Jake Johnson's Message to Absent Fathers

Jake Johnson's father wasn't around much during his childhood due to substance abuse, and even after his dad got his act together Jake had a hard time letting him back into his life, but through persistence and humility a lot of brokenness can be mended.

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[refahel]

I feel like I just watched a movie about Jake Johnson's life. He's so open about everything and explains himself so well.

[cwildeman]

Man, Jake Johnson is easily one of the best guests I've ever seen on this show.

[apseudonym]

Not everyone *gets* the apology. Sometimes dads just leave and refuse to admit they've done anything wrong by abandoning you.

[djfunkgut]

This is some GREAT Interviewing. Showing the humanity of celebrities

[laniharmon]

What I noticed: He said he was mid-30’s before he cut his dad a break, before he felt like his dad had earned the title Dad. That’s about 18 years after his dad went into rehab, about a childhood’s worth of effort on his dad’s part, before Jake felt like having a father/son relationship with him.
So, however many years you miss, that’s at least the number of years you need to be consistent... As a rough estimate. Energetically, it was like they hit that threshold of: I’ve received what I’d missed, so now we can continue forward.

[crownhic]

My dad left before I was born. That alone taught me to be there for my kids. I knew before I had kids, that I would never abandon them.

[arielladavis]

My father attributed his reconnection with my sister and I to watching this interview, and I couldn't be more grateful. He was persistent, didn't give up and eventually regained our trust (after we didn't make it easy), and we eventually had the parent relationship I always craved. He passed away last year unexpectedly and as awful as the grief is, I got to know and love him so fully for 3 years and I wouldn't change it. If anything I wish he found this sooner. Thank you for this video.

[tanyam]

Jake's story made me cry. He is so open and honest about such a personal thing.
This could be a film. Very touching and inspiring story.

[marlenasien]

"You've earned it, you're my Dad!" one day I'll be saying this to someone.

[loulie]

My mother was an addict and I was very unforgiving toward her when she got clean. She took and took and took the punishments I gave her and I can tell you that what Jake is saying here is totally true. She stuck it out and now, while our relationship may not be perfect, it’s far from broken.

[TheShanba]

This put into words everything I wanted my dad to understand without ever knowing how.

[riamiosakilyrics]

It's so cool to see guys actually talk

[JimElford]

I'm a single dad and the situation is complicated, but I know that if I keep showing up and letting them feel just how much I love them, then when they're older theyll already know my flaws and my strengths, and there wont be any need for redemption, theyll accept me for being less than what they deserve, but more than willing to keep trying no matter what. It's the trying that really matters.

[TheBlack]

Big fan of the show and the format. Genuinely believe this is the best interview you've done. Above all else, Jake Johnson comes across as a great guy.

[laproserpina]

I’ll adore my parents forever for breaking the cycle of absent/abusive parents. No idea what I’d do without them.

[HonestKeyboard]

god damn it, I loved every second of this heartfelt conversation.

[Jbelovedson]

Hurt people, hurt people and this was the case. I’m glad they were able to get to the other side of that hurt.

[katiek.]

My dad isn't in my life (and I don't want him to be), but this was still super heart-warming for me. ❤️❤️

[AlohaLowah]

As a divorced kid, who had dad issues, this advice is spot on right.

[LY]

I think for me, my father dying hurt more than his living because I knew this was never going to happen. I thought I had washed my hands of him. I thought I couldn't hate him more. Until he died, I didn't realize I had always held out hope that he'd change, that one day he'd say he realized he was wrong, that he was sorry, that he did love me...and that hope died when he did. And then I realized, that you can only hate a person so much, if you loved them.