a piece of shit.
BD wrote in the book that she had a wonderful childhood. It wasn't until BD grew up and decided to do what grown-ups do (leave home, get married, kids etc) that Bette started making her life a living hell.
I grew up with an emotionally abusive mother. From my own therapy and reading they exist on a spectrum. Some are out-right pure monsters (Joan Crawford) and some are a decades wrong water-torture of constant easily dismissed put-downs (Bette Davis). If you ever think that the type of parent they describe doesn't exist... well they do.
She certainly changed her tune about here mother after this interview. She tells about how her Mother was a demon straight from hell. I'm surprised at how positive she is in this interview.
@@gianluca3344 Bette never spoke to B.D again after she wrote the book, and neither did her brother. I doubt Bette would have left her anything anyway considering she was a spoiled, ungrateful brat that had delusions of grandeur and thought the world owed her something, but that book sealed her fate.
Mrs. Hyman seems very well read and understanding of her mother. I don't see her as attacking her mother but showing the extreme contradictions in her personality and behaviors. She appeared to be loved and Ms. Davis was not a horrid parent but perhaps fame and excess warps already troubled people.
@@verabrown2281 Bette's refusal to listen to criticism regarding her behavior is what FORCED BD to write the book and "make money off of her fame". If her motive for writing the book was money, she could have just as easily "made money off of her fame" by publishing the book after Bette's departure. So what you're saying is not factual.
as bette said this book was the biggest heartbreak of her life. im glad she was disinherited. what a horrible thing to do to a mother who loved u and gave u everything
I don't understand why write this book and then say in this interview that his mother didn't abuse her, maybe her mother behaved strange and wasn't the best person but why not keep it as private information and specially if it huet her mother. Seems petty or just to make some money. I couldn't do something like this to my parents even if they made big mistakes or didn't always treat me well. I haven't read the book though, maybe she had reasons but just from this interview I don't get it. .
Betty gave her so much love as a child, i can see that Betty was an eccentric and dramatic and i am sure there could be some truth in what she is saying but some things you just keep to yourself, no one is perfect in life and i can see why Betty was hurt with her daughter.
She couldn't keep it to herself. This was the only way BD could make her stubborn mother stop and see what kind of a person her insecurities had turned her into and how maniacally-possessive and jealous she had become with her.
My relationship with my mother was FAR from perfect, but I think there should be a level of respect when it comes to sharing this sort of information with the world. It is almost like she was making a mockery of her mother and it just seems so disrespectful. And then to add insult to injury, she was making money off of it as well. Bah.
YES YAWLS YO: I can completely comprehend and artfully apprehend and honestly understand: Why Betty Davis +Joan Crawford and other wise women, "don't have a very high opinion of most men".(His hideous hostile human hate history) And this sickness syndrome, ran and runs inside my own biological family females and my mother and grandmother and so said sisters. It seem as if and as though, their brothers who are men, can't tell them anything that they don't wantonly wish to hear. In fact, they have a low opinion about most men, inclusively, their use to be boyfriends and husbands and them as wives. This is a 'Generational Curse'; passed on down to descendants, who would have been actual ascendants!!
I don't understand why a lot of people are speaking on behalf of Bette's "good character" and how "happy a childhood the ungrateful B.D. had," when they only know what tabloids and interviews revealed. You can't know what a person experienced behind closed doors, and I think it's very well possible that B.D.'s memories might be valid. With that being said, I do think it to be considerably harsh to publish such a revealing book and interview while your elderly mother is still alive to witness it all. I find that sort of bitterness and retaliatory behavior a bit revealing about B.D.'s character, too... Had she published it after her mother's death, it would've seemed more like she wanted to heal and reach out to other abuse victims as a means to not feel alone. But, since her mother was still alive during it all, it just seems like she wanted to stick it to her in the worst way she knew how. B.D. should hope her children don't treat her similarly in her old age.
I used to date B.D. and Bette was so warm a person (to me) that I called her my 2nd mom. This was during the time she did Pocketful of Miracles and Baby Jane. B.D. was the apple of Bette's eyes. B.D. always came 1st. I had continued my friendship with Bette long after my dating her daughter. Many people here have the wrong impression of Bette, that's for sure.
Cedarsedge ...... No one outside a household knows what goes on behind closed doors, take my word on that, I know from experience, our neighbors and even family always thought my parents and grandmother were great people, no they weren't.
It seems surprising to me that this girl would write such a book knowing full well that she had her mother's love and devotion. That alone tells me that she had no real grounds to publish this type of media on her own mother. Sorry B,D. But I must support your mother on this!
The fact that Bette Davis disinherited her tells me that she maybe didn't love her daughter very much. One doesn't do that to one's child just because of a book.
Thank you B.D. for sharing with us who your mother is as a person. She made her very real to me. I admire Bette and her talent, who she was as a professional and now I admire her as a person and a mother.
BD has just never had that truth quality that made this book worth reading. Not that her e experiences were real, but that she did it because Crawford's daughter did it so she felt she wanted to write as well.
This is sickening. A gossip fest about Ms. Davis when she was in her mid 70’s, elderly & suffering physically. This is pathetic. A slap in the face to her hard working Mother.
That's how YOU see it. But that's not the way it actually is. Bette was still playing the victim up until her last day. Then Bette published her own book complaining of how ugly it was for BD to write that book. "I can't believe that all this time she hated me". I wonder if Ms Davis ever stopped for a second and took responsibility for even one single incident that BD wrote about in that book. If she's as bad BD describes her, the answer is no she did not.
To paraphrase Billie Holiday when her ex McCay visited her almost on her death bed and prayed over her as Billie pretended to be unconscious - "If that M.F... has found Jesus, I'm rethinking my position."
agreed, too many people obsess about an actor as a fan, and think that everything wonderful they've projected onto that celebrity has to be real, they are unable to separate their fan relationship, with a daughter's relationship with her mother. A LOT of celebrities are nice to their fans, but how they treat family, is entirely different.
When I was a little girl, I remember when everyone got the book. My mother included. They said they could believe only a FEW things that were true, but the rest, no. Even B.D.'s own brother, Michael, showed his disgrace for her and said he would never forgive her. Many celebrities and friends felt she was just a spoiled ingrate.
+Daniel Bowman I can't remember the oriental designer (Vera Wang?) who was popular for such 1980's bold silk prints, but we really thought we looked great in her clothes. Her designs were certainly not appropriate for fatties, such as Hyman, which made one look even fatter.
