What Is Happening to the May-December Romances in Hollywood?

By Jo Piazza Posted Apr 15th 2010 06:00PM

Has Hollywood run out of Viagra? Why else would there be a rash of breakups between much older men and their younger women this week.

We're watching as 76-year-old Larry King's marriage to Shawn Southwick, 50, unravels in what promises to be a nasty divorce. Mel Gibson, 54, and his baby mama Russian musician Oksana Grigorieva split this week, too. Are Hollywood's younger women finally getting sick of buying Depends and wiping up drool while doing seniors yoga? Is an era coming to an end?

Ever since the dawn of time, older men having been chasing after much younger women. In fact, in ancient times a husband would just leave his old wife on top of a mountaintop in order to chase down some nubile young homo erectus while she shivered in the altitude. And in Hollywood, where there is no shortage of young ladies looking for a successful man with a black Am Ex, age differences of more than twenty years between spouses are run of the mill.

"I don't think its just an age thing - I think its an old man ego thing too. One can only imagine [what] these women had to do to keep their old celebrity fellas happy and feeling handsome as their ratings were dropping and their reputations flagging. But I'm sure both Larry and Mel will soon be off into the arms of another young lady... The age difference won't stop them I'm sure," explains OK! magazine founding editor and author of "101 Fabulous Things to Do Before You're Too Old, Married, or Pregnant." Not on Ivens' personal list of things to do before she dies: Be the ninth Mrs. Larry King.

In Hollywood age isn't just a number, it's a branding mechanism. Younger women can gain a brief moment of fame and an enormous fortune just by playing ring around the bed pan for a few years with a much older man. But how long can a relationship with a gaping generational gap last? As we've seen in the past couple of days, not forever.

"Usually the young women get bored with the older guy and they want more physically. An older man can't always give that to them," explains relationship expert Dr. Gilda Carle. "These guys thought they were getting young pushovers. Guess not!"

So maybe Hollywood really has run out of Viagra! Maybe these women are setting a trend. We could have a trophy wife revolt on our hands. Hopefully Bravo television cameras will be there to tape it.

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Tags: larry king, mel gibson, oksana grigorieva, Shawn Southwick

Comments

(11)

Thursday 15 April

By Mariana Petoom

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Who cares? Cerainly not me. And all I can wish that bigot Mel Gibson is a very long and unhappy life.

By Carol

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Sure is easy to jump on someone you do not know, isn't it? Bet you have never said anything bad about anyone in your whole life, have you? Maybe you should think and look in the mirror before you post. I did.

By jmslotnick

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These men are both old fools and dollar signs make a huge temptation to women to walk down an isle with an old fool which is really rather contemptible.

By SUE

I think these women are hoping these guys kick the bucket soon after marriage..Larry and Mel creep me out.

By Holly

Like these women would even give these men a second look if they weren't who they are...duh

By Marsha

I know right? She used the oldest trick in the book. She got a baby out of Mel and now she's set for at least the next 18 years.

By Pookie

Doesn't Larry look like a human ant ? I'm just saying.....

By kdingy1945

Hell, I'm 65 and my boyfriend uses Viagra. Who cares as long as he can "bring it"? You don't have to be a young hottie to want your man to perform.

Friday 16 April

By Raejean

Don't know why these old guys think they are the exception to the May-December romance rule of May seeing Christmas in December.

By Laurie

Who writes these articles? Mel Gibson at age 54 isn't exactly old enough for Depends or drooling. Grow up!!

Saturday 17 April

By reena

I think it's funny the writer of this article says May-December romances, as if these were flings...Although it makes me ill to think about Larry King and marriage - this 7th or 8th (not sure on that) marriage lasted 13 years...the title of this article, makes you think it was just a fling. at least she hung in there for 13 years!!!

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