2011 hasn’t been the best year for many of my celebrity friends. Is it just me, or does it seem like, apart from the Royal Wedding (best day of the year hands down), this past year has been wrought with divorces? Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony this summer, Demi and Ashton this fall, and who could forget the hysteria that was Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries? Just when I thought it was all over, Russell Brand and Katy Perry announced their split at the end of December. All of these breakups make me a little nervous. Sure, celebrities have the added burden of a personal life in the spotlight, but if barely any of them can stay together, what does that mean for the rest of us plebeians?
Everyone has heard that fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce. Thankfully, this statistic isn’t exactly true (girls, you can resume planning your future weddings). It’s merely a projection, and doesn’t take into account crucial factors such as the age of the couple at marriage. It can sometimes seem like Hollywood is another planet, but for the most part, celebrities are just like the rest of us. I like to think that my constant “research” on celebrities is a lesson in what and what not to do in life, and examining some of these train wrecks called marriages can be surprisingly educational.
If you’re like me, you’ve spent a good portion of winter break catching up on this season of Kourtney and Kim Take New York, which chronicles the latest escapades of the older two Kardashian sisters. This season has been particularly interesting, as the audience has had access to the unraveling of Kim and Kris’ marriage, which we’re discovering was broken from the start. I actually feel a little bad for Kim. She turned thirty, realized she was a little behind on her life plan, and latched onto the first guy she could find. How many of us collegiettes™ have fallen prey to the same expectations? I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t already planned the style of my wedding dress and didn’t just download the app “Baby Names.” If there’s one thing Kim taught me, it’s that when I plan my own $10 million wedding, I should first check that I am really, truly in love with the guy.
That’s not to say that all celebrity marriages are not genuine. I really thought Katy and Russell would make it longer than a year, but it seems they have fallen for the common plight of conflicting schedules and independent careers. In Hollywood, jet setting is often a part of the job, and while the chances of me marrying a professional singer or athlete are slim, distance between couples isn’t necessarily measured in miles. People change and grow apart, and that’s universal.
2011 was especially filled with heartbreaks, so I can only hope 2012 will look up. My sole concern is Will and Kate – if they break up, I believe true love will cease to exist. As for the rest of the rich and fabulous, good luck.
Photo Sources:
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/10/31/kim-kardashian-divorce-kris-humphries/
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/12/30/katy-perry-divorce-russell-brand/