Marriages in Limbo

The local showbiz scene is awash with surreal tales of celebrity marriages gone bad. A number of celebrities who hosted fairytale glamorous weddings have ended in searing breakups, writes STEVENS MUENDOSeventy-two days after tying-the-knot in what the couple referred to as: ‘it was like we were in heaven’ wedding, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from NBA star husband Kris Humphries last month. Humphries never saw it coming. Blinded by the divorce filing, he has since been in denial. He is quoted to have said that he is committed to the marriage and everything their covenant represents.Abbas Kubaff with Baby Gangasta.A month has passed but the divorce news still has everyone talking with Kardashian’s reputation going down the drain as showbiz pundits claim that she only got married because of the money she could make from it.The reality television sensation reportedly scored huge discounts and freebies for the August 20 affair in exchange for promoting the products — including her 20.5 carat wedding ring. E! Entertainment aired a two-part series on the occasion, the couple entered into a high-priced deal with People magazine for the exclusive wedding photos and then cashed-in with an US Weekly exclusive from their post-nuptial getaway.When all was said and done, Kardashian is believed to have earned Sh1.6 billion ($18 million) from the occasion—which comes out to about Sh22 million ($250,000) per day of not-so-wedded bliss.From the media to the public, many people felt used. Considering her marriage could be counted more easily in days, it smacks of a stunt. Besides, it even seemed hard to believe that the marriage was for real given the fact that it ended so quickly. UnashamedThe same weekend, she did step out, glammed up with red hair and an uber-sexy dress and went ahead to host a Halloween party in New York City before heading to Australia to launch her handbag line. And it was a good strategy! And who even took the publicity stunt serious in the first place? The local showbiz scene has also seen its fair share of heartaches. It is awash with surreal tales of celebrity marriages gone bad. In fact, a number of celebrities who hosted the country to fairytale glamour weddings have ended in breakups. Often, celebrity marriages are characterised by indifferences, which eventually tear the marriage apart. Others choose to live with their woes. It is their public nature which keeps paparazzi snooping on their private life so much that even a slight bed time altercation turns into a hot sell gossip.Marriage is not a bed of roses, so does the adage go. Our celebs are slowly catching up with Hollywood marriage dramas if the marriage breakups we have witnessed in the past few years are anything to go by. After hosting celebville to a glamorous wedding in Nairobi, top rapper Abbas Kubaff and his celebrity wife Baby Gangsta split only after eight months of marriage.It was a classy and colourful invites-only wedding held at Mamba Village, Nairobi. Weeks later, the two held another away-from-fairy tale ceremony before the glare of the camera and the whole Nairobi at KICC.That seemed to be the beginning of the end. In less time than it takes to get a baby from conception to birth, things were falling apart and Baby G took off to Norway. Abbas broke his silence on the break-up and pointed fingers on fellow rapper Chiwawa whom he blamed for the break-up, saying he was always telling lies that "Abbas was having several affairs".Baby Gangsta left the country immediately never to return. Abbas seemed to take the break up very casually as he went ahead to hook-up with another girl."I don’t care what people say about me because I’m not going to please them. I’m who I am," said Abbas. "My break up with Baby Gangsta is personal and, therefore, I don’t mind what people say or think. After all, I’m only human and all that matters now is my new album," the rapper told Pulse, back then.Same fateThe same fate befell the King of Bling Prezzo whose marriage to Daisy Kiplagat was rocked by controversies from day one. Their wedding is one of the most blissful ceremonies to be witnessed in the entertainment fraternity as it featured the who-is-who in the social and political scene. Theirs was like a union made in heaven and everyone expected a happy thereafter.Even though the couple managed to keep their differences away from the public and made it hard for the paparazzi to penetrate into their private life, their differences finally exploded with Daisy threatening to take legal action over alleged abuse by her celebrity husband.After the separation, Prezzo moved on with little fuss. Then, about two months ago, one year after the separation, the couple appeared in a high profile concert where they announced their reunion. However, since then, Prezzo has been sighted in social gatherings with another woman named Joy Wanjohi, a celebrity model who also separated from her hubby recently. Prezzo describes her as ‘a girlfriend’.Showbiz observers reckon that Prezzo probably was just doing it for the show, not under rating his ability of being a responsible husband and father. After all, he is the real example of a Kenyan hommie and the world might not judge him harshly knowing his flamboyant carefree lifestyle. Daisy comes from one of Kenya’s prominent families… You know how the story goes!"Modern lifestyle has made marriage an institution of convenience especially where celebrities are concerned. Soon, guys will be entering marriage contracts with room set for separation wherever the love expires," jokes Hassan Faisal of Coastal Films. Nasty caseTake the nasty case — of Nasty Thomas.After three years of blisful union, former Deux Vultures singer Nasty Thomas and his wife Josephine allegedly hit the rocks.According to sources close to the couple, the two are still trying to pull the strings together after another girl named Dee claimed to be having Nasty’s baby.Nasty’s secret lover was in shock when Pulse called her to inquire about her romantic escapades with Nasty, a thing which is said to be the genesis of the couple’s marital woes. Dee, a former flight attendant working with a leading airline, is rumoured to have taken her passion for Nasty too far.According to our sources, Josephine had been tipped that her hubby was cheating on her. One evening, Josephine pretended she would fly out on duty, only to come back home and find Dee in her matrimonial house. The rest, as they say, is history. Celebville is rife that Josephine and Nasty are no longer living together. Perhaps the best approach to this whole rocky thorns-on-the-rose love business is Shaffie’s near militant stance.In his long on-and-off affair with the mother of his daughter, Debbie, the love of his life, the fun and flamboyant Shaffie simply says about this matter: "Kwani? Si a Muslim is allowed to have upto four wives?" Now, if you are an avid Pulse reader, you know that minus Debbie, there is also Joan in the mix.So what is going on in Prime Minister’s son Fidel Odinga’s life? We hear he has also joined the bandwagon.The outgoing socialite wedded his love Veronica Wanjiru in a fairytale wedding attended by the high and mighty in the land. However, sources have it that the marriage was rocked by differences between the two and divorce proceedings are ongoing. SpottedRecently, Fidel was spotted with a new beauty at a local football match. The pair was spotted again at Hillcrest School attending the Blankets and Wine event rising eyebrows. According to a veteran showbiz promoter Big Ted, some of these marriages are just unions of convenience. Some just do it for show while others do it for political reasons. "Celebrities are public figures whose private life is constantly put on the spotlight. The pressure is always enormous. Some bow down to the heat," he adds.Word has it that a popular celebrity couple is on the brink of separation after years of what could be described as ‘marital innuendo’. According to sources, the couple has been at loggerheads over infidelity.These scenarios are making some local celebs to rethink their wedding plans. Many celebrities now prefer low key private weddings or come-we-stay in fear of public scrutiny once their marital boat starts rocking."I am considering having a small private wedding. There has been many celebrity marriage break-ups and I don’t want to run the risk of being the next victim after the pomp," noted a celebrated female who plans to tie the knot in a week’s time.Others have however, remained bold and are walking down the aisle in broad daylight. KTN’s investigative reporter Mohammed Ali weds this weekend, same as leading Mombasa deejay Lenium who is wedding today(Friday December 9)."I think some celebs rush into marriage. Others do it just for the show or because of peer pressure. I have been dating my fiancÈe for three years now and I know we are ready for marriage," asserts deejay Lenium.

Marriages in Limbo

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