Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith pose on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. REUTERS/Mike BlakeThe sound of wedding bells has been replaced by the loud noise of divorce papers being filed in the world of celebrities. This year witnessed the conclusion of several enduring Hollywood couples, surprising fans and prompting speculation about the existence of true love in the entertainment industry.
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness stunned the world in September by announcing their separation after 27 years of marriage. The couple had been viewed as rock solid and were frequently held up as role models, making their split all the more unexpected. As reported, the breakup appeared amicable, with no mention of cheating or contentious issues.
Just a month later, Jada Pinkett Smith shared in her memoir that she and fellow A-lister Will Smith quietly parted ways years ago, indicating they had actually been separated for a full seven years of their 25-year union. The revelation left the public slack-jawed that such high-profile partners could keep such momentous personal news under wraps for so long.
Not long after that, word leaked that silver screen legend Meryl Streep and her husband, sculptor Don Gummer, had likewise been leading separate lives unbeknownst to the public or paparazzi for six of their 45 married years together.
In a blow to longtime political watchers, conservative power duo Kellyanne and George Conway also split this year after over two decades of often tumultuous married life, frequently under the camera lens.
The joint decisions of these prominent pairs to abruptly go their own ways have sparked curiosity and contemplation among observers. As posed by Time, is abandoning ship after a quarter-century of togetherness mere madness? Could there be more meaningful motivations at play?
While no party involved has pinned the blame on infidelity, the revelations have prompted some to speculate that undisclosed dalliances may have been kept hushed. However, relationship experts survey a range of more complex and nuanced factors that can erode affection over time.
According to Stanford sociologist Dr. Karen Jakes, “Long-term marriages, especially between ambitious celebrities at the peak of fame, face unique challenges relating to partners growing apart instead of together.” She notes things like diverging goals or empty nest syndrome after children leave home can change the marital dynamic. “The initial passions and shared vision sustaining couples in early years frequently fade by the 25-year mark,” Dr. Jakes states.
This position is echoed by University of Southern California psychologist Dr. Carl Jensen, who points out that retirement can also be a relationship landmine. “Spouses may harbor drastically different ideas of what they want the golden years to look and feel like. One may envision endless travel and new adventures together, while the other longs for lazy days relaxing in their rocking chairs.”
Dr. Jensen additionally indicates that separations need not always spell complete demise of a marital bond. “This is especially relevant in long-term celebrity couples,” he says. “Opting to lead increasingly independent lives does not necessarily negate retaining feelings of love, friendship and shared history.”
Besides evolving personal aspirations, celebrity psychiatrist Dr. Mary Ford feels external cultural influences should be weighed. “We’re seeing greater numbers of older luminaries stubbornly refusing to be pushed aside as ‘over the hill’ these days,” Dr. Ford observes. “Icons like Madonna, Meryl and Barbra are displaying a determination to remain vibrant, visible community leaders and achieve personal reinvention traditionally not afforded females over 50.”
According to the doctor, this drive for personal fulfillment later in life increasingly extends to decisions around marriage as well. She states, “For celebrity women especially, choices being made reflect an unwillingness to simply resign themselves to unsatisfying situations out of obligation or societal pressure.”
While a newfound empowerment among aging elites to take charge of their next chapters is positive, it remains bittersweet for steadfast fans mourning the loss of their favorite famous twosomes. Some have suggested sending public messages of support, while others propose more concrete action like crowdsourcing date nights.
One sentiment expressed widely is that true everlasting love may exist more in fairytales than reality. Though the music played at storybook weddings promises couples will stay together “until death do us part,” the words ringing truer and truer seem to be “till boredom or irritation do us part.”
Whether due to evolving individual passions or outside influences, the celebrity breakup barrage of 2023 warns even seemingly unbreakable bonds can unexpectedly unravel over time. While the rich and famous may have the resources to start over solo in style, their cradle-to-grave divorces could cue everyday couples to guard against taking each other for granted.
Read: Steady Relationship .
As rising splits make clear, marriage requires constant nurturing and communication to keep the flame alit. Even Hollywood’s once golden couples could apparently benefit from remembering to fan the fires of romance before deciding it’s impossible to salvage the embers of a longtime love turned cold.