Birmingham News
Two weeks ago, Birmingham News columnist John Archibald wrote “a light-hearted column” about celebs who’ve filed for bankruptcy. A commenter pointed out that Archibald, too, had once declared bankruptcy. “I fired a denial, believing he had the wrong guy,” but “I checked the record moments later and, well, I was the one who was confused.” He did declare Chapter 13 in 2003. || More from Archibald after the jump.
Poynter.org managing editor Steve Myers asked Archibald about not knowing that he’d declared bankruptcy. Some quotes from their conversation:
“I feel like one of those widows who wakes up, their husband isn’t there and they know nothing about their finances.”
“I know it sounds farfetched. That’s why I’m in a pretty uncomfortable situation and that’s why I bared my soul to my readers because I want them to know everything about me. …There is no excuse for it, and as I said, I’m an idiot but I am not a liar. …It is perhaps farfetched that someone who looks at public records for a living does not look at their own.”
“My wife handled my finances and I trusted her. I don’t want to throw her under the bus… There’s no excuse for it. I’m not trying to duck responsibility. I’m completely responsible for not
being attentive enough.”
* Kyle Whitmire writes: “Readers now have sympathy for John and respect. Because there’s one weapon he’s got that his enemies don’t: Courage.”
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