Jenna Fischer and James Gunn Split
Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 08:25amThis news makes me sad. The gossip rags always talk about how a marriage can split up when the wife is more successful than the husband…it seems like a sexist thing to say, but when you think about Reese/Ryan, Hilary/Chad, Jennifer/Scott, Britney/Kevin (LOLZ)…Oh, I don’t know. Thoughts? Either way, I love both Jenna and James in their respective careers, so I wish them both the best.
kyle on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 8:54 am
I don’t know if it’s because the wife is more successful or not - marriages just seem to break up a lot in Hollywood. Still, sad news - I like them both too.
maddie on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 8:57 am
Not that we know exactly what happened between them - but it seemed like there wasn’t a competitive attitude there. James had his own world of making movies, and Jenna was working her way up in acting. Like they said, they were each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
I think this seems especially sad (to me, anyway) because of the personal way they connected with fans, on myspace, interviews, etc. that made them seem really down-to-earth (which it appears they are) and just regular non-famous couple that you would know in reality.
Chips O'Toole on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 9:05 am
it was all those damn lollipops!
chuckb123 on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 9:14 am
I think that’s a common assumption, but I don’t buy it. It may be a contributing factor in some cases along with a hundred other things, like spending half your marriage apart from each other on location. I think no one knows what goes on behind closed doors when it comes down to it (hello, Owen Wilson) and that the gossip rags are just that - trying to drum up something to sell their shitty publications. People falling out of love isn’t nearly as sellable as JEALOUS RIVAL LOVERS.
freakgirl on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 9:16 am
I hear you, Chuck. I don’t think I really buy into that whole thing either; just wanted to put it up for discussion. I’m sure in some cases it’s totally true, and in others it’s not.
Anyway, they seem like nice people and I don’t want my Pammie to be sad!
Lisa on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 9:23 am
Sadness. I guess she really IS 30% more spontaneous. Poor fancy new Beesley. And poor James Gunn.
Michael on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 9:26 am
I don’t know about y’all, but it’s my DREAM to have a husband who’s more successful than I am.
Michael on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 9:57 am
PS I do think it’s a REAL reason that couples break up, though. I know men who grow to resent their more successful wives. Do people really believe that it’s NOT threatening for some guys who are attached to traditional gender/family unit roles?
Bluebunny on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 10:01 am
Well, I can tell you in my situation my boy LOVES that I am the main breadwinner. Of course, to a large extent it is his choice. He could be more successful if he wanted to be, but the boy enjoys being a kept man.
freakgirl on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 10:11 am
I once got dumped, years back, and the douchebag said part of the reason was that I had a better job and made more money than him. Of course, he was an irresponsible junkie incapable of holding a job, so what did I expect, really…
Susan on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 10:28 am
this is sad b/c they seem “normal” by hollyweird standards. like pp’s said probably just being apart, doing their careers, etc. i was sad to hear michelle williams and heath ledger broke up, too…w/the baby and all…they seemed kind of normal since they stayed out of the hollywood scene and lived in brooklyn…..yeah, gwyneth paltrow is a total bitch but, word on the street is that it’s rocky w/her and chris martin…who the hell knows….marriage is tough enough when it’s just 2 “regular” people trying to make it work let alone 2 famous peops, paparazzi, careers, handlers, etc……
Maggie on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 11:08 am
I think it’s probably surprising how many men are still hung up on this kind of thing…men that would identify as feminists, yet still resenting women secretly for making more money, being smarter, etc. It may not be the case here, but I’m sure it’s still rampant.
Michael since you mention wanting a husband more successful than you, I wonder how does this type of thing play out in the gay and lesbian world? If a man who would resent a more successful wife was gay, would he also resent his male partner for the same reason? I guess I am asking a very big question about gay dynamics.
Michael on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 12:51 pm
It is a big question, isn’t it? I’ll offer a small answer. I had a few dates with a guy this year, and I think he’s really looking for a relationship where he’s the “husband” from the old style nuclear family, bringing home the bacon and whatnot. Dude, I ain’t fryin’ nothin’ up in a pan. And don’t try to order for me when we’re out. Oh, wait. Maybe that was the “Daddy” thing. Either way, I think it’s a matter of how much someone identifies with those stereotypical gender roles, regardless of sexuality. But more prevalent in straight guys for that very reason? Prolly.
PS He had MAD stack, too, so maybe I’m not the gold digger I think I am.
Michael on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I just wanna be GaDINK. ;-)
Jason on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 1:28 pm
There is a silver lining to this. Jenna is going to be on the market real soon! Maybe I’ve been watching too much Big Love, but I think she’d make a fine addition to my family.
freakgirl on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Ha!
Soosan on Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 7:47 pm
argh, the more this happens the less positive I am about finding the “one”. I guess that’s the silver lining to my not being famous.
Maggie on Friday, September 07, 2007 at 1:21 am
Don’t worry, Soosan. Just concentrate on finding “the one that’s not so bad”.
I’m just kidding.
Re traditional gender roles: Growing up I had decided I didn’t want to be a wife/mommy type and planned to be uber edgy and work a lot and travel and do all kinds of things. As it turned out, I have actually chosen to assume a much more traditional role than I ever thought I would. I took my husband’s name (because I wanted to) and stayed home with my kid and now I’m branching out starting a home business and I am really happy with that.
Big Tuna on Friday, September 07, 2007 at 11:37 am
Don’t assume that it was James that changed after Jenna got famous….
I’ve seen women become more succesfful than their husbands…then the woman realizes she doesn’t need the man anymore, or doesn’t need THAT man.
She’d got her own money now, her own career, she’s hot….she starts thinking she can do better that what she’s got.
freakgirl on Friday, September 07, 2007 at 12:02 pm
No one is assuming anything. Except you, assuming that Jenna is someone who got a big head and “doesn’t need a man.”