Yes, I watch Bravo. No, I haven’t joined a 12-step program if there is one. Yes, I’ve admitted my problem, but I’m not planning on rectifying it anytime soon. And I confess: I am a viewer of some of the Housewives, including a backward glance at the perpetually petulant crew from Beverly Hills.
Every time Camille Grammer appears on screen, I find myself shaking my head – involuntarily. Disapprovingly.
Obviously, I don’t know the woman, and reality TV is orchestrated for our entertainment, seemingly shaping the participants into semi-caricatures at times. But I don’t like catty and I don’t like snotty. And remarks made by Camille – consistently – come across as both.
And then there’s Kelsey Grammer. Hot to honeymoon with Wife #4.
Our fascination with celebrity love lives (and subsequent splits) is stirred more than usual, and I’m trying to figure out why that is. Maybe it’s because we used to like Kelsey, and now we don’t. Maybe because there is collective shaking of heads across the country, viewing Camille’s cooing and conniving. Maybe it’s because now we don’t like either of these two – and that’s a conundrum.
Rooting for the good guy
It’s human nature to take sides when we see a fight, but we don’t care for her (as presented on Real Housewives), and his behavior? Tacky, tacky, tacky.
An affair? It happens every day. Leave your spouse for another man / woman? That, too.
But the way it’s played out, and the sprint to the alter using divorce bifurcation to do so? Nasty. And I can’t help but wonder why. ‘Tis the season? Upcoming tax season?
Hollywood splits are a dime a dozen, but there’s something about this one that turns my stomach. Partly it’s the sums involved, and the appalling sense of entitlement. After all, Camille may need to downsize from eight houses to four, from four nannies to three, from being half of an $80+ million celebrity couple to a status of (reportedly) $50 million ex, just one more in a stream of exes left in the wake of the talented Mr. Grammer.
As for him, why the rush to remarry? Why this “bifurcation” business?
Bifurcation, remarriage
California is one of a few states that allows for bifurcation in divorce proceedings, basically, the separation of marriage termination from resolution of any number of other issues including determination of communal assets and other financial issues affecting taxes.* In addition, bifurcation may defer issues of child custody, child support, and alimony.**
Generally, one of the two involved wants to remarry – and address all the tricky stuff afterward. And who do you think that benefits?
The one with the bucks, naturally. In this case, that’s the one who wants out and walking down the aisle with Mrs. #4. And once that’s accomplished, where’s the incentive to quickly dispense with the other issues involved? How long will they drag on, and how many millions will be drained pointlessly in the process?
The Court of Public Opinion
And this is where I repeat: tacky, tacky, tacky. Of course, so is getting engaged before you’re divorced. (A recurring theme when it comes to the Housewives franchise?)
When a marriage ends – whether it plays out in public or not – ultimately, the reasons remain private business. No one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors. But what about the children?
Of course, we haven’t seen much of the two Grammer kids on Real Housewives. That may be an intentional attempt to keep them out of the limelight, which I find appropriate. But divorce is hard on children under any circumstances. How much more difficult is it when your father’s picture is splashed across the Internet with his girlfriend-fiancée, before he’s even disposed of your mother?
Divorce: Good for business, bad for business
When it came to Mel Gibson’s rabid ranting, I vowed not to watch another Mel Gibson anything – and I haven’t. Certainly, this little domestic drama playing out in the media seems less appalling, but no less distasteful to me – precisely because with that sort of money and privilege, you’d think they might manage some manners. Of course, to quote the Countess, “money can’t buy you class.”
Then again, perhaps we should consider the Grammers’ contribution to revenues in certain sectors. After all, they sell newspapers and increase page views. Still, I won’t be watching any reruns of Frasier anytime soon.
*Source
** Source
Divorces like this make me sad. Really, do people reserve their absolute worst behavior for handling divorce?
You know what Molly? I think some people do. To me, this sort of rapid remarriage is utterly disrespectful, especially when there are children involved.
I loathe Kelsey Grammer and have since I met him in Boston back in the late 90s. He was smug, condescending, and rude. I’m not surprised at all that his personal life reflects those same qualities.
I admit that I hadn’t heard much about this particular break-up before reading your post, but it certainly sounds like these two deserve(d) each other – a match made in divorce court.
The celebrity break-ups that always get me are those of couples that seemed less cynical from the start. Yes, I know I’m naive when it comes to the intersection of money, power, and romantic love, but I was genuinely surprised when I first heard about the break-up of Tony Parker and Eva Longoria. After their fairy tale romance and wedding, I thought they might be in it for the long haul. I guess not.
Divorce tends to bring out the worst in people. Even more so with celebrities. Why is this? Because they were a little short in the maturity/down-to-earth/grounded/practical/rational department to begin with.
With the cost of divorcing, you’d think at a certain point celebs would stop marrying. Wife #4 at 55? Will he be going for #5 at 60? Of course, how many hubbies did Liz Taylor have? Isn’t it less expensive to collect luxury vehicles?
Like Kristen, this is the first I’ve heard of this divorce. Then again, I do not read magazines, watch TV shows, or read internet articles about celebs. It’s just not my thing. (Not that I think it’s silly if you do. Just to clarify.)
Sadly, I have seen this happen in real life. Not with the big bucks and the “classy” shots of the ex and soon-to-be wife, but real stuff that has hurt both parties and isolated unfortunate children. It’s almost like there is a culture of divorce–especially among Hollywood. Marry when it’s convenient, divorce when it’s even more so.
Sadly, I tend to agree with you, Amber – that we’ve become a culture of divorce. It isn’t that some divorces aren’t necessary, and nor should marriage be “servitude,” but something is very amiss. I can’t help but think that too many see divorce as an easy out (without realizing there’s nothing easy about it). The real issue is strengthening marriages – and they don’t all need to look alike in their structure or workings, but they do need to hold value enough for those involved to fight to keep them together – particularly if children are involved. It’s the children who pay the price more than anyone. My two cents.
Like Kristen, I am more taken off guard by the celebrity breakups between people who appear to be more grounded. It seems that Kelsey Grammar has a reputation of engaging in this behavior. So the fact that his divorce is so public and nasty doesn’t really surprise me.
I have some sympathy for Camille, who has said she was blindsided by all of this. Of course, she’s made some money by selling her side of the story, too, when you’d think she would want some privacy to grieve and heal. Either way, privacy and unconditional support is what their girls need, and it doesn’t seem like either parent is interested in giving them that, what with all the media spinning going on.
I so agree with you on every single point. I am also a Bravo junkie and every time they show Camille I want to vomit. She is just plain rude. I don’t wish divorce on anyone, and I don’t want to hear about the celebs 24/7 either. By the way…I also stopped watching anything Mel Gibson.