Alcohol, Betrayal, and Political Controversy: The Hidden Misery of Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball, beloved for her role as Lucy Ricardo on the iconic show I Love Lucy, had a secret life of unhappiness that was far removed from her on-screen comedic persona.

In the upcoming film Being the Ricardos, renowned screenwriter Aaron Sorkin delves into the untold story of Ball's life during the height of her career, revealing a narrative that challenges common perceptions.

Sorkin's film explores the tumultuous behind-the-scenes dynamics between Ball and her real-life husband and co-star, Desi Arnaz.

The movie touches on controversial subjects such as the 1953 US government investigation into Ball's alleged ties to communism, as well as the infidelity and discord within their seemingly glamorous marriage.

However, the reality is even more disheartening, involving elements of prostitution, alcoholism, gambling, and domestic violence.

I Love Lucy originally premiered on CBS on October 15, 1951, and ran for 180 episodes over the next six years.

Being the Ricardos centers around a 1953 episode titled “Fred and Ethel Fight,” which explores the theme of marital conflicts.

The film's trailer, which garnered over five million views in its first week, features a scene where Ball, portrayed by Nicole Kidman, confronts Arnaz, played by Javier Bardem, asking him if he has been unfaithful.

His response, “The story is made up,” is a clear attempt to downplay the truth.

However, the reality is far from sugar-coated.

By 1953, Ball was well aware of her husband's extramarital affairs.

Within four years of their marriage in November 1940, they had already separated.

Ball filed for divorce in October 1944, citing Arnaz as the cause of her emotional distress.

She even confided in a friend, revealing that Arnaz had engaged in multiple affairs during his time as a staff sergeant with the Army Medical Corps in Van Guys.

However, Ball abruptly changed her mind and dropped the divorce, walking out of court and back into Arnaz's arms.

Arnaz's infidelity persisted throughout the following decade.

On one occasion, he arrived home intoxicated and attempted to seduce a friend of Ball's elderly mother who was staying with them at the time.

A newspaper article titled “Does Desi really love Lucy?”

highlighted his questionable behavior.

This article, published in the scandalous magazine Confidential in 1955, hinted at Arnaz's involvement with s** workers and his encounters with a woman named Mindy, described as a “cuddle-for-cash babe.”

The publication of this article created quite a stir among the cast of I Love Lucy.

Ball's publicist, Charles Pomerantz, later revealed that she responded by tossing the magazine to Arnaz, stating, “Oh, hell, I could tell them worse than that.”

Arnaz himself was unapologetic about his actions, reportedly telling a friend, “What's she upset about?

I don't take out other women.

I just take out prostitutes.”

Further revelations about Arnaz's involvement with brothels emerged in Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Debby Applegate's book, Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler.

According to the book, Arnaz had a close relationship with brothel owner Polly Adler and boasted about his s**ual exploits with s** workers at her establishments in Los Angeles and New York.

It is worth noting that Arnaz had been visiting brothels since the age of 12, accompanied by his father.

He witnessed their bitter arguments, with Ball shouting accusations at Arnaz and accusing him of being involved with prostitutes.

Arnaz, in response, unabashedly defended his behavior, stating that a few indiscretions didn't mean anything when compared to their marriage.

Ball had good reason to keep her private life hidden from her adoring fans and the conservative sponsors of I Love Lucy, such as Westinghouse Electric.

Her journey to stardom was marked by hardships, coming from a working-class background and facing numerous setbacks in her pursuit of success.

As a teenager, she endured an abusive relationship with gangster Johnny DaVita.

When she left him to pursue acting, she even resorted to using the stage name Diane Belmont for auditions.

During her late teens, she often had to rely on leftover food from diners to survive and even engaged in n^de modeling sessions to make ends meet.

Her brief stint in The Ziegfeld Follies also ended in failure, as she was fired after two weeks due to her perceived lack of physical attributes and dancing skills.

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