“It’s more about the rape than the actual things taken”
After falling victim to the infamous “Bling Ring” robberies over a decade ago, Rachel Billson is closing the former members traumatic incident alexis and Gabrielle “Gabby” Neiers.
Bilson sat down with the sisters for a revealing episode on their podcast “Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilsonwhere the Neiers discussed their involvement in the operation.
“I had very mixed feelings about this in particular. And I have to let you guys know that I’ve always stayed very distant from anything to do with the Bling Ring and everything that happened,” the “Hart of Dixie” star previously admitted. starting the discussion. “I never read anything, I never saw anything and I never supported the film that Sofia Coppola made. I felt it was strange to draw so much attention to something that had such a huge impact on me personally and on other people involved.”
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“I’m so sorry I made the decision to go to your house that night,” Gabby prefaced her long-awaited apology. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know to give you the closure you deserve and I’m so sorry. I wish I could take it back, it’s been a living nightmare for you for the last 10 years, 11 years and more.” as a mother now all you want to do is protect your babies and i know i robbed you of feeling safe in your home and i’m so sorry. So sorry”.
Bilson was one of many celebrities who included paris hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Orlando Bloom and Audrina Patridge who stole the “Bling Ring”, made up of Rachel Lee, Nick Prugo, Alexis, Courtney Ames and Diana Tamayo. The notorious group stole approximately $3 million in cash and belongings between 2008 and 2009. At the time of the thefts, Alexis and Gabby were 18 and 15 years old, respectively.
With the release of Netflix’s explosive new documentary titled “The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist” reopening old wounds, Alexis, 31, explained that she and her sister had participated in the documentary as a way to give Bilson some closure. .
“Our intention when making the documentary was that in this way we could give this [closure] for you. We were so excited for the truth to finally…own everything,” she said through tears. “These are not tears from me, these are tears because I know how hard it is for her because I had to go through that, but they are separate victims and I came out on the other side of that.”
Although the sisters hoped that the film would clarify the situation, it did not meet their expectations, saying that the robberies were covered in a “toxic and unhealthy way”.
“I got sober at 19, went to ICU, served my time, made my full amends, and have been in AA for the last 11 1/2 years,” Alexis said. She also claimed that Gabrielle confession – that she was also a part of Bilson’s house robbery – was cut from the final product, prompting the duo to talk more about the matter. “Our intention to make the documentary was for you and the other victims and it’s very frustrating and unfortunate that that’s not what ended up coming out of the documentary.”
Although Rachel describes the robbery as traumatic, she confessed that she empathizes with the Neiers girls because of her position as a mother. She acknowledged that collectively they had become different people in a “different chapter in life”.
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The “The OC” alum also confessed that there were a lot of “outside opinions and voices” that discouraged her from listening to the duo.
“Even my mom was like ‘What?!’ you know because they stole the ring [but] she [came] because she’s a very spiritual and enlightened woman and she said, ‘No, forgiveness is the most important thing,'” she said. “There are feelings… and… there may be noise, but it’s really… your choice. It’s your actions and that’s all that matters.”
Bilson also confessed that he had put aside any animosity towards the girls and the rest of the “Bling Ring” long ago, and encouraged the girls to let go of any feelings of guilt they harbored.
As mothers, Bilson said, “It’s very important to you and as a mother that you let go completely because now you’re not that child, you have your child and it’s very important because it’s not going to do you any good, and it’s not going to do you any good.” feel good”.
“It will always be a trigger for me when the Bling Ring or other damn thing comes along and glorifies itself in some way, because people were really affected personally by these incidents and it’s more about the rape than the actual things taken,” admitted.
Bilson continued, “It’s important to move forward in life and forgiveness, to a degree, is always the best way and the best move because why hold on to those things that make you feel really sh*t?”