Perfect example! I knew in the 80s how dopey those jackets were. :) I dressed in a timeless way in the 80s and ever since, thanks to my Mom, who told me to never spend $ on trendy junk but to wear classic, well-made clothes. I still have a lot of it, and no shoulder pads! :) I might have been the only girl in school whose bangs didn't' stick straight up in the air... never understood the whole "Mall Bangs" thing.
I remember reading "Mommie Dearest" and thinking that Christina Crawford had been brutalized. And I remember reading "My Mother's Keeper" and thinking that B.D. Hyman was a melodramatic spoiled brat whose mother perhaps gave in to her every whim. Even here she has such a dramatic flare. Joan Crawford made people eat at her house with white gloves? Joan made comments to B.D. not to go near her daughters with Bette standing right there? Lies and embellishments.
I wonder if now as a woman in her late sixties she regrets writing the book in her mothers final years. I would feel guilt big time knowing I broke my mothers heart in her final years on earth.
I don't think anyone is in the position to judge B.D. Hyman. I don't think being analytical about ones parents is dishonoring them, nor do I feel anything Mrs. Hyman has said tarnishes her mothers reputation in anyway. I believe it did hurt Bette Davis to share. A lot of people are like this. When a daughter or sibling gets married, you kind of lose them to their spouse and to someone like Bette Davis, this could have been extremely hard to accept.
Key word: Story. She said she wrote a story and stories are fictional. She wanted to hurt her mother and make money from being her daughter. An extremely unchristian thing to do.
And yes, that was 80's hair. I remember it well. Nothing unusual about the hairstyles on any of those three, but they do look funny now. Now to look for that book....
I think what I find fascinatingly odd is that sure, she knew her mother better than we do, but she's also saying she loved her mother and had a happy childhood - whatever, whoever's mistaken isn't the point for me... surely she would know how upsetting her mother would have found this book? I mean books take a long time to write, you have to arrange publishing and distribution, this wasn't a small accidental slip and it certainly wasn't a personal affair to help her mother understand her better. It was a big long deliberate chain of events that ended exactly as badly as anyone could have predicted.
B. D. met Jeremy Hyman (b 1933 London), the British nephew of Seven Arts Productions owner Eliot Hyman, on a blind date for the film's showing at the Cannes Film Festival, in 1963, and the couple wed when B. D. was age 16 and Jeremy was age 29. Her mother Bette Davis gave her consent and publicly supported their marriage. The couple remain wed after 50-plus years[1] and have two sons, Ashley and Justin.[2
Wow, she looks just like her mother. These so-called Hollywood starlets were a trip when it came to their mothering skills. But when you see how much the men made back in the day compared to the women. It was extremely hard for women actresses. They were used and abused. But, I believe her.
B.D. and her mother never spoke again after this book. Was it really worth it? B.D. admittedly had a decent childhood where she wasn't abused and felt loved by her mother. Does her mom owe her more than that? My mom moved out when I was 9, yet I would still NEVER publicly humiliate her with an interview like this, much less a tell all book, no matter how much money was on the table. I was raised that you keep family business to yourself and you stick up for eachother. This is just sad.
I’m just astounded that B.D Hyman, a self proclaimed Christian refuses to do the truly Christian act of forgiving her Mother. My parents at one time in my life were terribly abusive but being the Christian that I actually am I’ve forgiven them both and now couldn’t be closer to them. People make mistakes.. To err is human, to forgive divine. No matter what her Mom may or may have not done to her, she still gave her life.
Watching these videos of celebrities kids tell him about their parents reminds me of this refrigerator magnet I once saw with Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance as Lucy Ricardo and Ethel mertz smiling at each other. It read, you will always be my friend... YOU KNOW TOO MUCH.
I read the book and I think it is very well written. It is a testimony of domestic violence, neglectful motherhood, and narcissistic parenting, themes that, almost 40 years ago, were considered taboo and not at all discussed. In the name of Bette Davis' talent (which was real), and public image (which was abrasive), BD Hyman was unjustly insulted during all this time, and treated as an ungrateful daughter when she was a victim during all her childhood, and teenage years. She was also accused of causing a stroke in her mother. She was only trying to be heard, by a person who was not able to do it and to evolve. She even risked being disinherited (which end up happening) to gain her freedom. I admire her courage.
Yo are crazy and I think you a bad son or a bad daughter yourself to approve of this evil and almost demonic bitch who should never ever been born at all
She's a well spoken woman. I won't believe every single thing but I'm sure some of it's true. I'm sure being Bette Davis daughter wouldn't be too easy.
She so looks like her mother. Even though most of us love Bette Davis some of the things BD says must be true. Imagine Bette Davis being your MOTHER? I'm sure it wasn't all sweet like candy but I'm sure she loved her daughter through out it all.
True, B D was Bette’s favorite, even after her book, but imagine the heartbreak to understand your very own daughter has no love or respect for her. Even if Bette was a horrible mother like B D accused, i feel devastated that Bette. Same for Crawford, but her youngest daughters love and respect her for everything she’s done.
Bette was beautiful, she sure ain't, deliberately putting her own mother in a bad light and demeaning her name, especially after saying what a wonderful childhood she had,, making money off her by slandering her, that's as low as you could go
I tend to take these, "my mom was possessed by the devil", books from celebrity's kids with a HUGE gra in of salt. I mean this woman's own brother said a lot of what she wrote was questionable at best, and that he believed that the only reason that she wrote it was because her mother was horribly sick at the time and she thought she'd be dead by the time it was published.
so3ducme777 the irony is she became the demon she is after turning "born again" - it's not that since writing the book she became born again, but the book itself was the result of her supposedly "finding god"
No parent is perfect and (unfortunately) children don’t come with instructions. Betty Davis was a very strong personality that had to come through in raising her children.
I just finished the book and found it be humorous, intimate, enlightening, and candid. As fans of Bette, we should only be concerned with appreciating and preserving her body of work, not criticizing her private life or her daughter, whom she loved. BD loved her mother and although some things could have been omitted from the book, I don't think anything that was written was inappropriate.
Sorry I'm late to the party! I'm just fascinated with hearing the perspective of the children of stars. I haven't read the book but just listening to B.D., she doesn't seem to hate her mother at all. I can understand why the book would hurt Bette Davis and raise eyebrows amongst fans but B.D. seems to make it very clear she loved and cared for her mother and was treated well, it's just there were some tough moments. This book could be a bit of a cash grab but also just a chance to stretch writing muscles and reflect on a very interesting upbringing. Again, I respect that B.D. doesn't want to bash her mother, just tell a story, and I appreciate as well that she is open to Christina Crawford telling the truth about her story too.
