Bruce Jenner’s elder children have reportedly refused to participate in Jenner’s new reality television show documenting his new life as “Caitlyn.”
I Am Cait premiers in July on the E! network, but you won’t see elder Jenner children Burt, Cassandra, Brandon, and Brody on the program. According to the article accompanying the infamous Vanity Fair magazine cover in this month’s issue, Jenner’s four children from two previous marriages disapproved of the new reality show.
“Despite the renewed relationship with their father, the Jenner children have refused to participate in Caitlyn’s docu-series for the E! network, set to debut this summer, forgoing financial gain in favor of preserving their father’s legacy,” VF contributing editor Buzz Bissinger writes.
Both Jenner and E! reportedly tried to persuade the kids to join the show but to no avail. Jenner told VF he was “terribly disappointed and terribly hurt” by his children’s decision, but he ultimately accepted it. He also defended the show from criticism that it is a ratings ploy meant to capitalize on his transition.
“Oh, she’s doing a stupid reality show. She’s doing it for the money. She’s doing this, she’s doing that,” Jenner told the magazine of the criticism he’s received.
“I’m not doing it for money. I’m doing it to help my soul and help other people. If I can make a dollar, I certainly am not stupid. [I have] house payments and all that kind of stuff. I will never make an excuse for something like that. Yeah, this is a business. You don’t go out an change your gender for a television show. O.K., it ain’t happening, I don’t care who you are.”
Jenner also told Bissinger he did not make the transition to “be interesting,” but rather “to live.”
“I’m not doing this so I can hit it off the women’s tee,” Jenner said, although he is reportedly planning a segment on his new show where he will see if his breasts get in the way of driving a golf ball.
While the elder Jenner children will remain uninvolved for now, Cassandra told VF that she bonded with “Caitlyn” at a recent “girls night” at home.
“I was worried I wouldn’t say the right things or act the right way or seem relaxed,” Cassandra said. “We talked more than we ever have. We could just be girls together.”
I Am Cait premieres July 26 on E!