Overview
- Bateman says the couple had frank “negotiations” over when his partying would stop, citing Anka’s description of a “drip, drip, drip” of unpredictability at home.
- He recalls deciding to quit sooner than planned to relieve strain, telling himself, “If I could land this plane now, it would alleviate a lot of the tension.”
- The actor says he has avoided alcohol and what he calls the “Scarface stuff” for decades, and he now describes himself as “California sober,” meaning he still uses marijuana.
- He frames the timing as part of preparing for family life and career goals, noting he married Anka in 2001, the year he got sober, with his Arrested Development break following within 12–24 months.
- The remarks were published February 18 by The Hollywood Reporter and were widely recapped by entertainment outlets with context from his earlier interviews.