I read the book years ago and just ... yuck! I wasn't even a Bette Davis fan, so I had no preconceived notions going in. BD is just ungrateful, makes mountains out of molehills, and guess what? A lot of people had it way, way worse. No clue how she goes from saying her childhood was great to "What torture!". I just wish I knew how to get rid of the book w/o adding to a landfill. Maybe it needs a cremation, haha.
Mother had no heart, thats kinda the point. Nothing to sell but insight into a personality disorder - she has done a favor for many. LOL you can always tell a narc when they get angry at the telling of the truth Eureka!!!! Good for BD, I actually prefer Christina's story, Crawford was evil.
Oppressed Nolonger I agree. A lot of people invalidate BD's feelings and stories; same thing they did to Christina Crawford. I think that people who have never been abused have a really hard time believing abuse victims. They have a tendency to side with the abuser. The thing they don't realize is that most abusive people are covert and they only show the crazy and evil side of themselves to the people they're abusing. They portray themselves completely opposite in the outside world. The community they live in thinks they're wonderful. This is maddening when you're the victim.
I love all of Bette Davis movies but honestly, she did not seem all warm, and cozy kind of a person she I am sure was difficult to get along within real life... her daughter I believe was telling the truth!! Just like Joan Crawford's daughter as well.
She admits she was loved and well provided for. The bumps and bruises of upbringing were no greater than anyone else and she was not an abused or neglected child so why expose the personality and character flaws of a well known and respected personality is confusing.
The big difference between Christina Crawford and BD is that Christina tried to understand her mother’s actions, even including good times with the bad in her book. BD wrote hers to be cruel! Bette gave that woman everything, even a role in Baby Jane. She hated her mother cause she was a great talent and she wasn’t. Plus Bette probably told her the truth about her not being cut out to be an actress and it pissed her off
BD had no choice. She wanted her mother to finally listen to how she behaved. The book forced her to listen. She knew she would hurt her gargantuan ego. True Bette had recent medical issues but this is a situation between a mother and a daughter and BD simply couldn't let her go to her grave without saying the truth.
Furthermore, BD gave Bette GLOWING reviews on her upbringing (in the book and in interview after interview). If she was a liar, she would have also said she had a traumatic childhood as well. Use it for more than just a hat-rack will you.
She talks like the stars of that era. Her accent, her descriptors, and the way she says “mother.”
It’s sad because all Bette Davis interviews, when she speaks about her children, she seems very happy, living and proud ....
Bette had a great sense of humour too!
Many people gave negative judgment on this book without even reading it. It is not at all shocking and quite funny at times. B.D Hyman made it very clear that her mother was not abusive, but could be difficult and demanding at times. Anyone surprised by this ?
She says good things about her mom too not just bad so why y’all don’t believe her is beyond me
Why do people go back and forth with "who is the best Joan or Bette". They were both stunningly beautiful, incredibly talented ladies, actresses. So what if they didn't personally care for one another. Who cares if each one one have pushed the other off of a cliff? I adore them both. So very glad to have their movies and interviews to watch. Truly they are both wonderful, true Hollywood Legends.
I do think that was mean of B. D. to write that book about Bette
There may have been grains of truth to her story, but it doesn't take away from the fact that Bette was a supreme talent who worked her ass off her entire life for everything she had. No book can diminish that.
Its her daughters point of view not a biography of betty . ppl have a right to say. How they feel
Bravo
3 other children are fine with, Mom! Just like Crawford’s kid - ENVY!!
@@rebeccarpwebb4132 and people have an equal right to say how they feel and think about the expression of said feelings. You feeling envy, malicious? I’m feeling bupkus about your damned envy and malice. Ingrate. That’s what I “feel” about the whole kerfuffle. Davis could have aborted or given her up for adoption. Some did and do. How you feeling about that⁉️🤨
@@jeanettesdaughter i said its not a biography ... I didnt squeeze ur head . wtf lol
she looks so much like her mum ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I still love to watch Betty Davis films she was one of the greats .
My grandmother was exactly like this. She was tough as hell and could be mean too, but if u are one that she loves, and someone hurts them, even he’ll couldn’t have kept her from avenging u. Her love was more powerful than anything else.
With help from a Mother comes a possessiveness.That implies control & literally strangles any real closeness.
B.D. was in it for the money. After MOMMIE DEAREST came out and was a runaway best seller, she jumped on the bandwagon. I love Bette Davis, even today (2019) and I love and I watch her movies.
I love Betty Davis, My favorite actress from the old era. I wasn't born until the 60's. I have always enjoyed black and white movies verses what they have today. Dam good movies.
Same with Maria Riva, Marlene Dietrich’s daughter.
Don’t believe everything you hear.
Money or not, it doesn't negate the fact that some people who knew Davis have confirmed that she was an awful person. Even her aide in the final years of her life had an extraordinarily difficult time with Bette, whom Bette, in the aide's own words, had contemplated firing.
@@travelseatsyellowlab There's a good interview with Bette Davis and Mike Walace where they both share their opinions.
ua-cam.com/video/g857qqY0D90/v-deo.html
@@travelseatsyellowlab Exactly! These people like to equate the art of the artist with the value of the person that artist was. She was an amazing actress no doubt about that. However as a person, she had flaws just like everyone else. There's no need to justify those flaws.
All I know is, I loved this video and found it fascinating. Doesn't change my mind one iota about Bette. A truly amazing and beyond extraordinary actress. And I think her daughter looks just like her!
Have you seen young Bette? She was a doll...Her daughter has a few similarities but she trulie does not look like Bette
Her daughter was adopted just like Joan Crawford’s daughter
@@sheluvssmokedupeyes1 She was Bette's natural daughter. Bette's husband officially adopted her when married to Bette.
@@natashalena7571I disagree they do truly look alike. You can see it in the eyes
@@sheluvssmokedupeyes1wrong
I would pick Betty Davis over Joan crawford
Bette
I would pick Joan over Bette anytime Joan is more down to earth
Bette daughter looks just like u
I would choose Joan.
My money is on bette
In my opinion Bette Davis was an is the greatest actress of all time!
Faye Chaffin Meh.
Perhaps for a short period of time, but not of all time.
Agree
Nah dumb bitch
@@ianwilliamson2980 really wow
Bette supported her daughter and her son-in-law for years, this is the gratitude she shows. Bette fought for and earned everything she got. BD didn't and it shows.
I agree! Bette worked hard. BD didn't earn GD thing!
True, B. D. was a bum end of story.
