Anna Nicole Smith's ex, Larry Birkhead, has opened up about his relationship with the late star, claiming at times, it felt like they were "in some kind of cult."
The 53-year-old, who dated Anna Nicole on and off, and largely in secret, for roughly two years, appeared on Bunnie Xo's podcast Dumb Blonde and shared a rare insight into their relationship.
"She did not want to share the spotlight she was getting and the attention she was getting with anybody else because that was where she felt loved," the former celebrity photographer said.
"You're taking that love away when you're taking a piece of whatever [her fame] away. That's why I think she was the way that she was," he added.
When Bunnie, real name Alisa DeFord, recalled a time in Las Vegas when Anna Nicole's former lawyer, Howard K. Stern, whose energy she described as "so dark and so evil," allegedly put his arm between them to stop an interaction, Larry said it was moments like that, that made him feel their relationship was more like a "cult."
“I've seen him do that to different people at different events," he claimed. "When I first came to the house… it kind of felt a little cultlike. Like we were in some kind of cult.
"I didn't want to be an entourage member, or whatever. I maintained independence [or] I tried to as far as I could. I still worked and did my own thing. I wasn't asking her for money, that kind of stuff," he added.
© Getty ImagesIn the interview, Larry also explained why his relationship with Anna Nicole was kept largely out of the spotlight.
"I winded up dating her for like two years… The reason [people don't know we dated for so long] is because when Anna always did interviews – and you can find dozens of them out there – she was this available goddess that people desired to be with," he noted.
© Getty Images"When she went out on a red carpet, that was what she projected. Like, you would want to be with this woman if you could be with this woman. That was part of her image."
Larry added: "If she was on an interview, there's tons of them out there, [she’d say], 'I haven't had sex in years. Oh my god, no guy asks me out. I don't go on a date.' All that stuff.
© Instagram"That was part of her thing. She said it because she wanted to appear to be available and for you to think you could have a chance with Anna Nicole."
It was only after her death on February 8, 2007, at 39, that their relationship became public when Larry claimed he was the father of Anna Nicole's daughter, Dannielynn.
© InstagramInitially, it was Anna Nicole's ex-husband, Howard J. Marshall, who was 63 years her senior, who was listed on the birth certificate as Dannielynn's father. However, Larry claimed paternity, and a DNA test later confirmed that he was indeed the little girl's dad.
