Sandra Bullock once fought for her stepdaughter, Sunny’s, custody after her then-husband cheated on her. Although she lost the legal battle, Bullock maintained her relationship with the girl.
American actress Sandra Bullock has always been open about her reluctance to tie the knot. Admittedly, she had been skeptical about legal commitment as she wanted to do things right and walk down the aisle once.
In 2004, things seemed to change as the actress was photographed with the tattooed motorcycle shop owner during their Hawaiian vacation.
Sandra Bullock and Jesse James on June 27, 2004, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
At that time, Bullock told the press that a person’s physical appearance was in no way a representation of who they were internally. She had found the man for her, and at 40, Bullock finally committed a lifetime with her then-partner, Jesse James
On July 16, 2005, Bullock and James had a surprise wedding on a California ranch. The “Miss Congeniality” star instantly became a stepmom to her husband’s three children, Chandler, Jesse Jr., and Sunny, from a previous relationship. She confidently professed her love for the kids as if they were hers.
Unfortunately, their marriage was no fairytale romance and ended with divorce following Jesse’s infidelity. Their divorce was messy, public, and challenging, but what made it more difficult was Bullock’s close relationship with her stepchildren.
Jesse James and Sandra Bullock at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 17, 2010, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Sandra Became an “Instant Mom” to Jesse’s Three Kids
Bullock embraced her role as an “instant mom” when she began a relationship with James. She was photographed several times, showing her motherly instinct and protective side with her stepkids, mainly Sunny.
In 2008, she arrived at LAX with Sunny by her side. The press caught a glimpse of their sweet moment, where Bullock walked while closely holding Sunny to her side. While looking at the camera, the little girl leaned towards her stepmom and held Bullock’s hand tightly.
Bullock was again photographed with her then-husband and Sunny at LAX the following year. Around that time, the actress had to cancel her attendance at “The Blind Side’s” London premiere for unforeseen circumstances.
Jesse James, Janine Lindemulder and kids at X Games | Source: Getty Images
Lindemulder was placed behind bars for tax evasion and was, according to Bullock and James, unfit to be a parent to Sunny. However, since Lindemulder’s prison release, she has fought for parental rights.
Bullock raised Sunny from when she was only a toddler learning how to walk. She stood as Sunny’s mother and taught the little girl many things that her biological mother couldn’t.
Sandra Bullock and Jesse James on November 11, 2008, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Sandra’s Fight with Stepdaughter’s Mom
At the beginning of her marriage, Bullock helped her husband fight for custody of the three children against his incarcerated ex, former adult film star Janine Lindemulder. The Hollywood veteran helped raise the kids and nurtured them with love and guidance. According to CNN, Bullock said:
“The universe put this in our lap. I seemed to have stepped in right when I needed to be there. I now know that anything sweet, really sweet, that I have was nothing that I planned.”
Sandra Bullock and Jesse James during “The Lake House” premiere at the Cinerama Dome on June 13, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Lindemulder was placed behind bars for tax evasion and was, according to Bullock and James, unfit to be a parent to Sunny. However, since Lindemulder’s prison release, she has fought for parental rights. She told the judge, “My daughter and I are both very eager to get back to a normal, healthy, loving life.”
While the court granted Lindemulder visitation rights once a week, they barred Sunny from seeing her mother’s new husband, felon Jeremy Aikman. James later claimed that Lindemulder violated the court order. In addition, Bullock alleged that Lindemulder neglected Sunny while they were together.
Janine Lindemulder in 1999 at the KROQ Weenie Roast. | Source: Getty Images
“While in Janine’s care, sometimes Sunny is left alone during the day while her mother is asleep from drug use,” Bullock wrote. “I myself have stopped working like I used to in order to be here with Jesse and the kids because we are on constant high alert.”
Bullock pooled all her resources, contacting the best celebrity family lawyers to help in her joint custody request. She fought for her right to continue seeing Sunny, with whom she shares a beautiful relationship.
Sandra Bullock on June 15, 2006, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Sandra Bullock Demanded Custody of Sunny after Spouse Cheated On Her
Soon after, Bullock found herself on the other end of the table, fighting for custody rights against James. Their once-happy family became chaotic when he cheated on her with lap dancer Michelle Bombshell McGee.
Although their memories as a family are but a remnant of the past, the Oscar Award-winning star fought for custody of Sunny. Bullock, who has no biological children, feared losing Sunny after leaving her cheating ex-husband.
Bullock pooled all her resources, contacting the best celebrity family lawyers to help in her joint custody request. She fought for her right to continue seeing Sunny, with whom she shares a beautiful relationship. “Sunny means the world to her. She loves that girl to death,” Bullock’s friend revealed.
Sandra Bullock and Jesse James during “The Lake House” premiere at the Cinerama Dome on June 13, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
A source claimed Bullock knew she had no legal power to get joint custody or anything similar, but her love for Sunny was too much to look the other way. She wanted to fight for the child, knowing the most she would be granted was James’ approval for joint custody. A leading legal source commented at that time:
“Infidelity has no bearing on custody. The most she can aim for right now is split custody, and a lot of that would have to be agreed by him.”
Did Sandra Eventually Get Custody of Her Stepdaughter?
Unfortunately, James was awarded sole custody of Sunny in 2011. However, that did not stop Bullock from carrying on her relationship with Sunny.
She is still very much a part of Sunny’s life and even helped the young girl prepare for having a new mother figure in her life – James’ third wife.
Sandra Bullock and Jesse James at the Kodak Theatre on March 7, 2010, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Bullock later adopted two kids, Louis Bardo Bullock and Laila Bullock. Louis was adopted when he was over three months old, while Laila came five years later through foster care. Bullock became a hands-on mother and wanted her kids to feel the presence of a mom growing up.
Bullock does regular mom things, including making lunches, changing diapers, and washing clothes, among others. She even paused her career to focus on motherhood and led a private life with her kids.
After years, Bullock returned to the dating scene and began a relationship with Bryan Randall, who has been nothing but a sweet father figure to her kids. Still, after a traumatic divorce, the actress is reluctant to tie the knot a second time.
