Tell me if I am the only one that finds this scenario a bit strange: Everybody Loves Raymond Emmy winner Brad Garrett and his wife of seven years, Jill Diven, have decided to separate BUT, according to USA Today not only have they kept their parting a secret from Garrett’s coworkers and parents, they still keep a room for each other in their respective homes. Did I miss something here?
Oh, and did I mention that Garrett tells the paper that he still considers his ex: “an extraordinary woman” and “the greatest mom in the world.” To say the couple is on good terms seems like an understatement. Call me a cynic, but I am so used to reading about messy Hollywood breakups that I find this separation a bit, well, odd. Even outside the glitz and glamour of celebrity unions, it is rare to find a couple part ways so amicably.
According to USA Today, the couple officially separated in April. They have two children, Max, 7, and Hope, 6. Speaking about his children and the impact the separation has had on them Garrett made what I thought were two interesting comments to the paper.
The first: “Our No. 1 focus is our kids and parenting. We will always be friends because we will never be single parents. We will always be two parents.”
The second: “You can’t stay together for the kids, because kids know everything. Sure, it’s daunting to have Daddy move out, but when he’s back two days later, and he gives Mom a hug, and everyone goes to lunch – that’s what it’s about.”
I’m not quite sure what to make of the “we will never be single parents” comment. I understand that he probably has the best intentions–to put the needs of his children first–which I think is easier said than done. Meanwhile, his second comment makes me wonder whether or not he realizes that the current arrangement could change in a heartbeat when or if either one of them gets a new love interest—how will that affect the lunches? I’m not saying it couldn’t work. (Hey, look at Demi Moore, Bruce Willis and Ashton Kutcher.) I’m just saying it takes a lot of self-sacrifice and humility to pull it off.
The other aspect of this separation I found strange is the living arrangements. According to the paper, Garrett still keeps a room in the California mansion he shared with Diven, and she has space in his 1940s Spanish-style home in Malibu, which she found for him while he was on Broadway earlier this year. Hmmm…how many ex-spouses do you know that maintain rooms in each other’s homes (minus Prince Andrew and Fergie)?
Hmmm… could this be a new trend in Hollywood break ups?