The thing I've come to learn about Michelle is that when asked, she'll answer. When given the opportunity to give her personal truth, she will doso in the most upfront and real way possible with no fluff and no bullsh-t. Problem is with the media and some of the public, people don't ask...they just assume and then judge without that individual's truth to base their opinions on. Want to know why she wore that Orwellian-tagged police monitoring anklet to the Marc Jacobs show last week? Want to know what really happened the night she was arrested for a DUI last year? Here it is, straight from Michelle herself.

Friday Feb. 16, 2007

"Sheesh, I don't even know where to start, How about a year and a half ago, six months into the shoot of a show I was working on in Hawaii.

I was on the phone with my agents back and forth for about a week straight on the subject of getting off the show due to the fact that I had to be injected with steroids every two weeks so I wouldn't look like a hive infested chipmunk every morning. I'm highly allergic to cockroach resin, dust mites, and mold, three elements that are prevalent in Oahu. Six months of this grueling process of steroid injections was beginning to affect me. I was under an agreement for a season and a half so my characters story could evolve and end, so I decided not to rock any boats and ride it out. Besides Hawaii is my second home allergies and all, I love it there.

I was at the mall when I checked my messages and found that I was invited to watch Eve's episode at her home. I had been working on the show for about 6 to 7 months and hadn't really had many moments to get to know some of the cast because some of us barely worked together, so I thought this would be a good opportunity. Being that I was going to spend christmas and new years off the island i thought 'why not buy a nice bottle of champagne and chocolates'. So I did and I left the mall and made my way to Eve's house...

I get there we watch the episode, eat some food, drink some champagne, talk about our holiday plans, and I decide to go because I've got an hour drive home to the north shore where I lived. Eve tells me I've had a drink and should probably stay over if it's getting late. I thought to myself: well what if I have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and I pee too loud, or what if I snore, sleep walk, or talk in my sleep." I didn't feel like I knew her well enough to embarrass myself in her home, let alone sleep over. My first inclination was Hotel. Then my friend and fellow cast member whom I had been working with every day says: " stay over my house I'm five minutes from here." I thought to myself, I feel comfortable around her, she wouldn't be surprised by anything I do... So I decided, five minutes away, at 15 miles an hour, never killed a pot head... So my dumb ass followed her home. I guess a drink or two can make you reason like a teenager or an insecure dork.

We get stopped driving like 15 miles an hour down a 35 to 40 mph road. I cry, this sucks ass, I get over it take pictures with some cops at precinct on their camera phone, take a breathalyzer and go home a couple of hours later. I hire some lawyer from hawaii, lose my 28 acres of land and my home in jersey paying him off, just so I can get the same treatment I would have gotten from a public defender. I realized my payday in movies was way better than T.V. at that moment....

So, long story short I finish my work over there in hawaii, do my time, then I come to L.A. spend christmas and new years in rehab, " cause it's the Right thing to do." I get get bitch slapped by uncle sam again in hollywood. I do my time in L.A., i get out in a couple of hours because they only have room for real criminals like killers, drug dealers, and rapists. I pay fines, do my community service, and I get a sentence to wear a bracelet for three months. The bracelet is to detect liquor content in your sweat every half hour it takes a reading using some split fuel cell type technology. I go to get this thing put on and I realize this thing is like a freaking VCR, and why do they care If I drink, what am I gonna do, drink and walk over someone, I have no license. Anyway I put this contraption on and the second day the guy calls me and says you've got an alcohol reading. I was like, I haven't had any liquor. He's like, well you can't use listerine, no shampoo, or soap, or lotion, or perfume, with alcohol in it. I tried to get them to put me in jail but they had their mind set on this bracelet. So I go away to new york a couple of months ago and I get another reading, I'm like are you kidding me Im f-cking Fasting... I was on the cayenne peeper lemon water cleanse for four days straight, all I had in my system was lemon, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water... After about three readings from this thing I started to feel a bit like a pawn, I didn't like the Idea that I could do possible jail time for using the wrong shampoo, fasting out toxins, or having vanilla in my tea. I felt like a guinea pig for a new technology. I think that level of vigilance is great for alcoholics, druggies, and heroin addicts. Yet I felt for someone like me, who loves her life too much to f*ck it up for a sip of a beverage, this level of control just isn't necessary. Thank God I got to take it off for a month or so to go work on "Battle in Seattle". It felt so good to be out of the country. Yet soon I was back in L.A. and Back to the bull Sh*t, a year and a half after hawaii, I'm still hearing about this looming shed skin of the past. Pretty primal mentality to live in what happened as if it still is.

