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Point: Stars divorce a lot because they crave publicity, not love

Keven Federline and Britney Spears made headlines throughout the year as their marriage fell apart after just a couple of years. Can celebrity unions survive the spotlight? Should we care so much?

There's no such thing as bad publicity. Bad marriages, yes, but there's nothing like free press.

And there's nothing like a ring or a white dress to start people talking.

Most celebs in Hollywood are performers, and a majority of those relationships are just that - performances. These folks are accustomed to waking in the morning, driving to work, putting on the wig, the makeup and the costume, and playing a part.

Unfortunately, I fear this mask-wearing spills over into their private lives, and they don't allow themselves to be sincere with their potential mates. When the mask does come off - which has to happen at some point between movie premieres, photo shoots and Starbucks on Rodeo Drive - it's not pretty.

So, instead of getting down, dirty and vulnerable, these celebs quickly put the mask back on and call their divorce lawyer. They mistakenly hope to find someone, someday who will not see through their little ruse.

Again, their lives - all parts of their lives - are in the public eye.

Perhaps the fault lies with us - the reader, the listener, the viewer, the consumer. We are obsessed with celebrities in a way that demands a supply of celebrity news. We want to know what TomKat's engagement ring looks like. We want to see Pam Anderson's slew of wedding dresses (or swimsuits).

Think about it. How long would your marriage last if your neighbors could read about your private life in the grocery checkout line each day?

I'm not sure that the best folks, with the best hearts and the best intentions, can stand up to that level of exposure.

Why do we peer behind the living room drapes of celebrities? Perhaps it offers a distraction from our normal lives. Perhaps it's another form of entertainment that spills over from the TV or the silver screen.

Whatever the reason, we are addicted to watching celebrities and their relationships as they unfold. We expect our celebrities to perform, and they feel that pressure.

No wonder they crack.

Lillian J. Kelly is a Tribune copy editor. E-mail Lillian J. Kelley or call 823-3605.

Counterpoint: These marriages prove that celebs can make it work

With many Hollywood relationships lasting about as long as Oprah Winfrey's hairstyle, it is natural that we have become cynical of all Hollywood relationships.

Who can forget the infamous five-minute Britney Spears marriage to her childhood friend? And then there was her marriage to Kevin "I take myself way too seriously" Federline.

Don't forget Renée Zellweger and Kenny Chesney's nuptials based on "fraud." The list goes on.

But wait. There is still hope. I refuse to be cynical.

Celebrity marriages can endure, right?

Maybe you've got to move out of Hollywood. Maybe you shouldn't cave in to temptation. Maybe you've got to realize that love is more than just skin-deep.

Whatever the case, some stars have proven that they have staying power.

Here are celebrity couples who have lasted for more than five years: Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman, 24 years; Julia Louis Dreyfus and Brad Hall, 19 years; Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, 18 years; Debbie Allen and former NBA star Norm Nixon, 22 years; Courtney Cox and David Arquette, 7 years; and Diane Sawyer and director Mike Nichols, 18 years.

Maybe these weren't their first marriages. Maybe they're not as happy as they seem, maybe not as faithful. Whatever the case, these stars are still together. Which means there's hope for the rest of us.

Let's just hope they don't divorce by the time I finish writing this article. I never said marriage was perfect, but it can last if you're strong enough.

And that's the "power of love," to quote Celine Dion, married for 12 years.

Stephanie Garcia Krenrich is a Tribune copy editor. E-mail Stephanie Garcia Krenrich or call 823-3609.