One of many core motives behind celebrating Ladies’s Historical past Month is to acknowledge the numerous methods by which ladies have been in a position to progress in a society that’s notoriously put males first. One explicit battle of the sexes includes the dialog round going half in a relationship, primarily adapting to the idea of gender roles the place males are sole monetary suppliers and ladies do their half by cooking, cleansing and elevating the offspring. In 2025 nevertheless, the height interval of fourth-wave feminism, that’s simply not the way it goes down on the common. In brief, “going half” on greater than only a child is proving to be the brand new norm.
Gabrielle Union and Jurnee Smollett, two profession ladies on the forefront of Black Hollywood for many years now, are each at the moment coping with the topic from two barely totally different views — one is pushing again on her personal self-imposed 50/50 rule, whereas the opposite is being challenged to shell out 50% of her retirement to an ex-husband that’s already obtained $1 million of their divorce settlement.
Are the women starting to rethink what it means to go 50/50?
Learn up extra on Gabrielle’s scenario beneath, by way of Rickey Smiley Morning Present:
“In a current interview on the “Balanced Lady” podcast with Les Alfred, Union mirrored on how her mindset concerning relationships and cash has shifted over time. Two years in the past, she made headlines when she shared that she and her husband, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, break up their family bills equally. On the time, she noticed this as empowering, however now, she acknowledges that it was a coping mechanism tied to previous trauma.
‘I famously mentioned 50/50 or bust, and I meant that in each means—financially, spiritually, emotionally,’ Union admitted. ‘However there are only a lot of days when I’ve 10%, and I want him to be 90. There are days I don’t have something, and I want him to be 100.’
When Union first revealed her method to funds, she was stunned by the robust response from social media. For her, it was about independence and making certain she may all the time handle herself, particularly as she additionally financially helps relations outdoors of her dwelling. However wanting again, she now sees that her obsession with monetary equality stemmed from her previous trauma.”
As for Jurnee, ESSENCE studies that ex-husband Josiah Bell is citing California’s neighborhood property legal guidelines that state marital belongings should sometimes be divided equally in a divorce. He desires 50% of her retirement funds from the time they had been married between 2010 and 2019, which might be along with the mixed $7,000 monthly in little one help he’s already been receiving since 2019 for his or her now-eight-year-old son and alimony funds. A lot of the earnings he seeks can be derived from her roles as a collection common in initiatives like Friday Night time Lights, The Defenders, True Blood and Underground.
As anticipated, the remark sections on a lot of Bell’s current images by way of Instagram have been swarmed with vitriol starting from these merely asking “why take extra??” to the extra scathing photographs like “get a job,” calling him “brokey” and low cost jabs at his profession as a musician.
General, it actually comes all the way down to ladies having a selection somewhat than what path is chosen. Some ladies are the only real breadwinners of their relationship — shoutout to Rihanna and Oprah!— others might go for a strong prenup that pretty splits issues down the center and a great quantity are fortunately holding issues down as stay-at-home wives devoted to elevating a household with out the burden of economic stress. There’s no dangerous resolution per se; it’s with the ability to select that we really feel issues essentially the most.
Pontificate with you personal ideas on the 50/50 rule, and see what others are saying on social media beneath about what Gabrielle Union and Jurnee Smollett are at the moment going by means of:
1. Sadly, Jurnee Smollett has joined Mary J Blige, Brittany Spears, Wendy Williams, to call a number of ladies who needed to come out of pocket to a GOLD DIGGING ex-husband! That’s a membership nobody desires to be a member of. 🗣 Sure, males might be gold diggers. It’s not terminology used only for ladies. Nope! You’re not an actual man! SMDH
Sadly, Jurnee Smollett has joined Mary J Blige, Brittany Spears, Wendy Williams, to call a number of ladies who needed to come out of pocket to a GOLD DIGGING ex-husband! That is a membership nobody desires to be a member of. 🗣 Sure, males can e gold diggers. It isn’t terminology used simply… pic.twitter.com/6pstoa6yZx
— It is Me (@SisterMomGranny) March 6, 2025
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by way of @SisterMomGranny
2. The Jurnee Smollett scenario is hilarious cuz they had been married 9yrs. Within the reverse scenario ladies be so supportive of a lady taking half of all of their ex-spouses belongings. Now it sounds unreasonable & he’s not even asking for half. Simply half from the years they had been married
The Jurnee Smollett scenario is hilarious cuz they had been married 9yrs. Within the reverse scenario ladies be so supportive of a lady taking half of all of their ex-spouses belongings. Now it sounds unreasonable & he’s not even asking for half. Simply half from the years they had been married
— Nigerian Big (@SheWantsTheVic) March 6, 2025
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by way of @SheWantsTheVic
3. Jurnee Smollett has 18 brothers, she is aware of what to do!
Jurnee Smollett has 18 brothers, she is aware of what to do!
