NBC’s Ann Curry has gotten the first interview with Nadya Suleman, the woman who gave birth to octuplets last week.
We’re told the interview has just wrapped up in California. Insiders would not tell us where, exactly, or if the babies are included in the interview. An air date is not yet known. But the interview will appear on the Today show and on Dateline.
And for those wondering: “No money has exchanged hands,” says an NBC News spokesperson. At least not yet. Networks do often pay licensing fees for photos or other materials. And if this is going to be a story on Dateline, you can expect more than just an interview with the mother.
One burning question — what’s it like to suddenly be the mother of 14 (that’s right, she had six previous children).
> Update: Refuting reports Bravo is involved, an NBC spokesperson says: “There is no deal with Bravo.”
> More from WebNewser: TodayShow.com’s Record January
> Update, update: A preview of the interview airs tomorrow on Today. The full interview airs Monday morning and Tuesday night on Dateline. Click continued to see excerpts from the interview…
(photo by Paul Drinkwater of NBC News)
ANN CURRY:
How did an only child end up with 14 children?
NADYA SULEMAN:
That was always a dream of mine, to have a large family, a huge family, and– I just longed for certain connections and attachments with another person that I– I really lacked, I believe, growing up.
******
ANN CURRY:
Describe what you felt you lacked within.
NADYA SULEMAN:
Feeling of self and identity. I didn’t feel as though, when I was a child, I had much control of my environment. I felt powerless. And that gave me a sense of predictability. I– reflecting back on my childhood, I know it wasn’t functional. It was pretty– pretty dysfunctional, and whose isn’t?
******
ANN CURRY:
So, the first time when you tried to become pregnant, you actually had tried how many times before you were successful?
NADYA SULEMAN:
Oh, boy. Well, I went through about seven years of trying. And– through artificial insemination. And through medication. And all of which was unsuccessful. And then the first– IVF procedure from that– from that facility– it was successful. And then I just kept going in.