It might have been a sleepy Labor Day weekend for some, but celebrity gossip has kept us wide awake — especially in the relationship arena.
Rumors circulated over the weekend that singer Joe Jonas was filing for divorce from his wife Sophie Turner. He has been photographed both with and without a wedding ring lately. Jonas, 34, and Turner, 27, have two children together and have been married since 2019. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for comment.
We don’t know exactly what’s going on. But it can be exhausting when the people around you don’t stop speculating about your relationship status. This difficulty is compounded for celebrities, who experience the ups and downs of their relationship becoming the subject of international headlines and social media trends.
That’s why it makes sense for celebrities — and pretty much everyone — to try to control the narrative about their relationship status, experts say. Even if this narrative merely insists that it’s nobody’s business but the couple.
“Public breakups are tough”
The age of social media has made it almost impossible for anyone who regularly uses these platforms to keep their relationship status a secret for long. An Instagram story here, a cryptic grid post there. Of course, those in the public eye carefully curate exactly what they want to say to their followers.
But celebrity and non-celebrity followers often dive deep into Instagram content to distract from their own lives. When did you stop posting photos together? When was the last time you commented on his post? Does he still wear a ring?
“Public breakups are harsh and require careful management,” Maryanne Fisher, a psychology professor at St. Mary’s University in Canada, previously told USA TODAY. “The best approach is to be professional and make a statement — whether it’s just verbally to friends, on social media, or at the family table. No explanations are needed, and when someone speaks ill of a new ex-partner, it’s likely to cause further problems.
Our current era of celebrity social media leaves fans feeling like they know those celebrities — what’s called a parasocial relationship — meaning many have sympathy for the couple in question, unless some sort of cheating scandal ensues, at in which a party is metaphorically burned at the stake.
“We’re much more accepting of, and even embracing, the personal challenges that celebrities face when they’re open about their vulnerabilities,” Laura Petiford, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told USA TODAY.
In case you missed it:The “Stan” culture needs to end — or at least radically change. Here’s why.
How to break up (carefully) in public
- Remember, only you and your partner know the full story. “You can try to quell the speculation, you can try to get ahead of the questions, you can try to answer all the questions… but at the end of the day, only you have the full context, regardless of how.” much you choose to share with others,” dating and relationship coach Ali Jackson previously told USA TODAY.
- Set boundaries and mobilize your support system. Be clear about what you do and don’t want out there. “Having boundaries and having a personal life is really an important part of very healthy general well-being, the ability to both have personal boundaries that you can control and find really healthy social support,” says TM Robinson-Mosley , consulting psychologist , he previously told USA TODAY.
- Sit down with the key players first. “When the breakup is controversial, it can be important for members of a couple to give their closest friends a measured explanation,” says Petiford. “Friends presumably care about friends and therefore have a vested interest in how a long-term couple navigates such a challenging time.”
- be direct “If people won’t stop talking about the past relationship, one option is to point it out head-on that it’s over and that it’s time to move on,” says Fisher.
- Get ready for questions. Questions can arise in personal life when someone is contemplating which side they want to take in a breakup. Ultimately, celebrities may have little opportunity to move legions of fans one way or another without throwing themselves into drama-filled drama. Plus, “If I were to advise those who are wondering, the best thing would be to reach out in person to see if they really care,” says Fisher. “Otherwise you should keep these motivations in mind – why do you need to know that? Is it just curiosity or is there actual concern?”
- If you are friends with the couple, offer support. Adds Petiford, “Do your best to stay out of the way, and remember there are always at least two sides to every breakup story.”
So:Ben Affleck’s face, Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher’s awkwardness and endless gossip
Comments are closed.