What Do Melissa Etheridge, Mel Gibson and Larry King Have in Common?

Is it something in the air? Three celebrity couples announced today that they were calling it quits and each case it involves a May-December relationship. Relationships are hard enough but compounded when a significant age difference (more than ten years in all three cases) is factored in. Add to that the celebrity factor and you have a recipe for disaster.

Mel Gibson, 54, and Oksana Grigorieva , 40, his Russian musician-singer girlfriend have called it quits, according to People magazine. There is speculation that the relationship ended after an argument but according to People's source, the pair simply drifted apart. The couple has one child together, a five-month old daughter. Some reports, including one by television show Access Hollywood had the couple together as far back as 2006 with the singer's pregnancy being the catalyst for Gibson's divorce.

Melissa Etheridge, 48, and her partner Tammy Lynn Michaels Etheridge, 35, also announced they are ending their six-year marriage today. "Melissa and Tammy Etheridge are saddened to announce that they are now separated," according to Melissa's rep through People magazine. The pair has two children together and Etheridge has two children from a previous relationship with Julie Cypher. Etheridge has been at the forefront of gay rights. She and her partner were married September 22, 2003 in celebration of the signing of the California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003 that same day.

TMZ is reporting that Larry King, 76, and his wife Shawn Southwick, 50, filed for divorce after 13 years of marriage and do not have a pre-nuptial agreement. This was King's seventh marriage. His net worth is reportedly more than $144 million. The couple has two children together. Divorce papers filed by King list "irreconcilable differences" and state that King is seeking joint custody of the children. From Today at MSNBC.com, rumors are flying that both parties were carrying on relationships outside the marriage; he with her younger sister, Shannon Engemann and she with the children's Little League coach.

With the exception of Gibson, these were long term relationships and his case, the relationship lasted longer than many marriages do. Very little is being disclosed about the reasons for the break up. Fans are left to wonder though certainly time will tell. The saddest thing is that in all three cases, there are children involved.

The question begs to be asked though. Why do well established stars, people with iconic careers and tremendous bodies of work often end up with partners much younger than themselves? Is it a vanity thing? Do they somehow feel validated that they were able to attract young, attractive mates? Does it not occur to them that they may just be a meal ticket to these people? Hollywood marriages are often tabloid fodder for the late night comedians and tonight's shows have plenty of material to work with.

Sources:

http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/14/larry-king-divorce-shawn-southwick-live-wife-cnn/

http://www.jewishjournal.com/keepingthefaith/item/larry_king_melissa_etheridge_and_mel_gibson_head_to_splitsville_20100415/

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36547934/ns/today-today_people/

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20360969,00.html

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20361139,00.html