Jason Lee is probably best known for his ever-expanding media presence and his successful entertainment company, Hollywood Unlocked. He’s also gained reality stardom on television shows such as Wild ‘N Out and Love & Hip Hop. Previously, fans and critics formed their opinions of Jason based only on gossip and stories told by the media. In his book, God Must Have Forgotten About Me, Jason reveals the details of his private life and his journey to becoming a confident gay man who also happens to be a self-made, highly-respected entrepreneur.
Growing up on the streets of Stockton, California was not easy, but being the interracial love child of an out-of-wedlock affair between his absent father and drug-addicted mother was even worse. Once an innocent child who loved school and dreamed about becoming a police officer, Jason’s life changed drastically at only seven years old. He lived in a motel room on government assistance with his unfit bipolar mother. Surrounded by gangs, drugs, violence, and addicts, Jason was also a victim of molestation, rejection, and abandonment. After she became a prostitute to support her drug habit, Jason’s mother eventually turned him over to foster care. It’s no wonder Jason became detached, rebellious, resentful, and disrespectful. When he finally got out of the system, Jason dropped out of school and earned his GED. Even though his brothers were gang members, Jason managed to avoid officially following in their footsteps—though he did get shot and did try his hand, unsuccessfully, at selling drugs.
Jason suffered many troubles and losses throughout his life, but perhaps the most difficult was the death of his older brother, Rodney, who had been somewhat of a father figure to him. Following Rodneys’ death, Jason had to deal with the loss of many other family members and friends—victims of senseless shootings—which led Jason to ultimately question whether God had forgotten about him. It was difficult for Jason to understand why God would allow these people that he loved and who loved him to be taken away from him. Jason, who began exploring his sexuality at the age of eighteen, used sex and alcohol to help him cope with his struggles, losses, and grief for ten years.
Although Jason’s journey has been a difficult one, the lessons he learned along the way have been significant and motivating. The power of persistence resulted in a friendship with Queen Latifah that forever changed Jason’s life and opened doors to his future. He worked hard and made a name for himself in the entertainment business and eventually founded his own successful media company. He demonstrated the importance of giving back to his community, while also getting involved in activism, union work, and the labor industry. Perhaps the most meaningful lesson Jason learned, though, was about his relationship with God. He realized that God had been there with him the whole time—through all the ups and downs in his life—and that no matter what mistakes he made, God was always there to pick him up and accelerate him toward his destiny.
I came upon Jason Lee’s book almost by accident. I was thumbing through some other memoirs when his book caught my eye. I know they say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but I selected his book based strictly on its title. I honestly didn’t know anything about Jason Lee prior to reading his memoir. I suppose that’s a good thing, since social media and internet articles might have only painted the Hollywood picture of Jason’s life and I wouldn’t have known the truth behind his personal history. By reading his book, I was introduced to Jason Lee, a complete stranger, and got to know the true story of his life, as only he could tell. I’m fortunate that some of the obstacles and hardships Jason faced were not ones I could easily relate to. However, oftentimes he did make me feel like I was right there with him—seeing what he saw, hearing what he heard, feeling what he felt. I felt connected to Jason—the heartbroken little boy, the confused teen, and the passionate man. I’m glad I got the opportunity to know Jason Lee as an individual, not just as a media mogul.
The book was an easy read, though I didn’t really think it was necessary to use so much profanity. To be honest, at first, the cursing really turned me off and I started to form a negative opinion of both Jason and his writing style. However, I quickly realized that I wasn’t being fair to him or to his story. I knew that it wasn’t my story to tell—it was his—and it wasn’t for me to decide how it should be told.
We’ve all faced difficulties in our lives, but how we deal with those difficulties can greatly differ. If you want to read an inspiring story of how to use the challenges in your life as building blocks rather than excuses, then I Absolutely recommend giving Jason’s book a read. If you ever feel like you’re alone in any negative circumstance you might face, remember there’s a good chance that Jason’s already been there. Learn from his experiences and insight and find comfort in knowing that God hasn’t forgotten about you either.
