Chaz Bono, Jennifer Elia Split: What Happened?

Friends of Chaz Bono and his former fiancee, Jennifer Elia, are not surprised that the pair recently called it quits, saying their relationship has been on the rocks for some time.

"Relationships are not easy," a friend of Bono's tells me. "Add on top of that, when this couple started this relationship they were both women -- and now one is a man. Add to that, they both have had substance issues and a lot of personal problems they needed to figure out. It was an amazing relationship and they wanted to get through the TV show together before making a decision about moving forward."

The longtime couple became engaged just a few months ago, after Bono proposed on camera in "Being Chaz," the follow-up special to his 2011 Emmy Award-nominated documentary, "Becoming Chaz." But it turns out that things were much more complicated when the cameras stopped rolling.

"Chaz has been living in the guest house for some time now," Bono's friend continues. "Both of them had been in therapy to try and save this relationship, but in the end, it became clear to both Chaz and Elia that this wasn't going to work."

But it wasn't the sudden spotlight that put the couple's relationship in jeopardy. In fact, Elia enjoyed sitting down with Oprah and Piers Morgan after Chaz announced his transition. Back when I interviewed Bono to promote his book, "Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man," he told me Elia was a "big ham and enjoyed that attention."

No tales of fame-gone-awry here. What broke this couple up were the same type of woes that could dissolve any relationship.

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Comments

[doopa]

08:54 PM on 01/16/2012

Man, woman, lesbian, gay...who cares....They broke up because Jennifer refused to sign a prenuptual agreement. I don't blame her, but that's what ended their engagement.

[faceswithin]

03:35 AM on 01/07/2012

he suffers with substance and personal problems? no kidding. But the way they love to paint this he was suffering as woman and now that is not the problem. and guess what its not the answer. the grass is always greener isn't it. put some one in a room with five things for a month, and one learn to get along with who you are and what you can do with what you have. Is what they should do to some that has been given to much and are happy with nothing. we are lying to the kids today. all you have to do is any thing you want, and all will be great. But its not, learning to deal with who you are and what you mean to the world and God matters so much more. Given to much and made to feel they are the center of the world and this is what happens. We are seeing it more and more it use to be just the very rich but now its a lot more. I see so many that are so in hate with them self and the world and God. Nothing could every make them happy. I fear not even in death will they be happy. So many have lost faith and its so sad. Money isn’t real you know and things are just that things. But if you don’t love who you are and see your self as you been given, than you are lost.

[Womanwhoreallyisawoman]

05:03 PM on 12/24/2011

Sicko mutiliated obese woman pretends to be a man, munches some rug and now the world cares about her relationship problems. Sick world we live in.

[MelodyMalice]

06:44 AM on 03/15/2012

It's only sick because people like you can't be more accepting of people who have real mental conditions that disable them from fitting the bodies they were born with.

[BOOWAH]

03:30 PM on 12/24/2011

Lesbians are man haters! Thus, when Chaz became a man,......well you know the rest!

[William R James]

03:12 AM on 12/24/2011

My guess is that she realized a good looking lesbian can do a lot better than a fat chick who thinks she's a guy.

[Womanwhoreallyisawoman]

05:04 PM on 12/24/2011

It is a mutilated woman pretending to be a man. It's father Sonny Bono is spinning in his grave at how messed up this sicko turned out to be. What a sad sad young woman. If only she was not raised in Hollywood she may have turned out normal

[69dogrudebark]

02:54 AM on 12/24/2011

I would be a bit confused myself if my wife purchased a penis and lost her boobs...

[vegasbaby6969]

11:41 PM on 12/23/2011

if she can't lick the dolla....

[Smail Buzzby]

08:06 PM on 12/23/2011

She decided that if she wanted a 'man' that she could find one who wasn't gross?

[cassius clay]

07:47 PM on 12/23/2011

Well, they're both Women, for one thing.

[OtayPanky]

07:33 PM on 12/23/2011

Blogger: What broke this couple up were the same type of woes that could dissolve any relationship.

---

I have a lot of respect for Bono for being willing to be a public figure to put a human face on the transgender community and the unique challenges transgender folks face in coming to grips with the fact that they have been born in the wrong sort of body.

But honestly speaking, the challenges this couple faced were simply not the same sort of challenges that other couples face - whether gay or straight. They were - at least in part - unique to those who are in a relationship as one gender, and then have one of the partners switch to another.

[donllivisolo]

12:06 PM on 12/23/2011

IT'S CALLED PENIUS ENVY!!!donllivi

[ncrespi]

07:02 PM on 12/23/2011

It takes b*allz to say that....lol

[bagocheese]

11:35 AM on 12/23/2011

She wanted a real man?

[buzzyseed]

12:07 PM on 12/23/2011

No, she wanted a real woman.

[Calilover Calilover]

11:23 AM on 12/23/2011

chaz just became a real man

he just found out what its like to be used by a women for his fame and power

[Womanwhoreallyisawoman]

05:06 PM on 12/24/2011

And all the readers just found out what a fool you are to humor this messed up young obese lady by calling her a man. She is not a man she is a mutiliated and confused young obese and ugly woman with gnarly teeth.

[MelodyMalice]

06:46 AM on 03/15/2012

And all the reader's just found out what a transphobic you are.

[Calilover Calilover]

11:22 AM on 12/23/2011

good thing they didnt get married

[nellybly1]

02:19 PM on 12/24/2011

Apparently some people do.