What did she do? She's complimentary of her mother in the interview.
It's all about the money. How much can I get. Unsuccessful daughter, son-in-law. Drinkers, bums. Or worse. Just continues on. She said BD was wonderful mother. Wow
Ingratitude is a terrible.
We may not like or agree with many things in the way we were raised. Most don't. Most of us dont write nasty, vindictive books trashing our family after they are dead, when they cant defend or explain themselves.
My parents were raised during the great depression, they had what l thought were odd and crazy priorities, to me. Then as an adult l read about how bad depression was, then l understood why my parents and especially my grandparents had the values, priorities that they did. Maturely and information help to clarify why they were, the way they were.
Bette Davis daughter just couldn't careless, even as a much older woman...
I hope someone writes a tell-all book about Bette's daughter one day and exposes the culty ministry she runs.
What cult ministry
@@MJ-qt1ml I guess we will have to check that out in Wikipedia
You mean Christianity? B.D. Hyman is a good and faithful servant of God.
This woman is 🥜
If what you believe what you say, why haven't you written and published the book?
I saw Bette and heard Bette in B.D.'s laughter. Beautiful!
She looks like her Mom
I don't know why people are so abusive to the daughter, we don't know her or Bette - we only know the characters that Bette played, there is no need to get defensive on Bette's part. The daughter is only sharing HER experience as the child of an actress - particularly the adult relationship. She is entitled too to her experiences, they are valid to her. She's actually endeared Bette by sharing her faults, parents are not perfect people even if they're movie stars. You don't need to feel offended or angry, just listen to someone else's experience of their mother and appreciate that account. My own mother is a wonderful person loved by many and was exceptionally talented engineer especially given the male dominated time period at the time - but her relationship with us her children was poor, she wasn't a good parent of children - but no one aside from my sister and I could know this as our father was often absent too. If we were to make that public, everyone would call us ungrateful or crazy because there we were, a picture perfect family wanting for nothing. Often very successful career people are assumed to be all rounders and great parents which can be a harmful assumption because of their public persona. I appreciate these anecdotes, she said nothing nasty, they were actually very endearing. It is pity that the mother and daughter never made up at the end. The adopted son and her assistant however benefitted greatly from this relationship breakdown.
Everything for the spotlight! Bette Davis died very sad and heart broked with this book. Never spoke with her daughter again ‘till the end.
.
How do you know?
@@carolbell8008 Her son told that in some interviews. He never spoke again to her sister, too.
@@Mr17051963 Hi, thankyou ! I have not seen the brother, but it must have been painful for BD to realise that her Mom had rejected her husband and known that her Mom’s love was conditional and she a possession. Narcissists are extremely difficult and cause horrible emotional damage especially to those close to them.
@@carolbell8008 I completely agree.
Am I the only one who gets a Wynonna Judd vibe from her? :)
haha! That was my initial thought. I had to double check that I didn't click on the wrong video.
the giant head
Fully agree. My first thought
YES YAWLS YO: I can completely comprehend and artfully apprehend and honestly understand: Why Betty Davis +Joan Crawford and other wise women, "don't have a very high opinion of most men".(His hideous hostile human hate history) And this sickness syndrome, ran and runs inside my own biological family females and my mother and grandmother and so said sisters. It seem as if and as though, their brothers who are men, can't tell them anything that they don't wantonly wish to hear. In fact, they have a low opinion about most men, inclusively, their use to be boyfriends and husbands and them as wives. This is a 'Generational Curse'; passed on down to descendants, who would have been actual ascendants!!
I get a Rosie O'Donnell impersonating Winona vibe.
Man she sounds like Bette! Her voice inflections and the way she words things, just like her.
How strange!
When Mommie Dearest, the tell-all about Joan Crawford's supposed abuse by her daughter Christina, Bette Davis was disgusted at Christina saying how awful it was that her daughter would write such disrespectful awful things about her mother, Joan, who did not deserve such things said about her. This was saying a lot, since Bette and Joan were not known for being boon companions. However, Miss Davis went on to say how glad she was her own daughter would never write such a thing about her. It was horribly ironic, and quite sad how daughter betrayed mother.
We do not really know and will never know what happened between them. It is better not to judge.
Yes, the thing is, if we want people to say nice things about us we need to treat them well.
Loved Bette Davis as an actress, but I’m sure living with a high profile actress/actor couldn’t be easy as I’m sure they live their life as if they are the only one that’s important comes with the territory, but B D has her mothers backbone and stood up for herself which I applaud her the only way for her to survive.
I do not believe that Barbara Davis is fabricating most of these scenarios. What made me believe it is when she detailed how harsh and cruel Bette Davis was to her sister, Bobby. When Bobby died in 1979, her daughter, Fay, had made arrangements for her final disposition and Bette threw her weight around and got her way by taking over everything like a big bully. People are only defending Davis because she was such a star in her time, and think these people can do no wrong.
Having listened to one of her teaching videos, Hyman now says that she wrote 'My Mother's Keeper' so that Bette would feel ''outrage'' and she would ''go away'', so it wasn't because she wanted to ''get through to her'' at all like she initially claimed. In her second book ('Narrow is the Way'), she claims her brother didn't try to talk her out of the first one, but that is completely contradicted by what he has said in documentaries. The ending of the second book is very telling, she recalls the time she and her husband were watching Bette on a talk show. She spoke about how hurt she had been by her daughter's betrayal, and then the cover of 'My Mother's Keeper' flashed on screen. Her words, "It was only two weeks before I was due to start my paperback tour and mother had unwittingly engineered a free plug of the book. Jeremy and I laughed so hard that I don't know whether there was any more to the interview." What a really childish and spiteful thing to do to the person who, by her own admission had given her all her love and devotion, no child abuse, and something she fails to mention either on television or in print, an absolute fortune over the years. I feel so sorry for Bette! It really is terrible what Hyman has said about Bette on her religious shows (which she only got because she is the daughter of Bette of course). I would put a question forward to B.D., what sort of Christian keeps up such a long vendetta against her mother? She just wants people's money (now she can't leech off mum) with her religious CDs and books to help pay her grocery bills which, let's be honest, judging by the size of her must be enormous.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Your comment absolutely made my evening LOL @ TV Bytes , Especially the last part! 😂
@@haylotroutman7826 Thank you -- I do try! lol. Just listen to the ingrate's testimony on UA-cam: ''A Long Day's Journey into Shite' - this no-name harridan isn't just the one sandwich short, the whole flamin' picnics gone haywire! Bitter old fruit loop!
