News that Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, one of the music industry’s most enduring couples, have announced they are to divorce after being married for 12 years, has been met with exclamations of "love is dead" across the internet.
Singer and designer Stefani, 45, and Bush frontman Rossdale, 49, were an example of how tough entering a relationship in the public eye could be. They withstood intense media scrutiny, particularly after very public accusations of infidelity on Rossdale’s part and DNA results in 2004 that proved Rossdale had fathered a child with Pearl Lowe 14 years earlier.
They went on to have three children together. Stefani forged an incredibly successful career as the the front woman of No Doubt and within her own solo singing career, as well as launching her clothing range and more recently becoming a judge on The Voice, amassing a reported $80 million fortune. Rossdale enjoyed his own success within his band and is worth an estimated $35 million. Their work inevitably prompted constant speculation from tabloids about how they managed to “keep the spark alive” with such busy schedules, creating yet more rumours that they would have to bat off. Does anyone stay together in Hollywood? 15 couples who disprove the rule
In February, Stefani described her own surprise at their durability in the spotlight, telling Cosmopolitan: "We go through so much together—it's a miracle that we could stay together this long. [Gavin's] on a short tour right now, and he wrote me the sweetest note this morning. It's good to have those days when we both do our own things.”
Gavin praised the longevity of his relationship with Stefani last year, telling E!: "To be with one person for a very long time actually gets more interesting. I’m into that. She's a great girl. I'm lucky.”
Their candidness about their love for each other has unsurprisingly prompted media outlets to report on their decision to part ways with devastated, hyperbolic headlines mourning their break-up.
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale file for divorce: In other news, love is dead. http://t.co/A4LFo1YenP pic.twitter.com/UMxaGQPSgD
; E! Online (@eonline) August 4, 2015
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale announce split - we think we just need a sit down and a cry :( http://t.co/6D7kvjj7pW pic.twitter.com/ie1sO6mzkx
; HuffPost UK Ent (@HuffPostUKEnt) August 4, 2015
Love continues to die as Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale announce their plans to divorce. http://t.co/1c3H5tPLkJ
; Jezebel (@Jezebel) August 4, 2015
The couple released a statement confirming their decision to divorce and seek joint custody of their children via Access Hollywood.
"While the two of us have come to the mutual decision that we will no longer be partners in marriage, we remain partners in parenthood and are committed to jointly raising our three sons in a happy and healthy environment,” their statement said.
“To that end, we respectfully request privacy from the media during this time.”
TMZ reports the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, meaning their combined wealth would be split 50/50 under California law.
