The Soup Cans Interview: Jane Velez-Mitchell

Long-time news journo Jane Velez-Mitchell, who hosts "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" on HLN, recently chatted with Soup Cans about her career and her recently published book, “IWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life.” Keep reading to find out what she had to say about those topics as well as what it's like to be an openly gay television news journalist and more.

What message do you want people who read your new book to come away with?

I want people to realize that every consumer choice they make throughout the course of their day is not just a personal choice. It is a political, environmental and – more than anything else – a moral choice.
So, if you don’t believe in cruelty to animals then don’t subsidize factory farming by buying meat from factory farms. If you don’t want our oceans to fill up with plastic, don’t use plastic bottles or plastic bags, it’s that simple. I would also like to encourage people to opt for honesty. It’s almost always an option even when you don’t think it is.

You write that you’re still searching for your ultimate bliss. Do you know many people who have found their ultimate bliss early in life?

I can’t speak for anyone else but me. My bliss comes in the form of a daily reprieve from the horrors of alcoholism and the opportunity to do something for the voiceless on a regular basis. Also, occasional karaoke! As for stuff and status, I tried that and it didn’t work!

In what way do you think addiction caused you the most pain in life?

When you’re an addict you’re not really there. The dichotomy of addiction is: the happier an alcoholic acts, the more she is desperately trying to escape painful feelings! But, the pain just festers. So, now I get to sit through the old feelings in sobriety and process them the way I should have originally.

Has your mother read your book? If so, what's been her reaction to your candidness?

My 93 year old mother is the last generation of vaudeville performers. Her reaction to my book and my coming out was: “Darling, when I was with Xavier Cugat, we were all like that!”

Does Jane think being an uncloseted new journo has been a bad thing for her? Find out after the jump...


Did you once (or do you now) believe that being an out gay television host might negatively effect your career? If so, how?

My coming out as gay has not only NOT negatively impacted my career, it’s actually been a plus! People love it when you reveal yourself for who you really are. The fact is most people are pretty much obsessed with themselves so they don’t really care who you fall in love with. All the fear I had about coming out was self-generated. The sky didn’t fall down. The sun came up the next morning. Eureka!

How do you feel about being included in this year's Out Magazine's "Out 100?"

I’m thrilled to be included. I just wish I had come out a long time ago because then my picture would have been of someone so much younger and hotter! But, hey, there’s always airbrushing!