The Guardian

The news that Rupert Murdoch is to marry for a fifth time

Sydney Morning Herald ‘Why not stay single?’

“Marriage is always a risky proposition, but particularly for someone who has already been divorced (er, four times). And for a public figure, it is even more fraught. Murdoch told the Post he ‘dreaded falling in love’, which isn’t surprising given he loses face (and several million dollars) every time he falls out of love again. So why marry again? Why not just date his new girlfriend? Or why not – gasp – stay single?

“Well, our culture [has made] singledom an aberration. And because of this, many men in Murdoch’s position never regard singledom as a viable proposition. It wouldn’t occur to them to build a life for themselves as a happily single person.” Kerri Sackville

The New York Times ‘Resisting old age’

“Few women who reach their 90s can expect to find suitors, and certainly not suitors young enough to be their own children. Women of elder years do not circulate easily in the dating and marriage market. (Quick thought exercise… The late Queen Elizabeth, 96 when she died, and Tom Hanks, 66?)

“Physical signs of aging, even of extreme age, do not carry much stigma for men. Men like Mr. Murdoch resist old age — and permit themselves (even if jokingly) to speak of entering, at 92, the ‘second half’ of their lives — by focusing outward, through the agency of other people, acquiring younger (and ‘anti-aged’) companions to inspire or energize them.” Rhonda Garelick

The Irish Times ‘Gift from God’

“The couple, who met last September… intends to marry this summer and will split their time between California, Britain, New York and his ranch in Montana. ‘For us both, it’s a gift from God,’ said Smith.

“God was unavailable for comment.” Laura Slattery

Comment & Analysis

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2023-03-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://guardian.pressreader.com/article/282209425106404

Guardian/Observer