While the dissolution of the marriage might be tragic for the couple personally, don't you think it's a positive development for the state of US popular culture? I found these two, both very republican and very religious, and their ascendancy to pop icon status pretty disturbing, symbolic of the Christian right's reach with a whole generation of young people. Remember those headlines a few years back about the large numbers of young people making pledges to remain sexually abstinent until marriage? Jessica Simpson was very much a part of this culture, publicizing how she stayed a virgin until her wedding night. I'm hoping this divorce illustrates to their fan base the inherent dopeyness of Christian ideals for real-world relationships, a bit like that report did on the rise of anal and oral sex amongst those pledging virginity until marriage.
Arash
http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=2865 Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey Are Splitsville Published: 2005-11-25 According to US Weekly, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are no more! The magazine declared that the two had called it off about one month ago. Although the couple denied the rumors, they released a statement Wednesday to the magazine saying, "After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways," the couple said in a joint statement released to the magazine. "This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other. We hope that you respect our privacy during this difficult time."
Simpson and Lachey were married for three years and MTV documented their first days of marriage of the pair in the reality series, which helped boost Simpson's career, called Newlyweds. Both Simpson and Lachey rose to fame through their music careers. Simpson released the single, "I Wanna Love You Forever" off the multi-platinum Sweet Kisses and Lachey is most notably popular through his success with pop boy band 98 Degrees.