Another day, another news cycle over a celebrity couple.
Reports are swirling that Tom Brady has found a new love interest in Russian model Irina Shayk following his much publicized divorce from Gisele Bündchen, which was finalized in October 2022.
The internet and media can’t seem to get enough of the former National Football League star’s love life since he and former Victoria’s secret model Bündchen split after 13 years of marriage. And it’s not just Brady and Shayk − rumors continue to circulate regarding Ariana Grande and husband Dalton Gomez’s marriage. Elsewhere, Bravo stars Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky recently confirmed difficulties in their decades-long marriage.
Experts say fans should keep in mind that, ultimately, no matter how famous someone is, their relationship is chiefly their business and not ours.
“If a divorce or breakup is amicable, the old axiom … ‘(it’s) none of your business’ may apply,” Laura Petiford, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told USA TODAY. “Let other people think what they will.”
Why do we care so much about Tom Brady’s love life?
Our current era of celebrity social media makes fans feel like they know these celebrities – what’s called a parasocial relationship. As a result, the ups and downs in a celebrity’s love life can feel personal to fans.
“Fans tend to project a lot on to the celebrity relationship: a lot of their own fantasies about what the relationship is, what it was, what it means,” licensed psychotherapist Jenn Mann previously told USA TODAY. “There’s a lot of fantasy fulfillment for the fan.”
Fans should remember they don’t know all the details of why anyone’s relationship doesn’t work out.
“It’s important to not hold celebrities to impossible standards because these are fallible humans with inevitable flaws and shortcomings, just like the rest of us,” Shana Redmond, a professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, previously told USA TODAY. “What we see on social media is a small slice of who they are – we can’t substitute that glamour for the whole.”
More:Tom Brady romantically linked to Russian model Irina Shayk, Cristiano Ronaldo’s ex
What should you do if people can’t stop talking about your relationship status?
It can be trying when those around you won’t stop speculating about your relationship status. This difficulty is magnified for celebrities, who see their relationships become the subject of international news headlines and social media trends.
“Being a celebrity means carrying a giant target on your back for people’s psychological projections,” W. Keith Campbell, an expert on narcissism, personality and cultural change, previously told USA TODAY. “Sometimes those can be great, but sometimes those can be really negative.”
Here’s what to know if you find yourself going through a phase where everyone is focused on your romance:
- Remember only you and your partner know the full story. “You can try to quell the speculation, you can try to get out ahead of questions, you can try to answer all the questions … but at the end of the day, only you have the full context regardless of how much you elect to share with others,” Ali Jackson, a dating and relationship coach, previously told USA TODAY.
- Set boundaries and rally your support system. Be clear about what you want out there and what you definitely don’t. “Having boundaries, and having a private life really becomes an important part of having very healthy overall wellbeing, being able to have both personal boundaries that you can control, and then also identifying really healthy social support,” T.M. Robinson-Mosley, counseling psychologist, previously told USA TODAY.
- Get ready for questions. Questions may come up as people consider which side they’re planning to take in a breakup. There may be little control, ultimately, for celebrities to move legions of fans one way or another without digging themselves into a drama-filled pit. Plus: “If I were to advise those who were wondering, reaching out personally if they genuinely care is best,” Fisher said. “Otherwise, keep those motives in check – why do you need to know? Is it just being nosy or is there actual concern?”
More:Amy Robach, T.J. Holmes and why we can’t look away from the ‘GMA’ scandal
Contributing: David Oliver and Hannah Yasharoff
