Rebecca Gayheart Reveals Adults Are Messaging Her Children About Eric Dane’s Health Issues
Rebecca Gayheart shares the difficulty of managing her teenage daughters’ social media interactions following the ALS diagnosis of her estranged husband, Eric Dane.
“Adults are reaching out,” Gayheart, 54, mentioned during a Monday, November 17, appearance on the “Broad Ideas” podcast. “They’re sending them messages or trying to follow their private accounts. I’m not sure what their intentions are, but I just have to put a stop to it.”
Gayheart has two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, with Dane, whom she married in 2004. Their marriage has seen its fair share of ups and downs, including Gayheart filing for divorce in February 2018. Earlier this year, however, she moved to dismiss that petition, which was never finalized.
“Adults should never reach out to children; that’s just a fact,” Gayheart added. “It often comes wrapped in a guise of care, such as ‘I’m just checking in because I love your dad and want to ensure they’re okay.’ I think, ‘That’s an adult? No, thank you.’ It’s a stranger, it’s an adult; they shouldn’t be communicating.”
Dane received his ALS diagnosis in April of this year. “I’m thankful to have my loving family with me as we embark on this new chapter,” he expressed in a statement.
In addition to managing Dane’s health challenges and their impact on their daughters, Gayheart admitted that overseeing their online presence has been “extremely tricky” as well.
“I think they are trying to process their feelings, which are quite complex due to everything being public. This makes it even more confusing for them,” she elaborated. “Especially when there’s a disconnect between what they see and what’s actually reality. It’s really complicated.”
Gayheart is committed to supporting Dane and their daughters, no matter how difficult the situation may be.
“He is part of our family. He is your father,” Gayheart tells Billie and Georgia. “We show up for him, and we try to approach this with dignity and grace.”
The actress also shared insights into her and Dane’s current situation.
“We’ve been separated for eight years. The kids live with me full-time. There has been a lot of different challenges,” she revealed. “However, I strive to remain optimistic about it all. I’m trying to learn from this and to be a role model for how to navigate difficult times, which is not easy.”
Gayheart concluded, “I question if I’m doing this right or wrong. All I know is I’m here for them. I’m present, and I aim to support them. Only time will tell what the outcome is.”
She described her daughters as “good girls” who are “dealing with a lot” during this time.
“One lesson I hope to instill in my kids is that while it’s important to support others, you must also take care of yourself,” Gayheart noted. “This is life. Unfortunately, life consists of both good and bad moments strung together.”
