15 Historical Celebrity Marriages That Would Be Viewed as Highly Problematic Now

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Celebrity marriages have always fascinated the public, reflecting their time’s cultural norms and values. However, some of these high-profile marriages would be viewed as highly problematic by today’s standards. Here are 15 of them:

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Jerry Lewis & Myra Gale Brown

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The first marriage on the list is much more erratic than it may sound. Lewis, a great singer, married his 13-year-old cousin, shocking the world. The 1957 scandal led to a temporary blocklisting of Lewis. Now, when people look back at it, they criticize it even more than before, not only because of the exploitation of a minor but also due to the safety concerns of a girl in her family relations.

Elvis Presley & Priscilla Beaulieu

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This couple had an age gap of 10 years and married each other when Priscilla was 21 and Elvis was 31. Sounds good? But their dating life started when Priscilla was just 14 years old. People argue that the courtship time, which was almost a decade long, would be a major concern for today’s youth.

Woody Allen & Soon-Yi Previn

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Hold your seats tightly because this one will be a shocker! Let’s begin with a common one: age difference. How much, you may ask? They began dating when Soon-Yi was in her teenage years, and Woody was in his 50s. What? Yes, there’s more. Allen already had a partner, and he was cheating on her. Ok… And with whom? He was cheating on his former partner with her adopted daughter.

Charlie Chaplin & Lita Grey

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Charlie Chaplin has always been famous for his memorable silent movies. However, he also hogged headlines when he married Lita Grey, who was just 16 years old and he was 35. Why? He got her pregnant! Today’s people scrutinize this a lot and highlight the major concerns of consent, child protection laws, and exploitation it carried.

Roman Polanski & Emmanuelle Seigner

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Roman Polanski was a director who married Emmanuelle, an actress, in 1989. Their ages at the time of their marriage were 23 and 56, respectively. What people highlight as a significant issue is Polanski’s history. He has had a notorious legal history, where he fled from the USA after receiving charges for having a physical relationship with a minor. The significant age gap and his criminal history pose questions about this marriage, and in today’s time, people scrutinize it a lot.

R. Kelly & Aaliyah

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Aaliyah was a singer who married Kelly when she was 15 and he was 27. The law allowed it because the documents were forged to state that she was 18. The marriage was messy and ended early.

Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall

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Both these superstars had a long-standing relationship, but they had significant substance abuse problems and zero trust. They had an unofficial marriage ceremony in 1990, and whenever it’s revisited, it’s criticized for lack of trust and the emotional turmoil it had on each other.

Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor

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These two not only married each other twice but also divorced each other twice. It was a famous tumultuous relationship of its time. They had a pretty toxic relationship because of their volatile natures and public fights. Today’s generation knows the importance of a healthy and stable relationship and its impact on one’s mental health.

Errol Flynn & Beverly Aadland

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Errol Flynn was a star who rocked in the 1930s and 1940s. But he also left an indelible mark on people’s minds by having a relationship with a 17-year-old girl when he was in his 40s. Today, people criticize such relationships for the exploitative and predatory nature they carry. Flynn also has a history of scandalous behavior, and this significant age gap soils his reputation further.

Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall

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Both were renowned industry artists, and the story started when Bogart met Bacall in 1943. Even though Bogart was married, he decided to have an affair with Bacall amidst his divorce talks. From 1943 to 48, both were cast together in a total of 3 films. They married in 1945 when Bacall was 20 and Bogart was 45. Their relationship greatly impacted their careers and overshadowed their contributions to the Hollywood Industry.

David Bowie & Iman

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They met on a blind date in 1990 and decided to tie the knot two years later. The wedding was one of the iconic weddings and the reason it raises concerns in today’s era because Bowie was 13 years older than Iman and had a history of dating younger women. People feel that in the initial stages of their relationship, there may be potential concerns about exploitation. A few years back, Bowie died of health diseases, and Iman is living with their daughter, celebrating the years both of them cherished together.

John Derek & Bo Derek

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John Derek, who’s very well known for his films like ‘Knock on Any Door’ and ‘All the King’s Men,’ was rumored to be in an extramarital affair with Bo, who was 16 then. And later on, the TV star divorced his wife, Linda Evans, to marry Bo Derek when she turned 18. When they married, John was 49, and they both had an age gap of almost 30 years. People say that he married a girl of an age that would have been similar to his daughter’s. What’s more concerning is that the relationship started when Bo was still a minor.

Steven Tyler & Julia Holcomb

This time, this couple had an age difference of 11 years. Now, this might not seem to be a big problem. The issue arose when Julia Holcomb was found to be 16 years old. And before you think about the law, he became her legal guardian to avoid any abusive charges. People of today consider it to be a misuse of power and a clear case of child exploitation.

Cher & Gregg Allman

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Both of them were married for a short duration of time and, in the 70s, ended the relationship. The reason for the same is marked by substance abuse and emotional instability between them. In today’s time, people criticize it for its unhealthy and potentially abusive environment. It also draws light on the impacts of extensive addiction and emotional volatility while emphasizing the importance of a stable and supportive environment.

James Cameron & Linda Hamilton

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This power couple couple ended their relationship on a sour note. The reason stated is considered to be because of cheating and emotional abuse. Both of them consider it to be a terrible mismatch. Today’s generation focuses on the toxic dynamics of this relationship and how it impacted both of their mental health. They also highlight the importance of having a partner one can trust simultaneously.

Author: Ali Van Straten

Title: Journalist

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