I came up with the Idea of embracing the inevitable, with the hint of obvious irony. I decided on my trip to New York's fashion week to make a statement that I felt was necessary to express my truth. Hence the orwell 1984 reference in white out on the "Vigil Net Government Dog Tag'. What show better than Marc Jacobs. I feel good knowing that some people out there know what's really going on and maybe then at least have an idea where my insanity stems from. Life's a bitch and then I laugh. I just don't like being toyed with. I'm a full on believer that we create our own chaos, yet those that are strong will always get the shorter end of the stick, thats when i step back, weigh things, evaluate them, and stand stronger than I was before the storm. One things for sure I'll take FBI approved truth serum over a VCR Dog Tag any day of the week. I've got nothing to hide."

Wow, I'm at a whole new level of respect for her......

After reading that i'm just lost for words...... :blink:

------------------------------

Who is Eve?

Evangeline?

wow...it's sooo good to get the truth straight from her, then bullcrap from other people or media for that matter. I hold a lot of respect for her, this is why I admire her.

I'm so glad she wrote that. It takes guts to make your stuff public, I'm proud of her. I wish she'd have told this story way back when she got arrested and maybe people would have been more sympathetic to her although most people I think just placed their hate for Ana Lucia onto Michelle.

Still I'm very glad she wrote this and thanks Leigh for bringing it to us, you're the best.

Hell, i would rather go to jail to then wear some dumbass bracelet that detects alcohol when you aren't even drinking it. Poor Michelle :(

I admire her for surviving through all this Bullsh*t.

she shouldnt have to explain herself, her business is her business. but she had to because of the munted up public and their need for gossiping about stuff they dont know anything about.

Go Michelle! don't let them a-holes bring you down!

The bracelet was genius.. her wearing it to the show, not the thing itself.

Oh wow there's a lot more to the story than what was initially said :mellow: Thanks for sharing :)

If you remember, the initial news "story" had claimed that she was pulled over as she sped dangerously down the busy residential streets weaving all over the place as she was on her way home all the way across the island....well the truth was she was just doing a last ditch effort to be as least dangered and risky as possible....5 minute trip at a below the speed limit pace....but, she got caught. Sucks ass. Man you know, how many of us let our insecurities dictate and lead us to make silly decisions? I could tell you a story about me letting what people might think dictate a decision I made that haunts me to this day but I won't get into that...my point is....in our sober state, we let insecurities dominate our decisions....and we make choices we think are the most intelligent, that in retrospect weren't. Well you can't go back in time. So imagine drinking a little and trying to figure that out...have 3 choices....2 are unrealistic or awkward and the third got her screwed. Crap happens. She lost a lot....money, reputation, etc. and it's like people need to just move on and let her move on.

I'm just relieved that now people know WHY about the anklet. It was important that they do. People were in mass believing that she was mocking her arrest and they thought it was disrespectful, and I knew that was not the case....and so this is just great....her presenting her own personal truth to the world, and also let people in on what led to the DUI....or, at least those willing to listen.

Some will still judge and hate, but at least now she's put it all out there and anyway....YOU GUYS, the fans, are who ultimately matters. So even if you are the only ones who accept this truth and who react positively, then to me....it's still worth it. And I know that she agrees.

Much love guys. :)

L.

P.S. My favorite part was, "Pretty primal mentality to live in what happened as if it still is." I can't even tell you how many times I've said almost exactly that to people about this whole situation. Nice to hear her say it.

Probably ain't far from the truth. Who knows what gizmo-gadgets these security type folks are secretly wasting our tax dollars on...

Now see, it's nice to hear these things from the horses mouth. Wow! What a trip! The bracelet sounds like an utter headache.

More power to her, man. Thanks for bringing this, Leigh!

