Celebrities live their lives in the spotlight, including their marriages, and when a marriage falls apart, it's hard to keep the breakdown of a seemingly perfect partnership a secret.
When Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck announced their divorce, social media feeds were flooded with crying face emojis. “Oh no! They're no good. I thought they'd make it work,” was the general consensus.
What happened between this power couple? Reports say that the marriage fell apart because of Jennifer Lopez's lavish lifestyle. She became a woman with a penchant for champagne and caviar. She filed for divorce on the second anniversary of their lavish wedding. In contrast to Jennifer Lopez, who seems to have been driven by a desire for fame since the beginning of her career, Affleck prefers to keep his personal life private.
The documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” is based on Affleck's scrapbooks of love letters and emails to Lopez over the past two decades, which put the final nail in his coffin.
But Affleck, who likes to keep his private life private, was worried about the £15 million being spent on the film and felt increasingly estranged from the woman he was married to.
“I don't think he's too happy about me doing this,” Lopez confessed in an Amazon Prime documentary accompanying the film, “but he supports me in every way possible because he loves me and he knows I'm an artist and he knows he can't stop me from writing the music that I make and the lyrics that I write. It's going to happen and he doesn't want to stop me… but that doesn't mean he's happy about being a muse.”
The break-up of another celebrity couple, Natasa Stankovic and Hardik Pandya, was also reportedly blamed on the cricketer's “flashy” and “self-centered” behaviour. Natasa, despite her natural strength and independence, is said to have struggled to keep up with Hardik's busy lifestyle.
Too dominant
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner ended their relationship for a variety of reasons. Jonas previously said that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.” At the time, rumors tarnishing Turner's image circulated online, with her partying lifestyle allegedly damaging the marriage and readers questioning her parenting skills. Meanwhile, Turner reportedly filed for divorce because “Joe was too controlling” and because she “didn't want to be a 'Jonas Brothers wife' forever.”
Tom Cruise's marriages to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes all ended in divorce, some of which was due to his high profile.
Rising fame
British comedian Russell Brand's flamboyant personality was responsible for the breakdown of his marriage to global pop star Katy Perry.
She said in an interview, “When we got married, I loved him. At first, he wanted an equal relationship. I think strong men often want equality, but when they get it, they can't stand it. He didn't like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour. So it was really hurtful and very controlling and upsetting.”
Psychologist and marriage counsellor Shivani Misri Sadhu says the romantic lives of celebrities are bound to be more complicated than those of ordinary people because of their unique circumstances. It's even worse for megastars who lead lavish lifestyles. Power issues can also put a strain on long-term relationships.
“As a couples therapist, I think it's really important to recognise that relationships with celebrities and public figures face unique challenges. The pressures of fame, constant public scrutiny and the demands of a busy lifestyle can strain even the strongest bonds,” says Shivani.
Power dynamics usually come into play when one partner's success and lifestyle overshadows the other, leading to feelings of inadequacy and resentment. “Relationships like those between Hardik and Natasa, and Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, for example, are a challenge in balancing personal needs with the demands of a high-profile career. Celebrities have to navigate the delicate balance of maintaining their identity and career while nurturing their relationship,” says Shivani.
Partners need to recognize and address power imbalances to make each other feel valued and secure. Therapy can help couples explore these dynamics so they can better understand each other's needs and strengthen their bond despite the unique challenges they face.” — Shivani Misri Sadhu, psychologist and marriage counselor
