Celebrities and influencers are increasingly using social media to announce breakups and divorces, a trend driven by a desire to control the narrative and avoid unwanted gossip. Instead of relying on traditional media outlets, they are taking matters into their own hands, crafting carefully worded posts to share the news with their followers.

This trend is not entirely new. Before social media, celebrities often issued press releases to announce separations. However, the rise of platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) has given them a direct line to the public, allowing them to bypass traditional media channels altogether.

Marlene Weybøll, host of the podcast “Reality Check,” believes that this trend is primarily about control. By announcing breakups on social media, celebrities and influencers can shape the story and prevent it from being distorted by gossip or speculation. She notes that many of these individuals have built their careers on social media and are therefore comfortable using it to share personal information.

These social media announcements often follow a similar pattern: a carefully chosen photo, a text that avoids specific details, and an overall tone that suggests an amicable separation. While the posts may appear personal, they often resemble press releases, carefully crafted to convey a specific message.

The public’s fascination with celebrity relationships fuels this trend. Weybøll suggests that people are naturally drawn to gossip and that some fans feel entitled to know about the personal lives of the celebrities they follow.

The ability for anonymous profiles on platforms like Reddit to spread rumors, also contributes to the desire for celebrities to take control of their breakup narrative. By announcing the news themselves, they can minimize the impact of potentially damaging gossip.