Palin to Oprah: Levi Johnston Pursuing ‘Porn’ Career; ‘I Pray for Levi’

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

We wrote last week that, based on the initial clip distributed by Oprah Winfrey's shop, Sarah Palin seemed to be seeking a ceasefire with the father of her grandson.

Now that the full Oprah interview is out — not so much.

Asked by Oprah about Levi Johnston, Palin, R-Alaska, responded: “I don't think a national television show is the place to discuss some of things he'd been doing and saying.”

She continued: “By the way, I don't know if we call him Levi — I hear he goes by the name Ricky Hollywood now, so, if that's the case, we don't want to mess up this gig he's got going…. Kind of this aspiring, aspiring porn — the things that he's doing. It's kind of heartbreaking.”

Oprah clarified that Palin was referencing Johnston's decision to pose for “Playgirl.”

Said Palin: “I call that porn, yes. So it's a bit heartbreaking to see the road that he's on right now.”

Asked about Johnston's relationship with his son, Tripp, Palin said:

“He hasn't seen the baby for a while, but we will let that be the discussion between Bristol and Levi, as they work out their relationship. Because Levi will forever be the father of this beautiful little baby, and I continue to hope for the best, and pray for Levi.”

Palin: Levi Johnston ‘Mean-Spirited,’ ‘Malicious,’ Selling ‘Body for Money’

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Former Gov. Sarah Palin is blasting away at the father of her grandson, issuing a blistering statement today that impugns Levi Johnston’s motives in continuing to speak out against the Palin family, and attacks his decision to pose for “Playgirl.”

In a statement issued this afternoon, Palin, R-Alaska, said: “We have purposefully ignored the mean spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on our family. We, like many, are appalled at the inflammatory statements being made or implied.”

“Trig is our 'blessed little angel' who knows it and is lovingly called that every day of his life. Even the thought that anyone would refer to Trig by any disparaging name is sickening and sad.”

Palin also attacks CBS, which aired the first part of an interview with Johnston on “The Early Show” this morning.

“CBS should be ashamed for continually providing a forum to propagate lies. Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies — those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention,” Palin says in the statement.

The attack comes after Johnston hinted this morning that he has damaging revelations he can make about Palin.

“There are some things that I have that are huge. And I haven't said them because I'm not gonna hurt her that way,” he said.

“I have things that can, you know — that would get her in trouble, and could hurt her. Will hurt her. But I'm not gonna go that far. You know, I mean, if I really wanted to hurt her, I could, very easily. But there's — I'm not gonna do it. I'm not going that far.”

Also in the interview, Johnston expanded on an allegation he made in an interview with Vanity Fair, that Palin regularly refers to her youngest child, Trig, as “retarded” — a charge Sarah Palin denies. Trig Palin has Down syndrome.

“I was just in shock for the first time I heard it,” Johnston told CBS. “And then she'd say it regularly. And I think she was joking, but it doesn't make it right.”

Palin’s memoir, “Going Rogue,” publishes next month.

ABC News? Jacqueline Klingebiel and Lindsey Ellerson report: Levi Johnston discloses exclusive details about life behind the scenes at the Palin household in an upcoming October issue of Vanity Fair, whichis set to hitstands today.

In the exclusive interview, Johnston, who fathered Bristol Palin?s baby, revealed that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin asked the young parents to keep their pregnancy a secret during her unsuccessful bid for the 2008 vice presidency.

?She told me that once Bristol had the baby she and Todd would adopt him. That way, she said, Bristol and I didn?t have to worry about anything,? Johnston wrote. ?Sarah kept mentioning this plan. She was nagging?she wouldn?t give up. ?

Johnston goes into great lengths describing the Palins' parenting style, sayingthey didn?t cook or clean and often household chores were left up to the children.

?The kids would do it all themselves: cook, clean, do the laundry, and get ready for school. Most of the time Bristol would help her youngest sister with her homework, and I?d barbecue chicken or steak on the grill,? said Johnston. ?Even before the campaign, Bristol was already the mom in the house, and she got tired of having to take care of her siblings.?

In a throw to the controversial exchange during the campaign betweenCBS?s Katie Couric and Palin about what publications the then-governor read habitually, Johnston also remarked that Palin only reads ?once in a blue moon.?

[I] ?actually never saw Sarah reading much at all?once in a blue moon, I?d see her reading a book, and I?ve never even seen her read a newspaper in my life. The Frontiersman and the Anchorage Daily News were always there in the morning, but the only one who looked through them was Todd.?

During the campaign and shortly after, Johnston told Vanity Fair that there was a lot of tension in the Palin?s relationship, often fighting and sleeping in separate rooms. Johnston disclosed there was also talk of divorce.

?They?re good on television, but once the cameras would leave they didn?t talk to each other,? Johnston said.

But it was after the elections that Johnston characterized life in the Palin household as rather dismal, saying the then-governor would walk ?around the house pouting.? When the McCain camp began accusing her of being the reason the Arizona senator lost the election, Palin would defensively remark, ?I brought everything to the table? and ?the majority of people were out there voting because of me!?

The aftermath of the election hit Palin hard, said Johnston, and ?she definitely thought she was running for president.?

Shortly after, Palin decided to step down from her role as governor of Alaska.Johnston told Vanity Fair Palin would blatantly say, ?I want to just take this money and quit being governor.?