Why Do Celebrities Divorce?
Posted on March 3, 2009
Filed Under East meets West, Guest Columnist | 1 Comment
By Ronda Suder
There are so many tragic events going on in the world, from world hunger, to wars, to economic hardships, yet it’s often important in our lives to pick up the next edition of ‘People’ or ‘Entertainment Weekly’ to get the scoop on celebrity gossip. Priorities, priorities! And the most current trend– Celebrity Divorces. In 2008, some of the most notorious divorces included Madonna and Guy Richie, Star Jones and Al Reynolds, Robin Williams and Marcia Garces and Kate Walsh and Alex Young, to name a few. So why do so many celebrity marriages end in divorce?
This question warrants a look first at divorce statistics and the causes of divorce for the US population as a whole. According to the Enrichment Journal, 41% percent of all US marriages end in divorce; with a divorce rate of 60% for 2nd marriages and 73% for 3rd marriages (so much for practice makes perfect and the 3rd times a charm! LOL). Causes for divorce include financial issues, sexual incompatibility, communication issues, cheating, careers taking precedence over the relationship, simply drifting apart and abuse. And because celebrities are human like the rest of us, they are susceptible to any of these factors. In addition, celebrities are susceptible to the pressures of being in the spotlight and having every move watched, as well as being surrounded by beautiful, hot, sexy people all the time! Could you imagine how many non-celebrity men would be busted if they had a camera following them all the time! Are you one of them, by any chance?? Read on……
Other reasons celebrities divorce include:
One is more successful than the other: An example of this is Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. As Reese became more and more notable in the entertainment industry, it appeared the marriage started to suffer. They divorced after 9 years of marriage. The couple’s rep released a statement to TMZ one day saying “We are saddened to announce that Reese & Ryan have decided to formally separate. They remain committed to their family and we ask that you please respect their privacy and the safety of their children at this time.”
Money is of little concern: Take Madonna and Guy Richie for example. While many women stay in a marriage with fear of having nothing post divorce, money was the least of Madonna’s concerns when their seven and a half years of marriage ended in divorce. 
Actors fall in love with actors on the set: Though it’s all professional and just ‘acting’, it’s sometime hard for actors to separate the reality from the acting, thus many ‘fall in love’ on the set. In the end, the divorce settlement confirms, they were just ‘acting’. In addition, when married actors ‘fall in love’ on set, they often divorce the current spouse to be with the new love interest. An example of this would be the Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston saga.
Jealousy of the non-celebrity spouse: Jealousy can rear its head in any relationship, but imagine being the spouse of an actor or actress that has a kissing or love scene on the big screen with someone else, or knowing that your musician rock-star mate was always surrounded by beautiful people. I’ll never forget how much it caught me off guard to see my ex-boyfriend in a film lying in bed with another woman. They weren’t even touching, and never had, but it was still weird and slightly unsettling, and I’m even an actress with a fairly non-jealous personality.Â
Though many celebrities make it well beyond what most do, like Morgan Freeman and Myrna Colley-Lee who were married for 24 years after 8 years of dating before divorcing, it seems to be more the norm versus the exception for celebrity marriages to end in divorce after a short period of time. Celebrity or not, anyone getting married should ask themselves why they’re truly getting married, and at least question the possibility that they may not be compatible enough to make it to ‘happily ever after’. It’s true that we all love the feeling of ‘falling in love’ and being ‘swept off our feet’, but the ‘falling in love’ part is easy. It’s the staying in love and falling apart that’s hard. Because many of us don’t wait to get past the ‘honeymoon period’ (you know, the period where the other can do no wrong) prior to marrying, we never really know if we can live with the not-so-perfect qualities of the other individual until after we’ve walked down the aisle.
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About our Guest Columnist Ronda Suder from Houston, TX
I grew up in a 1-stop light town in WV swimming in rivers and 4-wheeler riding for fun. I like adventure, having fun, and most consider me a perpetual learner. I value honesty and need to be comfortable in my own skin. I’ve learned that I need to surroud myself with people who impact my life in a positive way and will help me get to where I want to go, and vice versa, as I beleive in the old cliche of ‘mediocraty breeds mediocraty’ and I need more to achieve the life I want. Ronda is an actress, writer and an HR Manager with her Masters in Human Resources and Industrial Relations.
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I agree that this divorce is very sad.
I understand that working in entertainment is very risky and full of temptation, but suppose those stars is suppose to be a good role model. I always hope for example that ANgelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will make it that they will be one of the celebrity couples who is able to survive in the marriage.
In Western society, individual happiness and dignity are very respected and sometimes I see it as an ego because before getting marriage we have to realize that marriage will be about two people.
I am a woman who is afraid of marriage and do not want to go to marriage before I am sure that I really know who and how my partner is. And honestly, I am busy looking for an example and role model of what is a good and happy marriage.