Celebrity Midlife Romance: A New Society Trend?

Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina recently became the latest celebrity whose love life was sprawled across the tabloid pages. With high profile middle-aged figures becoming the focus of love rumors, the questions about society’s own relationship trends are growing. Are these celebrities just the victims of a mid-life crisis? Or is there a future — and foundation — for middle-age love affairs across the social spectrum?

It’s no secret that celebrity relationships are fraught with late-blooming relationships and unusual couples. Singer Paul McCartney’s love life and high-profile divorce drew speculation about rash relationship decisions. Mel Gibson’s announcement regarding his affair (and pending child) with a Russian pop singer followed his divorce from wife Robin after years of separation.

The latest figure in the relationship debate is Governor Sanford, whose sudden disappearance from his governor’s duties sparked speculation, especially after word leaked that he was spending time in Argentina instead of hiking in the Applachians as his staff claimed. His admission to a long love affair caught the media’s attention — and in many cases, the sympathy of columnists.

There was a decided tone of leniency directed towards Sanford, based on his claims that the affair was one of love, not just sexual attraction. Many stories implied that Sanford’s mistakes were merely a reflection of the actions or feelings harbored by most middle-aged men.

But the question remains as to whether the sympathy expressed by those columnists match the sympathy of society. Many of Sanford’s constituents and fellow party members called for his resignation despite his apologies and explanations. Despite high divorce rates and dark trends like Internet affairs, the outpouring of public sympathy for Sanford and others like him is hardly overwhelming. The public fascination with the subject remains strong, however, with Google searches and celebrity blogs buzzing with the latest word on unlikely celebrity couples and May-December relationships.

Is society reluctant to admit its own indiscretions? Or is there a sense of morality which keeps them from approving this unpredictable relationship choices? Despite the fascination with celebrities’ love lives, the desire to follow them into this uncharted territory for relationship futures.