Post the breakups of Hollywood A-listers this sweltering summer, psycho-social experts and legal eagles have been coining new relationship terms like “conscious uncoupling” and “taking time off from each other” and bandying about reasons as “irrevocable breakdown,” an euphemism for cheating or simple maladjustment in mid-life. From Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck to the still rumoured divorce of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, the ruins of a marriage have often been papered over with “counselling efforts”, “denial” or a “joint vacation” to buy time.
But zoom in a bit more and you will know that the real reasons behind the protracted mess, ranging from months to years, are money split, the net asset value of a “power” coupling and recompensing the partner with a weaker brand worth. Pre-nups or no pre-nups, the bitter-halves are crying battle (though silently) for more than a fair share of their former partners’ net worth. The shocker that “we just saw them hand-in-hand on the red carpet a few days ago” or “but they were shopping for groceries together” seems more like a publicity gimmick. Maybe the two are endorsing a brand together and the MoU signed doesn’t end for another year. And for the partner who has acquired value courtesy the coupling, he/she would milk the cow to the last drop before strutting out confidently with the “ex” tag.
MONEY MATTERS
In Ben-Jen’s case, the Daredevil actress will soon be transferring millions of dollars to her bank account and maybe a sprawling comfy mansion to raise their three kids. Ben might get a room too for the “kids’ sake.” But till the legalities and intricacies can be worked out as to who gets what, particularly an “abandoned mother”, both individuals can maintain the chimera of being the “selfless householder” and “perfect parent” without letting their lack of intimacy threaten their self-image. Ben, after all, is worth $150 million.
The trend of having real-life celebrity couples endorse a brand for a more powerful impact seems to have tied down many unwilling famous couples. The situation behind the scene and even in there plush apartments might differ from the ad-shoot sets.
Forgive and forget (for the cameras) is also most of them live by. Black Eyed Peas member Fergie had revealed to Oprah Winfrey that the incident of her husband Josh Duhamel cheating on her with a stripper had made their love “deeper.” What epiphany struck the Shut Up singer is something we’d like to hear about as well. Fergie’s been busy working on her second album since 2012 and maybe her Transformers star husband has been paying the recording studio costs ever since.
The lesser known partners, too, before heading in different directions, seem to have been cashing in on their more popular spouses. landing their own sweet money-minting deals or maybe a cameo next to Al Pacino, who knowsIJ
BRANDING
Playing happy family to be on the cover of a fancy magazine and even answering relationship queries when temperatures are soaring back home are other instances of a power (read money) couple. Several brands are identified not by their products but by the celebrities. Remember the racy Giorgio Armani lingerie ad featuring the Beckhams or Kanye West and Kim Kardashian for BalmainIJ
Rekindling old romance is a most resorted to escape plan which is what Kourtney Kardashian’s former partner Scott Disick was seen to be doing while on a vacation in Italy. Disick, who played a vital role in getting viewership for Keeping Up with the Kardashians, might still be seen around, if not for the kids’ then money’s sake.
CONSCIOUS COUPlING
Going by the rapid breakdown of Hollywood celebrity marriages, many observers also suggest that in some cases the marriage itself was intended as a “spillover rain” of an established successful onscreen branding. It was good while it lasted and a honourable parting of ways seemed a way out of a situation that was no longer encashable.
Truth is the celebs’ togetherness had been built up on the expectation of fans, who put them up on a pedestal and then watched in amusement as the stars attempted to live up to the lives that had been created for them. And failed horribly.
According to celeb manager Rob Shuter’s interview in a magazine, it’s not uncommon for PR machines to carefully plan when celebrities can officially announce a breakup, be it days, months or years, so as to not interfere with any projects the performers might be promoting. For instance, Affleck’s team might have disclosed his divorce with Garner in the hope that the buzz would quieten by the time his film, Batman V Superman, is released and generate swelling sympathy for a broken man playing superhero. Or in certain cases, a split is announced to create a buzz for both parties, who may have not been notching up great stock value for lack of serious projects