Failed Reality

If you have been out of touch with reality and news for a while, here is what New York Daily News has to report on the Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook divorce. Brinkley’s penchant for marriages and divorces may not have been lost on you. The former super model was cross when she suspected Cook’s 19-year-old assistant to be involved with him in a serious affair. This led to the break-up between the husband and wife.

The issue currently bothering them is related to their kids, 11 year old Jack and 7 year old Sailor. The bitterness of the issue prompted the Central Islip Supreme Court Justice Joseph Pastoressa to issue an advisory to the warring couple to keep their children out of it. The advisory said: “Be civil. Don’t use your children as messengers between you. A custody trial would be devastating for the children and devastating for the parents. It should be avoided at all costs.” 

Divorce does have an everlasting impact on the child’s psyche. Kids may not be able to express their feelings, but the bitterness of the situation is not lost on them. The feeling of being insecure and the need for love of both parents can be devastating for the child. Parents have got to handle such situations with a lot of maturity and sensitivity keeping in mind the children’s interests.

The contentious issues between the estranged couple involve visitation rights, help from Christie or the nanny towards the children’s homework, children’s flying in private plane in the face of red alert on terrorism, and more.

Hugh Grant seems to be going through a rough patch where relations are concerned. After being ignored by Elizabeth Hurley and kept off from her coming Indian wedding plans, the “Music and Lyrics” star Grant is having a tough time with current flame Jemima Khan.

Grant’s roving eye is what has set him in the eye of a raging storm. The twosome had a second blistering public spat, when Hugh Grant was having a groovy time flirting with a bevy of beautiful women at the premiere of his latest film “Music and Lyrics”. Jemima felt left out in the cold and ignored at the party.

According to Mirror, Grant had reportedly confided in the ladies: “I can’t kiss too many more women tonight as I’ve already had a row with Jemima”. Knowing Grant well, Jemima had already invited a few of her school friends at the party and seemed busy with them.

A week earlier, a Hugh and Jemima date had ended in a fiasco with Jemima charging Grant of being indecisive, and Hugh telling her that she was like a dictator. With the way things are going, it only sounds appropriate when Grant says there are no plans of them getting married.

What has come as a surprise is the news that veterans Roy E. Disney and estranged wife Patricia Disney have filed for divorce after 52 years of marriage. Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney, has cited the clichéd reason “irreconcilable differences” as grounds for the divorce. Roy is 77 while Patricia is 72 years old. According to a spokesperson, “This has been in the works for a long time. They’ve just decided to move forward with their lives.”

Roy is estimated to be worth $1.2 billion and he holds a majority shareholding in Disneyland. Modern times have not only seen a plethora of young divorces, but also couples having celebrated a majority of their lives together seeking separate lives. Divorces occurring in later-lives are getting commoner and commoner. Older couples are getting increasingly independent both emotionally and financially. As they remain physically active for longer years, they have independent ambitions. They prefer to split, if they find their ambitions being curtailed in any way by their spouse.

Roy and Patricia, who have four adult children from their marriage, were living separately for some time. It is not sure whether they had any prenuptial agreement.

Coley Lafloon, Anne Heche’s estranged husband, has filed for divorce from his wife on the grounds of “irreconcilable differences”. Their break-up had been cornering a lot of publicity prior to Lafloon’s legal step at seeking divorce. The 33-year old cameraman, Coley Lafloon, has asked the court for spousal support and joint custody of their son, Homer (5).

Heche’s representative confirmed the report of their split to People magazine, saying that the five year old marriage had come to an end. The rep has been quoted as “(They) have decided to separate after five years of marriage. “ According to the rep, the couple wanted to avoid becoming a target of the press because of their 5-year old son. They sought some privacy in the matter.

Rumors linking Anne Heche with her “Men in Trees” co-star, James Tupper, have been flying thick and fast, and this is what is believed to sour the married couple’s relationship. Tupper had split from his wife a few months ago. However, neither Heche nor Tupper has confirmed to be in relationship.