It's really sad that people like Michelle who have good intentions and have the means to spread those good intentions get squashed and drowned in the absurdity and negativity of our society. I like that she admits that we are apart of our own chaos, because she is acknowledging the mistakes she has made and how she has contributed to what has happened to her.You can't deny that someone who chooses to do jail time and does rehab because "it was the right thing to do" is someone who is willing to atone for those mistakes. She is not running from it or trying to excuse herself by any means. Quite the contrary, but the legal system seems to want to make it near impossible for her to do so. What they are doing to her just breeds more anger and resentment and a sense of rebellion. They have to know that. And I have a hard time believing that it is not deliberate on their part. I really hope that Michelle doesn't give up shedding light on the alcohol monitor, which seems to me to be so faulty that it is a borderline violation of basic human rights. She needs to keep at it, refine her message a bit and keep speaking the truth.

I am going crazy at the a season and a half thing with Ana Lucia. Damn, what could have been. I can't even take it. :blink:

I've always been proud to be a fan of Michelle's. And this just makes me even more proud. This girl has been through more sh-t and handled it with more class than anyone in Hollywood could ever do. I'm so proud of her for just being herself and doing what she thinks is right, even if it means she might be sh-t on alot of the time from people who don't quite get her.

I feel so bad for everything she's had to go through, but she's tough and it will only make her stronger. I'm sure she's learned alot from this whole bullshit, about herself, about life etc. It makes me happy that she felt like she could talk to us about it. It totally wasn't necessary for her to do, but totally appreciated by all of us I'm sure.

Thanks Michelle, and thanks Leigh for posting. :)

I adore Michelle Rodriguez! Her honesty and openness is so endearing. I like her more and respect her more and I didn't think that was possible. She made me laugh when she described the ankle thing as a vcr!! sh-t, that thing is rediculous! Seriously, who gives a crap if she drinks if she's not driving??

Aimz, I agree with you! It's disturbing really. (not the part about me agreeing with you)

:( I've come to the conclusion that I will never get over what they did to Ana. Such a great character, perfectly portrayed by Michelle. So much potential all thrown away. At least I don't watch that bullshit show anymore. That's my revenge on those arsholes!

Oh come on now hinemoa. Don't hold back. :D

L.

:lol:...

I dunno what I can say about after reading... :o but I'm really to glad she wrote that.

I never believe on every gossips I read before. Gossips just misrepresent the true of any stories which they can tell.

I just wanna say I adore you Michelle and have a total respect for your honesty.

agree with you.

Michelles got a load of good energy why can't they just lay of and see we have one of the most beauitful and wises women in the acting industry people need to listen to Michelle before they jugde her.

Michelle :hug: Me

And, Michelle should get on her :soapbox: WAY more often. That whole thing was just awesome and amazing!!

Having read this, my level of respect and admiration for Michelle has soared. Yet again another example of where she has taken the bad and learnt from it. Shame the ankle monitor hasn't allowed her to move on completely.

Seriously, when I saw that on her ankle, I was like :brow: It really is HUGE. Like technology today is getting smaller and smaller, surely they could have made something a little more discreet. And something that would be able to differentiate between small amounts of alcohol in cosmetics and actual alcoholic beverages.

Love the bit about her drinking and walking over someone though. :P

Just wondering whether any bloggers will make any reference to this, or will they continue to carry on down the old 'crazy, alcoholic Michelle' route. Even when presented with the truth, people will manipulate it for their own sadistic pleasure.

At least, as you said Leigh, the people who matter know the truth now. Thanks for putting this up. :)

I thought the same thing. It's meant to humiliate. Kind of like a Scarlett A. It's Medeivel. There is no way that thing has to be THAT HUGE. And bottom line is that it flat out doesn't work anyway. It should be easy enough for technology to tell the difference between the alcohol in cosmetics and the kind you consume. That is basic Chem 101.

yea, so i just read the whole thing and....wow.
i dont really know what i can say other than that.
yea, wow. that was really some stuff and i totally respect her on another new level. what she had to say was just amazing and i totally think shes amazing for everything she did. especially wearing the bracelet to make a statment. i mean, come on, that was awesome.
Right on michelle!!! :D :D :D :D :D

I had the exact same Scarlett Letter thought. You're in my head again Aimzy. There's only room for four....er, I mean one. *whistles* :D

L.

What? When did she own 28 acres of land here in NJ? Does anyone know where in NJ? And yeah, what would they arrest her for...WUI? (walking under the influence).

:lol: I love this chick.