She admitted that she and her husband laughed at Bette talking about the book. Soooo...instead of listening to her mother's words on the book, the first thing that popped into her mind was that it was giving the book free publicity.
@@PungiFungi Yep! $$$$ -- The Hymans desperately needed money and sold out Bette to get it (thinking she was going to die). The pair of them disgust me.
Bette was delusional
Sadly, alcoholism deteriorates relationships and Bette Davis exemplifies the symptoms. Hollywood requires narcissism for stars to compete and win. It's good to forefront these issues.
I read her book. Even if everything B.D. wrote is true, all it shows is that Bette Davis was a difficult woman. She in no way deserved to be held up to the world's judgment, especially since Davis seemed to be in as much pain as she was causing. To make a money grab when your mother is ill with cancer and post-stroke is horrible.
very true
She openly states she had a very happy childhood. Shameful
@@relaxedyou4059 it's not shameful, it's just her story and her only way of forcing her mother to listen to her. Bette is the true cause of her own dirty laundry being aired in public, because she was too bull headed to even listen to her own daughter's complaints. And BD had some quite legitimate complaints to say the least. LoL. So is that truly unconditional love on Bette's part? Doesn't sound much like any kinda healthy love, more like possession and ownership. And for those who say that BD simply wrote a book of lies to make money and trash her mother, I say that if BD was capable of doing such an evil thing, she would have unhesitatingly made up some child abuse stories as well. That would be even more shocking and grab more attention for the book. But she didn't, she kept her integrity and gave her mother pretty much glowing reviews on her upbringing. No money-motivated person, bent on destroying someone's reputation with lies, would have resisted telling lies about her upbringing, especially after seeing how successful Christina Crawford's book became. Christina's book was a true story also. A hugely successful best seller and the reviews of Mommy Dearest is where the term TELL-ALL originated. But Bette did this to herself. Her refusal to listen to her daughter and stop trying to make her life a living hell truly backfired when the exasperated but clever BD came up with an idea to trump her mother's narcissism. Simply put, Bette got what she indirectly asked for. And the book didn't ruin her reputation. It actually made me feel sad for Bette that her narcissism caused her to feel so hurt and unloved by her daughter's independence. She was and is still my most favorite actress of all time. The book didn't make me feel any anger at Bette's behavior. I only felt exasperated by it. Now when I read Christina's book I despised Joan. And when I read the book by former Supremes singer Mary Wilson, I lost all respect for Diana Ross. But I lost NONE of my respect for Bette Davis after reading BD's book, cuz it just didn't paint Bette in a despicable sort of light. Not at all
I agree and that's why I gave the video a thumbs down. It's shameful for a daughter to turn on her mother no matter what the circumstance!
@@mrs.847 I mean, the circunstance does matter though, because when what happened in the relationship is abuse, then the child owes nor¿thing to that parent (like the Christina Crawford case). I havent read this book nore im very aware of the particular incidents in their relationship, but if it was just a complicated relationship and no abuse was taking place (no abuse of any kind, not only physical) then she probably shouldn´t publish it knowing that it will damage her mother for no reason (this assuming her mother really did nothing that could be considered abuse).
B. D. Hyman reminds me of Rosie O'Donnel in a blonde wig.......
Miss Piggy on an "off day"
Has she heard of hair conditioner
@chester rockwell The Real Housewives of Branson
So true 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Except Rosie is an incredibly successful human being. :)
4 years later Bette was dead… I have had a twisted relationship with my Mother as well, but I know that it would cripple her morale, her self esteem, and her self worth as a human and as a mother in any respect to say things like this on TV never mind an entire book.
I feel so bad for Bette.
Maybe she shouldn't have been such a bitch to her daughter.
***** Very well put. Cheers. :)
***** You didn't actually watch the interview, did you? Her daughter acknowledged she had a great childhood. It was when she was an adult and married that her mother treated her like a piece of shit.
Well then that makes her even more lame because as you said, she's an Adult. Move on and why blame your mother if you are now an adult?
In
"...There was no child abuse." - B.D. Hyman 🤔
I believe her. She sounded very sincere
@@niccolea2086 ...I believe that there was no child abuse.
These children sometimes are neglected because of the hectic schedules of the movie stars.
BD wrote in the book that she had a wonderful childhood. It wasn't until BD grew up and decided to do what grown-ups do (leave home, get married, kids etc) that Bette started making her life a living hell.
I grew up with an emotionally abusive mother. From my own therapy and reading they exist on a spectrum. Some are out-right pure monsters (Joan Crawford) and some are a decades wrong water-torture of constant easily dismissed put-downs (Bette Davis). If you ever think that the type of parent they describe doesn't exist... well they do.
Very true
What about the kids that are unadulterated monsters? Let’s tell the whole story, shall we?
@@georgegallucci1845 how do you think they got that way????
@@RockyMtnBaby From being spoiled rotten!!!
Bette was a tough & outspoken woman & her daughter takes after her. Read this book a long time ago & enjoyed it.
Bette Davis is one of those famous celebrities that could Never be recreated Ever
Recreated, seriously
She certainly changed her tune about here mother after this interview. She tells about how her Mother was a demon straight from hell. I'm surprised at how positive she is in this interview.
The mother didn’t leave her money?
@@gianluca3344 Bette never spoke to B.D again after she wrote the book, and neither did her brother. I doubt Bette would have left her anything anyway considering she was a spoiled, ungrateful brat that had delusions of grandeur and thought the world owed her something, but that book sealed her fate.
@@sanaminatozaki2140 did you not hear how Bette Davis drove her crazy. Bette was insane and impossible
Yeah and this woman calls herself a preacher, what a joke
When you are out of the abuse you see it crystal clear, it can take years to process.
When you live with the person that's when you really know them!
Mrs. Hyman seems very well read and understanding of her mother. I don't see her as attacking her mother but showing the extreme contradictions in her personality and behaviors. She appeared to be loved and Ms. Davis was not a horrid parent but perhaps fame and excess warps already troubled people.
making money off Bette Davis fame...
@@verabrown2281 Bette's refusal to listen to criticism regarding her behavior is what FORCED BD to write the book and "make money off of her fame". If her motive for writing the book was money, she could have just as easily "made money off of her fame" by publishing the book after Bette's departure. So what you're saying is not factual.
as bette said this book was the biggest heartbreak of her life. im glad she was disinherited. what a horrible thing to do to a mother who loved u and gave u everything
I think BD has taken one too many Bitter Pills!!😂😂😂😂
I don't understand why write this book and then say in this interview that his mother didn't abuse her, maybe her mother behaved strange and wasn't the best person but why not keep it as private information and specially if it huet her mother. Seems petty or just to make some money. I couldn't do something like this to my parents even if they made big mistakes or didn't always treat me well. I haven't read the book though, maybe she had reasons but just from this interview I don't get it. .
