The following celebrity couples all have something particular in common:
Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden
Naomi Watts and Liev Schrieber
Jessica Alba and Cash Warren
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubrey
Heath Ledger (1979-2008) and Michelle Williams
If you’re up on your celebrity gossip, then you’ve probably figured out quickly that they are all unmarried couples who have had children together, or have children on the way. Children born out of wedlock isn’t an uncommon phenomenon in Hollywood. In fact, these days it seems to be all the rage. But why is it that babies (considered the most solid commitment a couple can make) seem to come more easily than marriage, an event which requires only a few legal proceedings and an optional ceremony?
Legal Reasons
The world of entertainment can be particularly nasty. That being said, Hollywood seems to have a love/hate relationship with its courting couples. On the one hand, it absolutely loves weddings. There are countless magazine issues and sensationalist TV shows dedicated to the hundreds of intricate details involved in celebrity weddings. But the marriages themselves never seem to attract the same sort of attention. In fact, the more tumultuous a marriage is, the more press it seems to get. That being said, famous people are often plagued with additional legal issues like prenuptial agreements. For if and when a divorce becomes imminent, the combining of assets, royalties, properties, earnings, and a host of other celebrity goodies are all seemingly up for grabs. Ironically, it appears to be easier to settle the case of where the children will reside (after a divorce) than who will be ultimately awarded the teacup Chihuahua and the summer home in Negril.
Personal Aversion
Some celebrities like Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie have already have two, three, or even more failed marriages under their belts. For this reason, many celebs find that the public humiliation and attention that comes with a legal divorce is far too painful to endure again. Therefore, they shun the legal bindings associated with marriage in favor of something more casual. Other pairs have discovered that underlying relationship issues prevent them from tying the knot. Still, these problems in and of themselves don’t prevent babies from making an appearance.
Famous couples like Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon or Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, have eschewed the legal trappings of marriage and have gone on to enjoy healthy, fulfilling, long-term relationships. They don’t disagree with marriage per se, but have decided to dedicate themselves to one another without signing papers to that effect. In fact, some of these relationships have lasted long than the average Hollywood marriage—though that is not the norm.
Whoops!!
There are also those couples whose throes of blossoming love have resulted in an unplanned pregancy. Some of these famous pairs have already decided to make their unions legal. But Mother Nature simply had other plans. Other celebs have had rocky relationships which garnered the same results. These are the stars who may not completely see themselves as ready to commit to their partners. But by the time a pregnancy has been discovered, said couple may decide to stick it out, or even become engaged as a way of cementing their union. The “accidental” pregnancy is certainly not an infrequent occurrence in today’s society. But for celebrities, the announcement of a child brings with it the pressure from the public to define the romantic relationship. Thus, some celebs choose to skip the altar altogether to avoid any further “criticism.”
Married With Children: Under the Radar…
Ironically, there quite a few married celebrity couples who appear to be enjoying the long-term benefits of marriage and family:
Harry Connick, Jr. and Jill Goodacre (married 14 yrs, 3 children)
L.L. Cool J and wife Simone (12+ years, 4 children)
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos (12 years, 3 children)
John Travolta and Kelly Preston (17 years, 2 children)
These famous pairs are very rarely seen in tabloid headlines. For the most part, outside of their professional endeavors, the world seems largely uninterested in their personal affairs (no pun intended). This is perhaps because Hollywood’s primary audience thrives on scandal and mayhem. Celebrity families who appear to benefit from more practical (read: boring) lifestyles, very often do so under the bright radar of Hollywood.
