Celebrity couple Radio DJ Glenn Ong and television presenter wife Jamie Yeo have officially filed for separation. Glenn Ong broke the news on his ‘Morning Express’ show. There had been rumors and speculation for the past few weeks of their relational problems. Their decision was said to be a mutual one and thus, the parting was amicable. When interview by the New Paper ironically at a Valentine’s Day roadshow, Glenn Ong seem glad to answer questions.
“We’ve drifted apart and we have different goals. The split was amicable and we still talk.”
“In fact, Jamie and I don’t quarrel. Thank goodness we didn’t have one of those bitter fights that some couples had,” he said.
“Jamie and I thought long and hard about it. If it didn’t happen now, it could’ve happened in 10 or 20 years,” the Class 95 radio DJ said yesterday.
The celebrity couple were thought to have a strong bond and were openly affectionate during their long relationship. Even close collegues appeared to be caught by surprise by Glenn Ong’s announcement on air. From the interview, it also became clear that the couple had been “living apart for a while”. This is Glenn Ong’s second divorce and Jamie Yeo’s first.
On the other hand, another celebrity couple Chris Brown and Rihanna was likewise in the media spotlight. Rihanna had canceled her performance at the Grammys, just hours before she was due to be on stage. Media sources say she sustained a bruised face while allegedly riding in the car with boyfriend Chris Brown. Receiving a call of a heated argument, police arrived to the scene and allegedly found Rihanna injured and Chris Brown missing. The LAPD is still investigating the incident. Following that, Rihanna has since cancelled her performance in Malaysia and Indonesia on her “Good Girl Gone Bad” tour.
Nevertheless, Rihanna announced after several days that she and Chris Brown are back together.
In Interpersonal Communication, conflict can occur during the Relationship Maintenance Process. Conflicts occur usually due to differences in perception. Conflict resolution can be functional (build a relationship) or dysfunctional (break a relationship). In the case of Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo, their conflict proved to be dysfunctional and resulted in their separation. However, it is possible that Rihanna and Chris Brown’s relational conflict was a functional one as they finally got back together.
In the Knapp Model of Relational Development, Mark Knapp describes the progression and development of relationships as a series of 10 stages in two phases.
Stages 1-5 (Coming together)
- Initiating
- Experimenting
- Intensifying
- Integrating
- Bonding
Stages 6-10 (Coming apart)
6. Differentiting
7. Circumscribing
8. Stagnating
9. Avoiding
10. Terminating
Stages 1-5 describe the phase of coming together, whereas stages 6-10 describe the relational development phase of coming apart. The stages may not be linear and relationships often may regress to a previous stage or even skip one. Moreover, it is possible to identify the stage a relationship is in by exploring the typical behavior amplified in the relationship.
Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo have their relationship is in the Terminating stage (10th stage). In this stage, the relationship has ceased to exist. Parties in the relationship move on from the relationship in the Terminating stage. For Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo, they filed for separation and have been living apart for some time.
In the situation of Rihanna and Chris Brown, they are probably in the intermediate process of Stages 4-7 also named the Relational Maintenance stage by some theorists as they are in the process of sorting out their conflicts.
In my opinion, I believe that both Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo seem to take their break up very well. They claimed to have not quarreled but rather just drifted apart. Furthermore, both of them did not seem to endure any bitter feelings for each other. In fact Glenn Ong still appear to hold Jamie in high regard saying “I still think Jamie is a great girl. I hope she still thinks I’m a great guy.”
However, I too believe that the media should not give these celebrity couples so much coverage, as sometimes this is abused by them to attract attention. After all, there should be a degree of sanctity involved in marriage, and blabbering about the latest break up or separation in a national newspaper is unnecessary.
Do you have any comments on this issue?
8 comments
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March 19, 2009 at 4:48 pm
ning
I think that breaking up now and coming back together is very common in the society nowadays. But the difference between the two couples mentioned and normal couples was that they were celebrities, therefore their matter then to blow up. Now matter what, I think they are still humans, the media should give them personal time to solve their problems, well I don’t think is appropriate for the media itself to put so much attention in their relationship as this tend to stress them up and they will not help solve their problem, instead, their problem will be worsen. =)
March 25, 2009 at 5:38 am
Deb
Well I dont think the media should give celebrities and their relationships so much attention. Some celebrities even take this coverage for publicity for themselves. Relationships and marriage should be taken seriously and these celebrities are definitely not gd examples when it comes to that.
March 25, 2009 at 5:44 am
ThT
Hey josh! Cool article. Lol.
Hey i was following this piece of news and it seems that even after 1 week, they are still the talk of the town. Well, i guess their breakup did come across as a shock for most of us. After all they were featured for so long in so many magazines and advertisements.
March 25, 2009 at 5:48 am
Ron
I agree that the media tends to focus too much on these celebrities’ relationships and breakups.
But to be fair, one cannot attribute the blame to the media. After all, the media publishes articles that they perceive the public would be interested in. If no one cared about this topic, such articles would slowly die out through a Darwinian process and eventually become excluded from the media.
March 25, 2009 at 6:06 am
J
Just an update.
Both Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo were spotted with new dates at various events over the weekend. Glenn Ong is rumored to be seeing another DJ Jean Danker. On the other hand, Jamie Yeo was reported to be dating a Caucasian guy.
Seems like both of them have moved on really fast from their marriage. I would think that both of them are still legally married and they are already seeing other people.
March 26, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Mel
Wow, Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo, Rihanna and Chris Brown. Interesting topic.
No doubt in Singapore Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo are one of the most famous celebrity couples. Their sudden break up are a shock even to the media and their colleagues. Nevertheless, it is strange to see them move on so fast and seeing new people now.
March 27, 2009 at 1:20 am
Zach
I think that Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo love the media attention so much. Glenn Ong had to announce his break up with Jamie Yeo over his talkshow on a national radio channel. He should have kept the matter private and not appear so eager to make such a public announcement about the matter.
After all what good intention could he have by doing as such.
March 28, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Cheyrl
I am shocked that Rihanna is back with Chris Brown now. After all she was assaulted by him. I think she should consider her relationship carefully, because when the guy hits you it is always possible that it will happen again. She should not be too soft hearted over the issue.