Celebrity Break-Ups: Why Our Culture Feels Entitled to Know Every Juicy Detail

As musician Neil Sedaka once said, "Breaking up is hard to do." And when you're a public figure, it is even more difficult to keep all the built up anger and tears away from the questioning fans and media.

After news reached the public about Chris Brown's felony assault on Rihanna, the drama had only begun. Where did this seemingly "picture-perfect" couple go wrong? What really happened in their car? As the public waited for answers, the anticipation of their albums set the world on fire. But should the public feel entitled to know every juicy detail?

Patti Feinstein, America's Dating Coach, believes the public is entranced with the false fantasy of being close to these stars. "We personally invest so much interest into these celebrities. It is the fantasy that turns us on, and the public always wants more."

And Feinstein believes the studio is the one safe haven where musicians can be honest and open about their break-up. "Their career is to write music, and songs are inspired by feelings," she said. "These celebrities can't hide without the paparazzi catching every little frown or tear, so they have to put up a false front and cry behind closed doors."

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An artist's music can be the public confession of what happened -- even if they're staying hush with the media. Rihanna's 'Stupid in Love' shows she's not taking Brown back... ever.

"Don't understand it / Blood on your hands / And still you insist on repeatedly trying / To tell me lies." The song continues, "I still love you / But I just can't do this / I may be dumb but / I'm not stupid."

Brown's new album 'Graffiti' includes 'Changed Man' and 'Famous Girl,' which are said to be his public apologies to Rihanna. Are the songs heartfelt or just a way to sway his tainted public image? Only Brown knows the answer to that.

"The public is obsessed with celebrity relationships for the same reason Barbara Walters' list of fascinating celebs this year is jam-packed with reality TV stars -- overexposure. Just look at Kate Gosselin," said editor Kim Davis from AOL Music.

"Hollywood hookups and break-ups offer endless fodder for magazine covers, news clips, blog buzz and our own coffee and water-cooler gossip sessions. It's almost formulaic: Rumors followed by photos of the pair kissing, then there are the smiling media interviews, more rumors (often about cheating) and ... well, you know the rest. We get it all. It's almost like we are in the relationship ourselves. It is so easy to get swept up in it all that jonesing for every breakup detail seems like a basic right," Davis adds.
Even teen-country star Taylor Swift had to deal with an embarrassing public break-up when Joe Jonas called her on the phone to say things weren't working out. She was left completely blindsided, wondering what she did wrong. She decided to make a few last minute additions to her album and publicly admitted 'Forever and Always' is a song about watching somebody [Jonas] completely fade away in a relationship and wondering what happened.

Even Jonas got a jab in about the break-up he initiated. In the Jonas Brothers' song 'Much Better,' he sings, "And all the tears on her guitar / I'm not bitter / But now I see / Everything I'd ever need / Is the girl in front of me / She's much better." (The group is referencing Swift's other hit, 'Teardrops On My Guitar.')

Taylor Swift 'Forever and Always'

Jonas Brothers 'Much Better'

Perhaps the best kind of revenge after a break-up is writing a track that will be blaring on airwaves all across the world. "Who doesn't love a good diss track (Usher's 'Papers') or a heartbreaking ballad about the one who got away (Lenny Kravitz' 'It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over')?" Davis adds.

Writing a break-up song can be the happy medium of communication between stars and their fans, too. "Their careers are a catch-22. They can complain about living under a microscope, but honestly celebrities are boring. They're only fun when they're breaking up and dating," adds Feinstein. "We want the break-up songs."

Although celebrities strive to keep parts of their lives private, everyone wants the juicy details to see what makes these celebrity relationships tick. Perhaps it is just the price of fame, says Lisa Daily, an expert dating coach and author of 'How to Date Like a Grown-Up.'

"The expectation of the fans and general population is that Hollywood is going to be all about these magical relationships, where people fall in love and have a whirlwind proposal. But in the end, we want the messy horrible split. We want their lives to be like a movie," she says. "But we have to remember, celebrities are people with emotions, too."

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