And some pizzas.
@@toreckman8899 😂😂😂
Betty gave her so much love as a child, i can see that Betty was an eccentric and dramatic and i am sure there could be some truth in what she is saying but some things you just keep to yourself, no one is perfect in life and i can see why Betty was hurt with her daughter.
LOL,
LOL
@A A calm down take a chill pill and don't act like a bitch over nothing
She couldn't keep it to herself. This was the only way BD could make her stubborn mother stop and see what kind of a person her insecurities had turned her into and how maniacally-possessive and jealous she had become with her.
My relationship with my mother was FAR from perfect, but I think there should be a level of respect when it comes to sharing this sort of information with the world. It is almost like she was making a mockery of her mother and it just seems so disrespectful. And then to add insult to injury, she was making money off of it as well. Bah.
YES YAWLS YO: I can completely comprehend and artfully apprehend and honestly understand: Why Betty Davis +Joan Crawford and other wise women, "don't have a very high opinion of most men".(His hideous hostile human hate history) And this sickness syndrome, ran and runs inside my own biological family females and my mother and grandmother and so said sisters. It seem as if and as though, their brothers who are men, can't tell them anything that they don't wantonly wish to hear. In fact, they have a low opinion about most men, inclusively, their use to be boyfriends and husbands and them as wives. This is a 'Generational Curse'; passed on down to descendants, who would have been actual ascendants!!
My mother taught me right from wrong.
She's always RIGHT and everybody else is always WRONG!
Wow, sounds like my mom, sure that they are not friends🤣
I have a collection of Bette Davis Movies. I adore them.
A total favorite.
The only Bette Davis movie I have is Return from witch mountain
I wish I had a collection Of Bette Davis's movies. I have to scan UA-cam.
I don't understand why a lot of people are speaking on behalf of Bette's "good character" and how "happy a childhood the ungrateful B.D. had," when they only know what tabloids and interviews revealed. You can't know what a person experienced behind closed doors, and I think it's very well possible that B.D.'s memories might be valid. With that being said, I do think it to be considerably harsh to publish such a revealing book and interview while your elderly mother is still alive to witness it all. I find that sort of bitterness and retaliatory behavior a bit revealing about B.D.'s character, too...
Had she published it after her mother's death, it would've seemed more like she wanted to heal and reach out to other abuse victims as a means to not feel alone. But, since her mother was still alive during it all, it just seems like she wanted to stick it to her in the worst way she knew how.
B.D. should hope her children don't treat her similarly in her old age.
Yes!!
I agree 💯
I used to date B.D. and Bette was so warm a person (to me) that I called her my 2nd mom. This was during the time she did Pocketful of Miracles and Baby Jane.
B.D. was the apple of Bette's eyes.
B.D. always came 1st.
I had continued my friendship with Bette long after my dating her daughter.
Many people here have the wrong impression of Bette, that's for sure.
Which is really sad..usually spoiled brats are ungrateful
Yeah sure you did.
Cedarsedge ...... No one outside a household knows what goes on behind closed doors, take my word on that, I know from experience, our neighbors and even family always thought my parents and grandmother were great people, no they weren't.
K- Droj
Well said.
luv2travel2000 ....... Thank you
Bette didn't speak to her again after this...wonder why
It seems surprising to me that this girl would write such a book knowing full well that she had her mother's love and devotion. That alone tells me that she had no real grounds to publish this type of media on her own mother. Sorry B,D. But I must support your mother on this!
The fact that Bette Davis disinherited her tells me that she maybe didn't love her daughter very much.
One doesn't do that to one's child just because of a book.
@Madeline Tramantano It doesn't make it true if you shout it many times. Don't be a trump honey :)
Her mother had a distorted view of love and devotion and tried to destroy BD's family-life because of it.
Her book went nowhere.
@@kasperjoonatan6014 absolutely they would!.
She had a happy childhood......what more did she WANT!!! You fool, B.D.
Loxi Bell and was she adopted?
No she was Bette Davis's only natural child.
She wanted a chauffer, lots of money, a maid, a fancy car, trips to Europe, hmm what else? Geeze. Oh, yeah. FAME.
She has a story to tell. Let her tell it.
Feels so disrespectful towards her mother if she had a happy childhood, why hurt your elderly mother and put out private family stuff in public.
Thank you B.D. for sharing with us who your mother is as a person. She made her very real to me. I admire Bette and her talent, who she was as a professional and now I admire her as a person and a mother.
It was a hit job. But sure, believe that nonsense.
@@thomasalbus2656 She's telling the truth
@@punkanellylovejoy702 And you know this how?
@@tl1110 You DON'T know this? Oh well. Not much I can tell you then.
@@punkanellylovejoy702 And liking your own comments doesn't validate your opinion.
The 80's may have the best music era. But I can't say the same thing when it comes to hair.
the 80's??? you can't possibly be serious - I guess you are a kid and didn't experience the Sixties and Seventies
“BD Hyman” sounds oddly obscene
What Bette Davis Daughter is describing is a Narcissist. The interviewer is trying to take sides and I am glad that BD Hyman stood her ground
Davis was still alive at this point (1985)
Which makes Barbara that much more believable.
BD has just never had that truth quality that made this book worth reading. Not that her e experiences were real, but that she did it because Crawford's daughter did it so she felt she wanted to write as well.
bd wanted to use bette name to make money without her iconic mother name noone be talking about her fucked up book her daughter ugly
Youre delusional
This is sickening. A gossip fest about Ms. Davis when she was in her mid 70’s, elderly & suffering physically. This is pathetic. A slap in the face to her hard working Mother.
Gossip? More like personal testimony.
Suffering from chain smoking
All the pig wanted was money
Didn't read the book but her daughter hasn't run down her mother at all except to say she didn't like men.
That's how YOU see it. But that's not the way it actually is. Bette was still playing the victim up until her last day. Then Bette published her own book complaining of how ugly it was for BD to write that book. "I can't believe that all this time she hated me". I wonder if Ms Davis ever stopped for a second and took responsibility for even one single incident that BD wrote about in that book. If she's as bad BD describes her, the answer is no she did not.
To paraphrase Billie Holiday when her ex McCay visited her almost on her death bed and prayed over her as Billie pretended to be unconscious - "If that M.F... has found Jesus, I'm rethinking my position."
