Kat Armstrong: Celebritease

Aug
31
2012

Celebrity Relationships in the Spotlight

Why are we so obsessed with the highs and lows of the rich and famous?

I'm just as guilty of it as the rest of the blogosphere—questioning celebrity relationships. Who was spotted leaving someone's apartment in the morning, accusations, infidelity...the works. This week has been no different for a string of relationship woes, but it's got me thinking: why are we so interested in this stuff? It's got to be more than Schadenfreud*

What set me off thinking this week was John Travolta's former pilot/lover telling "all" to The National Enquirer. Doug Gotterba claims that shortly after he was hired by Travolta to be his personal pilot, Travolta engaged Gotterba in a romantic tryst and that they had a continuing relationship for 6 years—until just shortly after Mr. Saturday Night Fever married his wife, Kelly Preston. Gotterba claims that upon their last meeting (while walking along a beach! come on!), Travolta said that he preferred men. The two never spoke after this encounter. 

Do we care because he's closeted? Do we care because he's married? 

I'm not entirely sure. 

The other ones that really got me this week was a new report that John Mayer dumped Katy Perry via email after a one-month dating period, and a blind item that people are saying points to Will Arnett and Amy Phoeler divorcing.  

I'm not sure why this is news. Is it because for John Mayer, this is a totally shitty way to dump someone especially if you are a 34-year-old man? Or is it this same feeling we get of relief that celebrities have lives just as crappy as ours some days? As for the Phoeler-Arnetts, is it just sadness over the idea that a couple that seems so great together may be coming to an end?

I don't entirely know. I do know that I could care less about the love lives of 99% of the population, but celebs get me every single time!

(And I have to admit, that the rumour that Kelly and Dylan got back together tickles me like no other!)

So Spill it! What do you think of celebrity relationships in the news?

 

*Schadenfreud is a German word that expresses the idea that we find pleasure in the misery of others. There is no English equivalent. I love this word.