Secrets of celebrity divorces, brought to you by Hollywood insiders. (Getty Images)Breaking up in Hollywood is an art form.
It's not just about which half of the couple gets the mansions or the money - it's about who controls the narrative, who is spinning the breakup and who has the better professionals working overtime to make sure a star's image doesn't get caught in the cross fire.
Beneath every headline and strategic statement from a celebrity's camp or exclusive source, there's a carefully choreographed dance going on that most people don't see. There's a high-powered divorce attorney, typically costing more than $1,000 an hour, managing the division of assets. There's a longtime publicist who's been by a star's side through highs and lows, ensuring the split is framed in the best possible light. Then there's the X factor: the media. No matter how prepared a famous figure thinks they are for the attention that comes with a big life change, some of the best-laid plans can still unravel in the face of public scrutiny.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCelebrity divorces may seem like a personal matter, but in Tinseltown, they're a public spectacle. I spoke with a seasoned publicist, a top divorce attorney, a social media manager and an actress who've had front-row seats to these high-stakes splits. They took me behind the scenes of how these high-profile divorces are handled, because in the world of fame, it's never just about 'I don't' - it's about what happens after the vows fall apart.
Step 1: It's overI talked to one actress whose divorce from another star made headlines in recent years. She preferred her name not be used but confirmed that one of the first calls she made was to her publicist."Going through a divorce isn't fun, whether you're famous or not. But if you are a 'celebrity,' then you know when you file, it's going to be reported about in the press," she tells me.
When a celebrity decides they are filing for divorce from their spouse, fans may or may not have caught wind of it in the press. Sometimes it's a slow trickle of reports that a split is imminent, like what happened as Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, or Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck all respectively decoupled. Other times, it's a total surprise, similar to the 2016 shocker that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were going their separate ways.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile those in the stars' inner circle may have had an idea of what was really going on beyond the headlines, what happens next is managed by professionals far beyond the realm of close friendships."You lean on your close friends for the emotional part," the actress says. "But you need a team to handle the business side of things."Step 2: Build your teamA celebrity's team usually consists of a manager, agent and publicist. Depending on their level of fame, there might be assistants and in-house content creators to help with running their social media accounts. When a celebrity is going through a divorce, it's the publicist who takes the lead in navigating the incoming storm.
Sarah Schmidt, a celebrity publicist who has handled multiple client breakups, tells me that ideally, any publicists working on the talent's account are "looped in early enough to plan the announcement and quietly craft the surrounding narrative."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSchmidt, president of PR firm Interdependence, says if it's possible, a celebrity's publicity team is quietly crafting all of this before the public has any idea. They also work in tandem with the attorney chosen to represent the celebrity in the divorce."When I get hired by a celebrity, 80% of the time, a handler of the celebrity calls me and they kind of vet me," divorce attorney Nancy Chemtob, from Chemtob Moss Forman & Beyda, tells me. "Then after that, I meet with my client."At that first meeting, Chemtob, who has represented stars like Mary-Kate Olsen, Tory Burch and Bobby Flay, says the first question she usually gets is, "Should I conflict out attorneys?" That means a star will go meet with other high-profile lawyers around town so that their soon-to-be ex cannot use that lawyer. In some cases, she will advise it, although it's rare."What ends up happening is your spouse is left with mid-level attorneys who will say 'Wow, this is the biggest case in the whole world,' and just keep [proceedings] going," Chemtob says. "I want to be on a level playing field with [the opposing attorney], so that someone I work with would have respect for me, and I would have respect for them, making the case easier, more settleable and our clients would have less stress."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith a lawyer in place, Schmidt says her staff then works on strategy. That includes crafting a "a clear, human-forward statement" for the celebrity to release.
You've probably read many of those statements. The stars made the decision