— MAY18TH (@jiggyjayy2) March 8, 2025
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by way of @jiggyjayy2
4. What Jurnee Smollett goes by means of is horrible. In a basic sense, you want a prenup in case you personal any property, make some huge cash, or are on a trajectory to construct general. Hear, the identical of us who’re in opposition to prenups will flip the script on you in a divorce.
What Jurnee Smollett goes by means of is horrible. In a basic sense, you want a prenup in case you personal any property, make some huge cash, or are on a trajectory to construct general. Hear, the identical of us who’re in opposition to prenups will flip the script on you in a divorce.
— Trustworthy Brotha (@TheImperfectLeo) March 6, 2025
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by way of @TheImperfectLeo
5. All these males on right here speaking about “oh the tables have turned” cuz Jurnee Smollett husband asking for more cash now that she’s working once more are some BITXHES. They’re not collectively anymore she don’t owe him shit. He already gettin 7k a month now. Nigga go guide some extra dj jobs.
All these males on right here speaking about “oh the tables have turned” cuz Jurnee Smollett husband asking for more cash now that she’s working once more are some BITXHES. They’re not collectively anymore she don’t owe him shit. He already gettin 7k a month now. Nigga go guide some extra dj jobs.
— 🏁💛💙🕊TMCMAMBAMENTALITY🕊💙💜🏁 (@mrsz_diia) March 6, 2025
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by way of @mrsz_diia
6. Gabrielle Union popping out to say the one motive she went 50/50 with Dwayne was only a trauma response as a result of the choice meant being weak sufficient to belief somebody with a 100% of every part – is the realest factor I’ve heard shortly
Gabrielle Union popping out to say the one motive she went 50/50 with Dwayne was only a trauma response as a result of the choice meant being weak sufficient to belief somebody with a 100% of every part – is the realest factor I’ve heard shortly
— #EndFemicideInSA (@iamlindz_) March 7, 2025
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by way of @iamlindz_
7. Gabrielle union doing a 180 on the 50-50 discuss is strictly why you must l dwell your life by requirements that give you the results you want. No two people are the identical, so think about 2 people in a wedding, do know the magnitude of statistical variance? You can not afford to do “this” as a result of that individual did it, and it’s working. Examine your self and your companion, your peculiarities, be thoughtful and loving of one another, be open to alter and teachable, and discover what works for you
… as a result of that individual did it, and it is working.
Examine your self and your companion, your peculiarities, be thoughtful and loving of one another, be open to alter and teachable, and discover what works for you— Aduks (@profAduks) March 7, 2025
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by way of @profAduks
8. Love that Gabrielle Union has dropped the 50-50 stance. Her rationalization makes a lot sense trigger it’s like if HE does the 100% then I start to really feel very weak to that and the concern of chaos taking place… Tbh, let’s not faux that that isn’t weaponized to subdue ladies. Love that they’ve come to that place of belief. Trigger man’s was able to pay a 100% mortgage from the get go. Like Dwayne’s cash? Looong
Love that Gabrielle Union has dropped the 50-50 stance. Her rationalization makes a lot sense trigger it’s like if HE does the 100% then I start to really feel very weak to that and the concern of chaos taking place…
Tbh, let’s not faux that that isn’t weaponized to subdue ladies. Love…
— shesthatsunchild (@theorebadmus_) March 7, 2025
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by way of @theorebadmus_
9. Gabrielle Union mentioned she’s not doing 50/50 w Dwyane Wade and it was a trauma response. 🤭 We cheered. 🎉
by way of @Chidaluuu_
10. I really feel Gabrielle Union fr, trigger when you must carry the load your self virtually your complete life that’s all the time gone be your response. You actually can’t belief no person to cowl you till confirmed in any other case.
I really feel Gabrielle Union fr, trigger when you must carry the load your self virtually your complete life that’s all the time gone be your response. You actually can’t belief no person to cowl you till confirmed in any other case.
— the Blueprint✨ (@gorgshari) March 7, 2025
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by way of @gorgshari
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