I'm mad about it. Not the fact that they're in one. Heck, I don't even know if it's true. They certainly didn't tell me personally about it. And it has long been rumored but never even close to being confirmed.
Until now.
At least so say the press reprinting the story from sea to shining sea. The news appears to be making the rounds. First through the British tabloids and now all over the web right here at home. I'm mad because celebs always get a free pass. Had sex with a prostitute? Abused too many illegal substances? Showed a little more than you should have when you got out of the limo? No worries. You're a celebrity.
I've waited this long to write about this because I kept thinking that Smith would make some sort of public statement about how it wasn't true. A press release handed out and reprinted everywhere. You know, because it would be presumed to be bad for his image. But there's been nothing.
Is he just ignoring it? Are they plotting their response? Or could it be that it's true and they aren't ashamed of it? If that's the case, I can't help but wonder what the public's response will be. Will they boycott his films? Demand refunds on their fan club memberships? Take to the streets with pitchforks and torches? Somehow I doubt it.
And that's what makes me mad.
Although, I have to admit, it also makes me really happy.
Nothing like a celebrity coming out to give credence to something otherwise considered impossible or unacceptable. It's a bold move. But I wonder too if it's a calculated one. Nothing like the big reveal to get people talking about you. And going to see your movies. And buying your actions figures. And, well, you get the idea. Not that I think Smith or his publicity machine got the info out there just to get attention. He already has that. I'm just curious about the timing and the lack of response from his camp.
I, of course, hope it means that the "alternative" status of open marriages will be reevaluated. If America's sweethearts are doing it, how bad can it possibly be? Sure, if they stomped on puppies or ate babies, it's highly unlikely that those things would become ok, let alone all the rage.
But celebs certainly do seem to have a "get out of jail free" card (at least eventually) both literally and figuratively when it comes to behavior that wouldn't otherwise be tolerated. And once it's deemed ok for them, it's one step closer to normalcy for the rest of us involved. (Think Ellen Degeneres, who certainly did a huge service to the GLBTQ community by coming out publicly.)
I'd like one of those cards. People can be so hateful. And I know they're really just sad or misunderstood or uninformed. But it's still tiresome when people lash out against people who live differently than they do. All of this leaves me wondering when we're going to cut our neighbors as much slack as we do the darlings of Hollywood.
Jenny Block
Author of Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage