By Evan Goldaper
We all wish it could be different, but breakups are rarely painless. Whether it’s the kids, money, future plans or just anger, there’s almost always something to fight over. In a word: drama. If you follow the roller coaster ride that is Hollywood relationships, you’re sure to have realized that celebrity splits are the biggest and most dramatic splits around. Cupid took a look at some of the worst celebrity divorces in recent years to see what practical lessons could be learned from the wreckage:
1. Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries: No discussion of celebrity breakups would be complete without a look at Kim Kardashian’s legendary split with Kris Humphries following a 72-day marriage. The two only dated for six months before Humphries proposed, and they never settled on plans for life after the wedding. Both accused the other of using their relationship as a money-making scheme. Financial issues aside, it’s this pair’s insistence on keeping themselves in the public eye that turned what could’ve been a quick and quiet split into a massive, messy parting of ways. In fact, their divorce is taking longer than their entire marriage … but it has kept their names in the tabloids.
Related:Â Celebrity Couples Who Let Money Ruin Their Relationship
2. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver: The aftermath of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver’s relationship shows that no matter how long a couple has been together, breakups can still be difficult and dramatic. Though the two had been married for 25 years, Schwarzenegger revealed in May of 2011 that, over a decade earlier, he had fathered a child with his housekeeper. The longtime couple tried to work things out in couples’ therapy, but even Schwarzenegger admitted that what he had done was inexcusable. Though Shriver quickly moved into a separate mansion, the two are technically still married and discussion of their divorce continues to this day.
3. Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller: In December of 2009, reports broke that Charlie Sheen assaulted his wife Brooke Mueller with a knife, setting in motion another of Tinseltown’s biggest breakups. Both Sheen and Mueller are known for their erratic behavior and substance abuse, which ended up putting a huge amount of stress on their relationship. Sheen’s violence quickly led to a split, but the ensuing custody battle lasted for months. Though they initially settled on joint custody of their twins, the two began tossing threats back and forth to get that changed. It wasn’t until Mueller got close to $1.75 million in settlement that things simmered down.
4. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt: And finally, the most confusing breakup of all: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt’s. They were married twice–in 2008 in Mexico and in 2009 in the United States–but their marriage still didn’t last long. As early as March of 2011, rumors began about their breakup when Montag fired Pratt as her manager. Soon after, she divorced him, claiming he insisted on controlling both her life and the press surrounding her. The two battled on and off for months, with Pratt threatening to release their sex tapes if Montag didn’t film a new reality show with him. However, the two were spotted together in Costa Rica during one of these battles, making many assume that these overblown arguments were just attempts at getting attention. Either way, the two were back together by September.
Related:Â On & Off: When Celebrities Should Call It Quits
So what can we learn here? Well sure, you might not have $1.75 million to give to your ex or paparazzi hounding your every decision, but you certainly do have your own level of concerns about your well-being. Talk about your issues with your partner, and you can keep them from getting in the way of romance. Even if you do break up, communication will keep your split clean.
Have you had any messy breakups? Tell us about them below!