Nice bit of preservation by you. Thanks for posting: fascinating, yet sad interview
She wrote this book while her mother was alive. Good for her.
The doctors said Bette had 3 weeks to live
@suealder4421 yet Bette lived, and Barbara continued her interviews.
Her speech cadence is so much like her moms, (minus the smoking)
All these other people's comments act like they knew Betty personally
agreed, too many people obsess about an actor as a fan, and think that everything wonderful they've projected onto that celebrity has to be real, they are unable to separate their fan relationship, with a daughter's relationship with her mother.
A LOT of celebrities are nice to their fans, but how they treat family, is entirely different.
Bette, not Betty.
we did lol
what a dump
And NOW who is projecting. People make observations just like you just did. Must be just okay with you doing it. 🤔
@@carolparsons-pearle8696 you make no sense
When I was a little girl, I remember when everyone got the book. My mother included. They said they could believe only a FEW things that were true, but the rest, no. Even B.D.'s own brother, Michael, showed his disgrace for her and said he would never forgive her. Many celebrities and friends felt she was just a spoiled ingrate.
GIRL. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?
Lol , funny
+Daniel Bowman I can't remember the oriental designer (Vera Wang?) who was popular for such 1980's bold silk prints, but we really thought we looked great in her clothes. Her designs were certainly not appropriate for fatties, such as Hyman, which made one look even fatter.
give her a break it was the 80s EVERYONE dressed badly
excuse me! I had a black leather Members Only jacket!
Perfect example! I knew in the 80s how dopey those jackets were. :)
I dressed in a timeless way in the 80s and ever since, thanks to my Mom, who told me to never spend $ on trendy junk but to wear classic, well-made clothes. I still have a lot of it, and no shoulder pads! :) I might have been the only girl in school whose bangs didn't' stick straight up in the air... never understood the whole "Mall Bangs" thing.
I remember reading "Mommie Dearest" and thinking that Christina Crawford had been brutalized. And I remember reading "My Mother's Keeper" and thinking that B.D. Hyman was a melodramatic spoiled brat whose mother perhaps gave in to her every whim. Even here she has such a dramatic flare. Joan Crawford made people eat at her house with white gloves? Joan made comments to B.D. not to go near her daughters with Bette standing right there? Lies and embellishments.
OK Everyone sing now, to the tune: "She's Got Bette Davis' Eyes"
!......anonymousmom
lol!
Your singing alone
She does
😂🤣😂😂
Lmao I use to love that song , I was about 7yrs old
I wonder if now as a woman in her late sixties she regrets writing the book in her mothers final years. I would feel guilt big time knowing I broke my mothers heart in her final years on earth.
Bette heart broken? 🤣 that’s hilarious.
Biggest crime...that outfit
Dixon Foggins / Its remnents of Daddys paratroopers' Outfit !!!
BETTCHA !!!
IKR
1980s at its best!!!
Looks like Lane Bryant's bargain basement.
The illegality of her outfit doesn't negate her story in any way whatsoever. But it does look odd. LoL
I don't think anyone is in the position to judge B.D. Hyman. I don't think being analytical about ones parents is dishonoring them, nor do I feel anything Mrs. Hyman has said tarnishes her mothers reputation in anyway. I believe it did hurt Bette Davis to share. A lot of people are like this. When a daughter or sibling gets married, you kind of lose them to their spouse and to someone like Bette Davis, this could have been extremely hard to accept.
Key word: Story. She said she wrote a story and stories are fictional. She wanted to hurt her mother and make money from being her daughter. An extremely unchristian thing to do.
And yes, that was 80's hair. I remember it well. Nothing unusual about the hairstyles on any of those three, but they do look funny now. Now to look for that book....
I think what I find fascinatingly odd is that sure, she knew her mother better than we do, but she's also saying she loved her mother and had a happy childhood - whatever, whoever's mistaken isn't the point for me... surely she would know how upsetting her mother would have found this book? I mean books take a long time to write, you have to arrange publishing and distribution, this wasn't a small accidental slip and it certainly wasn't a personal affair to help her mother understand her better. It was a big long deliberate chain of events that ended exactly as badly as anyone could have predicted.
B. D. met Jeremy Hyman (b 1933 London), the British nephew of Seven Arts Productions owner Eliot Hyman, on a blind date for the film's showing at the Cannes Film Festival, in 1963, and the couple wed when B. D. was age 16 and Jeremy was age 29. Her mother Bette Davis gave her consent and publicly supported their marriage. The couple remain wed after 50-plus years[1] and have two sons, Ashley and Justin.[2
Wow, she looks just like her mother. These so-called Hollywood starlets were a trip when it came to their mothering skills. But when you see how much the men made back in the day compared to the women. It was extremely hard for women actresses. They were used and abused. But, I believe her.
She needs to write a book about her hairdresser.....now that's abuse!
I don’t have the best relationship with my daughter, but I sure as hell wouldn’t write a book about it - lol
Her hair is a mullet that never ends
Summer of Kitty Love give her a break. It’s the 80s. Many people had those kinds of crazy hairstyles from perms to mullets
klassicalmuzik 6
The woman presenter in yellow has a hedgehog sat on her head.
This was 1985!
whats on your head? its all her own blonde wavy hair.
She might be has not Bette Davis voice, but i absolute can see her entuasiastic when she talking like her mom...!
B.D. and her mother never spoke again after this book. Was it really worth it?
B.D. admittedly had a decent childhood where she wasn't abused and felt loved by her mother. Does her mom owe her more than that? My mom moved out when I was 9, yet I would still NEVER publicly humiliate her with an interview like this, much less a tell all book, no matter how much money was on the table. I was raised that you keep family business to yourself and you stick up for eachother. This is just sad.
I’m just astounded that B.D Hyman, a self proclaimed Christian refuses to do the truly Christian act of forgiving her Mother. My parents at one time in my life were terribly abusive but being the Christian that I actually am I’ve forgiven them both and now couldn’t be closer to them. People make mistakes.. To err is human, to forgive divine. No matter what her Mom may or may have not done to her, she still gave her life.
Most self proclaimed “Christians” are that in name only. They rarely practice what they preach.
Forgiveness is one thing. We never forget nor should we or the cycle never breaks.
Watching these videos of celebrities kids tell him about their parents reminds me of this refrigerator magnet I once saw with Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance as Lucy Ricardo and Ethel mertz smiling at each other. It read, you will always be my friend... YOU KNOW TOO MUCH.
