TV Land- Sweet Releases

Words by Mwabi Murdock

Share My Dream Television Writer

Hollywood is a unique place when it comes to the nature of the relationships it produces. At one glitzy premiere a starlet is professing her undying love to her leading man and during the next premiere she has a new man on her arm proclaiming the same sentiments. Keeping up can be quite confusing. Relationships, even those among the superstars, have seasons. Some relationships last for eternity and some are best left alone. Some celebrities get it right the first time while others take a few detours before landing their perfect match. Here are examples of celebrities that have moved on from past relationships and are happier because of it.

Ali Landry and Mario Lopez
90’s kids know Mario Lopez from Saved By the Bell where he played muscle clad AC Slater. Ali Landry’s fame grew when she stared in Doritos commercials. They met in 1998 when she was doing TV commentary for the Miss USA Pageant that he was emceeing. They dated for 6 years before tying the knot. Only 6 weeks after the nuptials Ali filed for divorce. Ali found out that Mario had had a little too much fun at his bachelor party and she wasn’t having it. She knew that her true love was still out there and that he would never disrespect her in such a way. Ali was right. She met and married director Alejandro Monteverde in 2006 and her happiness is evident. Ali and Alejandro welcomed their first daughter Estela in July and are "ecstatically happy."

Mary J. Blige
Didn’t you just want to give Mary J. Blige a hug every time you heard her sing about heartache? Song after song was a cry for the love she longed for. She dated K-Ci Hailey from Jodeci and reports of them arguing were rampant in the 90’s. Just last year she recreated an embarrassing incident that occurred during their relationship for her video No More Crying. She went on a talk show and told the host that she was getting married to K-Ci not knowing that just a week earlier K-Ci told the same host that it was just a rumor. She even dated R&B crooner Case after that but that relationship didn’t change the tone of her tunes. Everything finally changed for your girl Mary when she met and eventually married Kendu Issacs. Mary says in Kendu she found her true love. Her songs and whole attitude changed to a softer tone. Her hit song We Ride celebrates true love and around the world her fans are now rejoicing with her.

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
The world watched in horror as Angelina Jolie declared her love for her then husband Billy Bob Thorton by wearing a vile of his blood around her neck. He proved he was a gentleman and returned the favor by wearing her blood. Yeah, something was just not right about them.
Brad Pitt married Jennifer Anniston and a match in Hollywood heaven was made. What could be more perfect? It became clear as the years went by that they wanted different things. Brad yearned for children and her career was her priority.

Angelina left Billy Bob for travels around the world as a humanitarian and a United Nations goodwill ambassador. She found that being a mother was also a role she could embrace and began adopting children from Asia and Africa. Brad divorced Jennifer after deciding that fame and fortune were simply not enough. He needed purpose in his life.

As fate would have it, Brad and Angelina met on the set while filming the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In each other, both found what they were missing. Their union was a match made in tabloid heaven but it is obvious that they are what each other needs. Both now seem at peace. They now have four children and prefer giving their millions to worthy causes around the world instead of the Hollywood social scene.

Omar Epps
When the love for his co-star Sanaa Lathan in Love & Basketball carried over from the big screen to real life, fans believed in love again. They showed up at premieres together and everything looked solid. Fans just knew wedding bells would ring soon. Shortly after they broke up and Omar reconnected with his ex-girlfriend Keisha Spivey, the former lead singer for the R&B group Total. In a May 2007 Jet magazine article Omar says, “For me she was the one that got away. I always wondered why we never took it to the next level…I kind of knew she was the one immediately, but you want to tell your mind not to listen to your heart.”

Omar proposed in 2004 and were married last year. They are parents of a 2-year old daughter K’mari Mae – the name a combination of both their names. Omar didn’t give fans what they wanted by taking on-screen love to the next level but seeing how happy he now is with Keisha makes up for it.