Are marriages like George and Amal Clooney’s rare?

[Lesighhh]

Saw an interview of them both released today talking about their marriage. They say they’ve never really had an argument and they’ve found marriage to be easy, in fact 'the easiest thing'. Amal says it’s 99% luck to meet the right person, and prior to meeting George at age 35 she didn’t think she’d find someone. They seem to have such love and mutual respect for each other. Is this kind of marriage the exception rather than the norm? Have they been extremely lucky or do many people have this?

My partner and I don’t argue. We both have tricky jobs and spend a lot of time arguing with people at work. When we’re at home we’re each other’s best support - the person to talk work things through with, seek advice from and get reassurance that you’re not the mad one - or who can tell you kindly that you are the mad one and what to do instead. We met online and had a lot in common in terms of likes, dislikes, politics, education, approach to finance, kids, etc. We’re also older, and we’re both calm, pragmatic, and pretty laid back about things. If that makes us boring or weird I don’t care. I’d hate to be in a relationship where there was regular conflict. If we have a problem we just have a chat about it. It me and him against the world, not me and him against each other.

Being happily married means they aren't of much interest to Sm and papers. Perhaps they are on the brink of divorce but keeping it quiet!

Sorry for your loss.

Do people really believe this blatant PR?

I heard an interview Amal Clooney gave during the first Covid lockdown. They were in the UK as a family and George was getting hacked off that the kids were picking up more and more British terminology and calling sweaters jumpers. For all their wealth and fame they sound like a pretty normal family.

Of course its a rare marriage. They have no money worries, plenty of homes and staff to assist them lead their privileged lives. They've both achieved well in their chosen careers without overdoing it and losing the ability to have down time and enjoy themselves. They've both also been very lucky.

They met when George was a lot older and had presumably sown his wild oats, and George was probably tired of Hollywood types and was glad to meet someone from a different, more educated background. An older man wouldn't be for everyone, given that he is a handsome man, he will still have all the physical characteristics of a man that age. And the extremely tall, robust of neck, remarkably narrow of hip and low body fat Amal wouldn't be for everyone either.

But they do seem to be a nice couple.

@Babdoc I just wanted to reiterate what others have written. I'm so sorry to read your comment, life truly is incredibly cruel sometimes. Your post reminded me of a long ago article I read in an old Cosmopolitan magazine about a young wife and mother widowed.
I can imagine no one ever living up to a lost partner.
Sending love

Me and my DH argue like cat and dog mostly about chores getting a cleaner seems to have solved about 90 percent of that.

I’ve been with my husband for 21 years. We have a 54321 marriage: lived in 5 countries, had 4 children, he supported me through 3 degrees, did 2 laps of Australia together in a caravan with the kids and had 1 argument.
I don’t know if it’s rare, but I do feel so fortunate. He genuinely is my best friend and not one day is boring.

They'd both made if in life before they met. No need for further glory. Could just settle down and have kids. He waited for quite a while.

Di Caprio, if he's not gay, will probably do something similar in his 50s. Eventually you want more.

We don't argue.

That's not to say that we've never had a cross word.

Also, we don't play games.

So for example if I'm ill & say I want to be left alone-that's what I mean.

It's not a test to see how soon he'll come & check on we.

If I say I don't want any chocolate I'm not going to feel pissed off when I don't get any!

@AchatAVendre · Today 12:28
Of course its a rare marriage. They have no money worries, plenty of homes and staff to assist them lead their privileged lives. They've both achieved well in their chosen careers without overdoing it and losing the ability to have down time and enjoy themselves. They've both also been very lucky.
They met when George was a lot older and had presumably sown his wild oats, and George was probably tired of Hollywood types and was glad to meet someone from a different, more educated background. An older man wouldn't be for everyone, given that he is a handsome man, he will still have all the physical characteristics of a man that age. And the extremely tall, robust of neck, remarkably narrow of hip and low body fat Amal wouldn't be for everyone either.
But they do seem to be a nice couple.

Very nicely put !

An older man wouldn't be for everyone, given that he is a handsome man, he will still have all the physical characteristics of a man that age. And the extremely tall, robust of neck, remarkably narrow of hip and low body fat Amal wouldn't be for everyone either.

I heard Alan Partridge's voice as I read this

Had to google who they were but him living with 4 teen step kids and giving up his much loved career are obvious flash points plus it seems very rushed the old marry in haste repent at your leisure. Money doesn’t fix everything.
George & Amal had no previous children which removes a lot of complications. Presumably there was agreement prior to Marriage about if they wanted children, how many, how they hoped they would be educated etc. Whether that was a simple conversation, pre marriage counselling or as part of a legal agreement referencing surrogacy is a matter for them.

I don’t want to offend anyone, I know I’m not in peoples lives and don’t know, but I am generally suspicious of the assertion that people don’t argue.

I always wonder whether people who think arguing is healthy and say they and their OH row like children, argue and shout and get angry at work, as well. I’ve held down professional corporate jobs for over a decade and a half and have never once – even at incredibly stressful crunch times like financial filing deadlines and when we’re up against it with a regulator or a colleague has seriously dropped the ball / fucked up and we’ve submitted the wrong representation for one of our several-hundred-million-dollar transactions – raised my voice to one of my colleagues or sworn at them. That doesn’t mean being passive or not saying what needs to be said: there will be firm discussions and expressions of annoyance and so on, as is important. And if I can manage it at work under far far more stressful conditions than I’ve ever had in my relationship with my fiancé why is it so difficult to believe that I don’t shout and swear and throw my toys out of the pram at home, either?

I have no real opinion either way but I absolutely LOVE IT when the Daily Mail does a piece on GC's friendship with Randy Gerber. They cram in as many homoerotic knowing winks as they possibly can. It always feels like someone at the Mail has the strongest suspicions but doesn't want to risk a libel suit.

people who think their marriage is a sham, for what reason? Why do they need to pretend that they're married? I don't get that

I think they are married, but that it is an 'arrangement' of sorts.

Not uncommon in celeb circles, if rumours are to be believed.

No I get that but for what reason is what I mean? Why would they need that type of arrangement?

From her perspective, it gave her fame and wealth beyond what she could ever hope to achieve in her legal career.

For him, the aim might be to put an end to certain rumours which have followed him for years. If true, he certainly would not be the first person in Hollywood to seek such an 'arrangement'.

Not pretending just a mutually convenient arrangement.
I think he has political ambitions so an intelligent wife who can attend events and network is an asset. Gay rumours hinder political aspirations, having a wife and children helps quash rumours. Mutual desire for children. Money. She was a barrister but not well known and certainly has had more high profile opportunities since she became a Clooney.

Exactly this.

their kids were also born via a surrogate - there were a couple of well publicised incidents during her “pregnancy” where the fake bump was visible and then she disappeared until the babies were born.

Are marriages like George and Amal Clooney’s rare?

You mean like marriages where the wife doesn't realise her husband is gay? They aren't rare, no. It fact there are quite a few on MN.

Besides, even if it is a marriage blanc, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's unhappy.

Of course they do! My partner and I disagree of course and occasionally we bicker but we never really argue or fight. This is because we like and respect one another…. Is that really such a shocking concept?!