Just because Bette was a great actor but that doesn’t change whatever relationship B.D. Hyman had with her mother
I read the book and I think it is very well written.
It is a testimony of domestic violence, neglectful motherhood, and narcissistic parenting, themes that, almost 40 years ago, were considered taboo and not at all discussed.
In the name of Bette Davis' talent (which was real), and public image (which was abrasive), BD Hyman was unjustly insulted during all this time, and treated as an ungrateful daughter when she was a victim during all her childhood, and teenage years.
She was also accused of causing a stroke in her mother.
She was only trying to be heard, by a person who was not able to do it and to evolve.
She even risked being disinherited (which end up happening) to gain her freedom.
I admire her courage.
B.D. runs a cult now. Bitch is crazy and money hungry
Yo are crazy and I think you a bad son or a bad daughter yourself to approve of this evil and almost demonic bitch who should never ever been born at all
She’s not a victim-she’s just another Hollywood kid’s “victimhood” story because it’s popular to be.
She's a well spoken woman. I won't believe every single thing but I'm sure some of it's true. I'm sure being Bette Davis daughter wouldn't be too easy.
Betty Davis is beloved as an actress to me. God..bless you..I went through an abusive mother..thanks for sharing
It wasn't an abusive relationship. She didn't get any money.
And you live with baby Betty Davis all your lifeWho knows a person more than their child why would you judge someone this is crazy
B.D. made money from the books sales of her book.
She so looks like her mother. Even though most of us love Bette Davis
some of the things BD says must be true. Imagine Bette Davis being your MOTHER?
I'm sure it wasn't all sweet like candy but I'm sure she loved her daughter through out it all.
True, B D was Bette’s favorite, even after her book, but imagine the heartbreak to understand your very own daughter has no love or respect for her. Even if Bette was a horrible mother like B D accused, i feel devastated that Bette. Same for Crawford, but her youngest daughters love and respect her for everything she’s done.
Bette was beautiful, she sure ain't, deliberately putting her own mother in a bad light and demeaning her name, especially after saying what a wonderful childhood she had,, making money off her by slandering her, that's as low as you could go
I tend to take these, "my mom was possessed by the devil", books from celebrity's kids with a HUGE gra in of salt. I mean this woman's own brother said a lot of what she wrote was questionable at best, and that he believed that the only reason that she wrote it was because her mother was horribly sick at the time and she thought she'd be dead by the time it was published.
thats so messed up...smh.....man........
I know..smh. she seems better now....like she follows GOD now & all.......I am sure Bette has forgiven her by now in heart.......
so3ducme777 the irony is she became the demon she is after turning "born again" - it's not that since writing the book she became born again, but the book itself was the result of her supposedly "finding god"
No parent is perfect and (unfortunately) children don’t come with instructions. Betty Davis was a very strong personality that had to come through in raising her children.
Honour Father and mother that your Days maybe Long commandment.
Too bad she never got to really know her mother she was jealous of her♡that's my observation♡
I think she wrote the book because she needed money & people have always said that BD never really liked her mom. Sad
Loved both actresses!!!!!😊🇬🇧
Omg she looks just like her mother.
I just finished the book and found it be humorous, intimate, enlightening, and candid. As fans of Bette, we should only be concerned with appreciating and preserving her body of work, not criticizing her private life or her daughter, whom she loved. BD loved her mother and although some things could have been omitted from the book, I don't think anything that was written was inappropriate.
Sorry I'm late to the party! I'm just fascinated with hearing the perspective of the children of stars. I haven't read the book but just listening to B.D., she doesn't seem to hate her mother at all. I can understand why the book would hurt Bette Davis and raise eyebrows amongst fans but B.D. seems to make it very clear she loved and cared for her mother and was treated well, it's just there were some tough moments. This book could be a bit of a cash grab but also just a chance to stretch writing muscles and reflect on a very interesting upbringing. Again, I respect that B.D. doesn't want to bash her mother, just tell a story, and I appreciate as well that she is open to Christina Crawford telling the truth about her story too.
Horrible book ,she gutted her mother. Read the book as you hear she had it all. Sold her mother's heart for copy.
I read the book years ago and just ... yuck! I wasn't even a Bette Davis fan, so I had no preconceived notions going in. BD is just ungrateful, makes mountains out of molehills, and guess what? A lot of people had it way, way worse. No clue how she goes from saying her childhood was great to "What torture!". I just wish I knew how to get rid of the book w/o adding to a landfill. Maybe it needs a cremation, haha.
Donielle Stenson woman
Donielle Stenson
Mother had no heart, thats kinda the point. Nothing to sell but insight into a personality disorder - she has done a favor for many. LOL you can always tell a narc when they get angry at the telling of the truth Eureka!!!! Good for BD, I actually prefer Christina's story, Crawford was evil.
Oppressed Nolonger I agree. A lot of people invalidate BD's feelings and stories; same thing they did to Christina Crawford. I think that people who have never been abused have a really hard time believing abuse victims. They have a tendency to side with the abuser. The thing they don't realize is that most abusive people are covert and they only show the crazy and evil side of themselves to the people they're abusing. They portray themselves completely opposite in the outside world. The community they live in thinks they're wonderful. This is maddening when you're the victim.
I love all of Bette Davis movies but honestly, she did not seem all warm, and cozy kind of a person she I am sure was difficult to get along within real life... her daughter I believe was telling the truth!! Just like Joan Crawford's daughter as well.
With help from a mother comes possessiveness. That type of control over any assistance strangles the relationship.
She admits she was loved and well provided for. The bumps and bruises of upbringing were no greater than anyone else and she was not an abused or neglected child so why expose the personality and character flaws of a well known and respected personality is confusing.
The big difference between Christina Crawford and BD is that Christina tried to understand her mother’s actions, even including good times with the bad in her book. BD wrote hers to be cruel! Bette gave that woman everything, even a role in Baby Jane. She hated her mother cause she was a great talent and she wasn’t. Plus Bette probably told her the truth about her not being cut out to be an actress and it pissed her off
Well said!
BD had no choice. She wanted her mother to finally listen to how she behaved. The book forced her to listen. She knew she would hurt her gargantuan ego. True Bette had recent medical issues but this is a situation between a mother and a daughter and BD simply couldn't let her go to her grave without saying the truth.
Furthermore, BD gave Bette GLOWING reviews on her upbringing (in the book and in interview after interview). If she was a liar, she would have also said she had a traumatic childhood as well. Use it for more than just a hat-rack will you.
I do enjoy her humor. That's one way to deal with childhood
I love her attitude