We all know the stereotypes about lesbian break-ups: You either can’t make it stick the first time (or the second or fourth or twelfth time), you end up dating each other’s exes next and/or you turn into best friends. Cherry Jones and Sarah Paulson seem to be headed firmly for the latter category. Newly-minted Emmy winner Cherry confirmed to Us Weekly that the pair had split, but that it was “the happiest break-up” ever.
The couple had been together since 2005, when which went public when Cherry thanked “Laura Wingfield” — Sarah’s character in “The Glass Menagerie” — during her Tony Awards acceptance speech. It was her Emmy acceptance speech last month that signaled their break up to the public too, when Cherry omitted Sarah in her thank yous. She said it was a conscious decision they talked about before the show.
As she told Us Weekly:
I know enough to know that if I had just said her name, the rest of the night that’s all anybody from the press would have asked me about. Sarah understood, and we talked about it … I just wanted to keep it focused on my family.
In fact, Sarah tweeted her support earlier that night saying with all-caps enthusiasm: “CHERRY JONES AND JESSICA LANGE FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA AND BEST ACTRESS IN A TV MOVIE..fingers crossed. I LOVE YOU BOTH.”
The break-up had previously been confirmed by Cherry’s friend and comedian Suzanne Westenhoeffer on AfterEllen.com a few weeks ago, but Cherry discussed the break-up further saying, “It’s the happiest break up that’s ever been. We grew so much together and now we can send each other off with a kiss and great love.”
As sad as it is to see any couple break up, it sounds like they’re both still very supportive of each other and happy. So that’s the best you can hope for. And, in true lesbian fashion, I’m sure they’ll rent a timeshare somewhere and end up going on vacations together.
For now, Cherry says she has the proverbial bluebird on her shoulder:
I am happy as a bluebird. I wake up every morning just tweeting,” she said, not referring to the social networking site Twitter. “I love being on my own for the first time in my adult life. I highly recommend it. I may never be in another relationship as long as I live. I love deepening my friendships, and I like being on my own.
So that means back up, ladies. Take U-Haul off speed dial. She’s not looking for a rebound anytime soon. Best wishes to both Cherry and Sarah.
