Celebrity break ups like Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness proves marriage needs a facelift
‘Til death do us part’ should be cut from the matrimonial contract considering some of the most seemingly solid relationships are only lasting a few decades now.
There’s a new “27 Club”: it’s not one where celebrities are dying, just their relationships.
What was once a remarkably tragic coincidence in rock and roll, the 27 Club became widely known following Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994 at the age of 27. It was the same age Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and Jimi Hendrix were when they died within two years of each other in the 1970s.
Now the death of love is the number one curse in Hollywood.
The latest additions are Australia’s golden couple, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness.
“We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,” they said over the weekend after 27 years together.
“Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.”
And with that well-crafted statement issued to People magazine – the celebrity Bible – the couple announced they have split.
As with most separation announcements we’ve endured this year from other seemingly rock-solid, long-term partnerships such as business titans Andrew and Nicola Forrest and actor Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner, those short sentences probably had more checks, balances, changes and edits than a blue-chip balance sheet.
Marriage may be about love, but separation is about spin.
It’s been nine years since the phrase “consciously uncoupling” was coined by wellness queen Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay’s Chris Martin when they broke up. There was a collective eye roll at the woo-woo concept, now everyone is adopting it to varying degrees. Then come the stories “leaking” about the signs of trouble we overlooked – missing wedding rings here, headlines including “strain” there.
Note to celebrities: you can churn like butter but what it all comes down to is something broke and your differences are now irreconcilable.
The response to the Jackman-Furness news has been overwhelmingly optimistic. The pair have a lot of goodwill and PR capital out there. Most TikTok, X and Instagram comments doing the rounds are positive. “They had 27 years lovely years together, raised a family and built a life, I’d hardly call that a failure” is the most common reaction to their news.
Has the concept of a successful romantic union or marriage changed from “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health” to “until we just can’t anymore”? Potentially, given the societal shifts we’re seeing in all elements of modern life.
Love isn’t dead, but marriage vows may be.
It’s time to update them to include a divorce clause, an emotional pre-nup; one that lifts from Jackman’s anniversary message posted to mark his 27th anniversary with Furness back in April that included the word “loyalty”.
Marriage may no longer be forever, but being faithful to what you shared should be.
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