About this time of year, I share my top 10 infidelity stories from the news. I knew this year was different after posting a comment about Kobe Bryant’s infidelities.
The reaction to saying anything about Kobe Bryant was hostile. You’d of thought I was speaking ill of a saint based on the reactions. The reaction as akin to me kicking a sacred cow.
Incensed reactions were filled with “How dare you…”
I learned quickly that pointing out the infidelity of an NBA star is a trigger for many readers and trolls who considered him sacred.
The reactions were more intense than when I pointed out infidelities of other celebrities and lessons from their lives. Kobe Bryant triggered more people than popular icon David Bowie.
With a start like that, I knew it would be quite a year, which it proved to be. Rather than elaborate on them, I’ll list them and share a few observations.
- Kobe Bryant’s infidelity
- Cardi B’s discovering her husband’s ongoing infidelities.
- Justin Timberlake having a prenuptial clause dealing with infidelity before his marriage.
- People developing sexual addictions during the COVID-19/Coronavirus lockdown.
- The infidelities of prominent politicians.
- Research findings liking misogyny and violent porn.
- Research finding that men with deeper voices and higher testosterone are viewed as more likely to cheat.
- The increased number of affairs (both emotional and physical) during the COVID-19/Coronavirus lockdown.
- The pastor of Hillsong Church in New York being caught and fired for his infidelity.
- The resurgence of the cheating site Ashley Madison during COVID-19/Coronavirus.
What these stories tell me is that besides being a major health concern, the COVID-19/Coronavirus was a major player in both discovering and promoting affairs. The lockdown forced many of you to address relationship issues that had been ignored or downplayed.
There are also the standard celebrity and politician infidelities. These are perennial sources of news given they are high-risk professions for infidelity.
They forget that they are public figures who are supposed to be an example of good behavior rather than indulging their basest appetites. I hesitate to identify the specific people since backlash daring to mention some people is taken out of context these days. Let me say that the politicians engaging in adultery are from both sides of the political spectrum.
The over-reaction of people to pointing out infidelity makes honest and open discussion of matters or lessons learned from their lives difficult if not impossible.
What is possible is taking steps to improve your marriage and recover from any affairs that happened there. The stories make it clear that money, fame and influence won’t protect your marriage from infidelity.
If your marriage was touched by infidelity, download the Affair Recovery Workshop and start the new year taking steps to improve and heal your marriage.
Avoid the controversies by getting your marriage healing now.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