And Michelle, if you read this, I want you to remember something that has meant a lot to me, it's a quote from Winston Churchill. Back in the beginning of World War II, when the allies were getting their asses handed to them by the Germans and the Japanese, when everything looked Lost (heh, ok, doomed), he said this...

"If you're going through Hell, keep going."

All the crap you've had to endure hasn't beaten you yet, don't let it. I believe in you, and so does everyone here. One of these days you'll land that awesome movie role and start winning awards, then every a-hole who slanders you will be begging for an interview, and you can tell them to kiss your incredibly cute ass.

Take care of yourself Michelle, we got your back.

I completely got the 1984 refrenece I don't see why there was such a big fuss about it. she made a statement. a clever one at that......

i'm impressed at the link semade between this and orwell. very impressed.

the government which everything you guys in the land of the 'free' do, bugging payphones, causing so some controversy because they can't do their illegal secret actions properly, and she's getting a taste of it.

'big brother is always watching you' -orwell.

and she can't use soap? this is pointless. i feel for her.

sorry for the trouble, i want write early, but i need more time for a better answer.
dont see it so bul*shi* , it only a light problem, that we known all.
but thanks for your story, it is very nice to read, awww nobody should versus you Michelle , you are the best!!!

i edit this here later , thanks that we can write you ! Kisses CYA!!

Speaking of guinea pigs,
Check this out, ( i don't know if you have seen this page b4 ) : Mondex BioChips
i felt soo ungry after having read this.. :cuss:

Ok, so they want to make an example out of her, fine. But jeez, come on. That thing is beyond ridiculous. You can get electronic tagging (which are used on people with worse convictions that Michelle) and they are the size of a watch. I had to look up the Scarlet A reference you made (not really up on my American Lit), but I see exactly what you mean.

Just a question Leigh, do you know when she is free of that thing?

I don't think she has much longer with it....I'm pretty sure just a couple weeks left.

L.

Cool. I had no idea those things were so unreliable. It's one thing if they work properly, it's another entirely if she's constantly unsure what on earth's happening with it and it's affecting her life like this.

It's a pity the real story never really got out in the media.

Everyone has already said all I can say...she just so....Michelle! God, my respect and admoration for her has gone off the charts and is still soaring. Man I love this chick! :wub:

:hug: <---To Michelle!

you mean Michelle is us admiralty this is what you mean Michelle ROX: ) too.! ROX TOO :) :wub: :) :lol: :party: :popcorn: :punch: :yeah: ---> Michelle :hug: and the others too^^

now i deleted over 10 smilies ;:( 13 16 hmm circa 20 smiley not allowed, was too much :D

but sometimes i like smiley picture stories ! -.- ( : o (|) ) <-- Homer


yes the picture is fine. orange is sympathism!

^chris we gotta find you a better translator man. I'm mostly German but I don't know a lick of it, well....I can translate the numbers 1-10....so you ever need some kindergarden-level translation, I'm your girl. :D

L.

Good Lord that is frightening!!!!! Especially the quote from Revelations. WOW. :rocks in fetal position:

Sie is Deutsche-Amerikaner?

Me too! And that is about the extent of my German. Oh that and...

EINZ, ZWIE, DREI...FIER, BEER! or something like that. Wow Leigh, I never would have guessed you to be a kraut!

Can you imagine? You know, crime evolves with technology. Identity theft anyone? Think about it. They put chips in peoples' hands, and then criminals will start cut peoples' hands off so they can obtain the chip and steal identities.

Whoa....just had an idea for a movie.

L.

P.S. Was I just called a kraut? :brow: LOL. I'm a mut actually. German, Irish, Scotch, Dutch, English, and Cherokee Indian. I have a wee bit of French too but....eh. Anyway, we've all sorta thread hijacked. Back on topic. :D

The next thing they'll tell us to get is a barcode on our foreheads...

and get us even more brainwashed too...

i like that. but sometimes i think: "what if it wasnt inevitable?" but yeah it's a nice thought to be able to embrace what comes.

awesome michelle...thanks for sharing and much love and respect to you!

ll

read 'the barcode tattoo' by Suzanne Weyn.

similar...

i dont like it. not one bit.

i love michelle so opens up to everything and will always tell the truth shes one of the most amazing people and very wise women.