ANCHORAGE — Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have committed to one thing: Not talking bad about one another.
That's one of the provisions of a new custody agreement proposed by the off-again, on-again couple. Their son, Tripp, is former Gov. Sarah Palin's first grandchild. He turns 2 in December.
"The parties agree that the child shall receive positive reinforcement about each party and that the child has the right to be free of negative comments by one parent about the other. The parties agree that neither party will speak badly about the other parent in front of the child," the agreement says. "Furthermore, neither parent will, to the best of their abilities, allow anyone else to speak badly about the other parent or members of their family in front of the child."
Tripp can't be around any family member who bad mouths the other parent or parent's family, including on blogs, Internet social media sites like Facebook, and press releases, they agreed.
They also plan to keep strict control over photos of or interviews with their son. The parents will decide "the manner, degree, frequency, and character of any publicly disseminated images, interviews, or appearances of the child," the agreement said. "The parties shall use all means, including legal process, to prevent dissemination of unauthorized images, interviews, or appearances by anyone, including family members."
Palin and Johnston will share legal custody but if they can't agree on something, Palin will decide, the agreement says. She'll also have primary physical custody though Johnston will get visits with his son on Wednesdays and Saturdays. His annual salary is presumed to be $72,000 for purposes of child support, though the agreement didn't say how he expects to earn that. He's trying to get a reality TV show.
The document was filed Friday in Palmer Superior Court and now is before Judge Kari Kristiansen.