Here’s What You Need to Know About Joe & Sophie’s Divorce
design: Gianna Castagliuolo
Misogynistic smear campaign or breakup?
by CECI BROWN ★ OCTOBER 18, 2023
Every girl's camp rock crush is amid a messy breakup. After four years of marriage and two kids, Willa (3) and another unnamed baby girl (1), Musician Joe Jonas has filed for divorce from actress and Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner.
On September 5th, mid-tour with his band, The Jonas Brothers, the singer filed for divorce in Miami Dade County, Florida, telling sources the marriage was “irretrievably broken”. Shortly after, the two took to Instagram with a joint statement stating they’ve “mutually decided to end their marriage amicably.” Trying to keep things calm, they stated, “There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly, this is a united decision, and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children,” the story read. If privacy is all they want, who's feeding all these intimate rumors to the press?
This messy breakup has played out in the tabloids framing Sophie as an “absent mother” and “party girl” and Joe as a “superdad” or “homebody father” but fans arent buying it. TMZ reports “Over the last three months, Joe has had the kids almost all the time. Sophie has been in London, but Joe and his bros were touring the U.S., and he had his 2 small kids in town.” Jonas and his team slipped up trying to use outdated PR playbook tricks that people simply don't fall for anymore, according to Vox News. Misogyny is out, and no one gets a gold star for simply being a dad and caring for your kids and framing a woman as a bad mother for having her career is outdated and unfair. With all of TikTok therapists and life coaches these days, fans easily know how to spot this toxic behavior and don't fall for the gossip anymore.
The Jonas Brothers started to get a lot of backlash when fans speculated he was talking negatively about Sophie to the press. At his concert last Saturday in Los Angeles, Joe took matters into his own hands, telling fans, “not to believe anything if you don't hear it from these lips.” Sophie has not yet spoken out despite her name being dragged through the mud as she is on set filming in the UK. This leaves many wondering if this might be the preview of a nasty custody battle in the near fututre…
Overall, this Jonas-Turner split has shown how difficult it is to keep control of the press. Too often, we see celebrity couples being pinned against each other and public images ruined. I am so over ‘choosing sides’ and ruining another person's reputation to protect your own. In reality, no one has experienced their relationship, and sometimes, we forget that what’s posted online is permanent. Speaking poorly reflects your character more than the person you're hating on, so always be kind and don't trust the tabloids!