Hats off to the celebrity publicists and tabloids who’ve had a busy year spinning narratives about a slew of high-profile divorces.
Hugh Jackman, Britney Spears, Kevin Costner, the prime ministers of Canada and Finland, Reese Witherspoon… the list goes on.
Breakups are rarely easy for any of us. But when it comes to celebrity splits, the throes of divorce can be a particularly grim place.
Selecting a high-powered lawyer is merely the tip of the iceberg. For many celebrities, the public eye lingers on them long after they’ve retreated to their private lives. With this in mind, image becomes paramount — as does the cadre of publicists who celebrities bolster their ranks with.
BI spoke with top divorce lawyers and publicists to put together the celebrity-divorce playbook — come for the insight into how many tabloid photos are staged, stay for a lawyer saying that Costner’s divorce statement made him look like “a wounded bird.”
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Speaking of Costner, his divorce saga this summer is worthy of its own TV show.
We’ve got the full rundown to bring you up to speed — and don’t worry, we’ve read dozens of lawsuits so you don’t have to.
Our coverage of celebrity divorces is as interesting as it is eye-opening. But it’s also indicative of a much bigger societal shift. You may have seen headlines: 2023 was the year of “divorce,” “the breakup,” and even “the undoing of love” — and those aren’t just about celebrities; they’re about everyone.
Because of the roles they play in culture-defining movies and shows and the lives they display to us in magazines, celebrities have become the stage managers of modern romance.
After all, in the words of Oscar Wilde: “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” The result, Lyz Lenz writes for BI, may be an expansion of our freedoms: “Making divorce more accessible and less taboo and, in the process, making us all a little happier.”
1. Safety first! A guide to making sure you’re protected on your travels. The author, who traveled solo to all 50 states, details her top tips for ensuring safety. From the importance of bringing a doorstop to avoiding posting on social media in real time, her advice could be a lifesaver.
2. How to jump-start your points journey. You’ve heard all the chatter about the benefits of earning points or miles to use for travel, but you’re not sure where to start. Here’s a guide on how to figure out a gameplan.
1. The gig is up. Gig work is becoming less profitable thanks to inconsistent pay and unpredictable algorithms. As a result, workers might be forced to work more gigs to make ends meet.
2. Good luck finding a new job these days. Not as many people are quitting their jobs these days, making it harder for job seekers and switchers. And it could be even worse than we all realize as “ghost jobs,” postings that employers don’t intend to fill anymore, could be on the rise.
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1. A cheeseburger a day might not keep the doctor away. But when they taste this good, who cares? The author tried double cheeseburgers from 12 different fast-food chains to offer a definitive ranking. Check out how they all stack up.
3. Trader Joe’s & the Mediterranean diet. A dietitian who follows the Mediterranean diet shares the best items to pick up at Trader Joe’s. The vegan kale, cashew, and basil pesto is a versatile tool in the kitchen, as is the store’s vegan dill dressing.
An NYC-based couple that’s visited over 200 stores and co-wrote a book share surprising facts about the big-box warehouse club. There’s a special term for the items stacked up right near the entrance, and the chain has a unique return policy on avocados.
News Quiz
Answers for the quiz from Friday’s edition
From Monday: This OpenAI executive’s future at the company is up in the air after playing a key role in Sam Altman’s ouster. Answer: Ilya Sutskever
From Tuesday: Which Major League Baseball star recently signed a massive contract that impacted his native country’s stock market? Answer:Shohei Ohtani
From Wednesday: How much is former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer set to earn in dividends annually from his stake in the tech giant? Answer: $1 billion
From Thursday: Which Wall Street billionaire paid for the air rights above St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City? Answer: Ken Griffin
From Friday: The former CEO of this giant oil company lost $40 million over relationships with colleagues. Answer: BP