Double Standard?

Halle Berry is quoted in today's Scoop as saying that she's ready for a baby, but has absolutely no plans to get married again. She contends that she has no need for a "piece of paper" to legitimize her child, and also adds "My mother was alone and raised me, and I think I came out OK.” Um . . . okay, that could be debatable . . . but okay, yeah, she can make a case for being "okay". That's not what really surprised me in the article. What surprised me is that she then goes on to say that she's paying Eric Benet alimony.

Lemme say that again. She's paying Eric Benet alimony. My stomach dropped when I read that, and I immediately shook my head. I thought about Oprah's anger with Terri McMillan's ex, and the gritted-teeth delivery with which she asked him, on national television, " . . . and what made you think you were entitled to [Terri's] money?"

Do we have a vicious double standard in America? Why is it that I am cheering at the thought of Eddie Murphy finally having to deal with someone taking "half" from him, as he works out the details of his divorce settlement? How come I bristle every time "GoldDigger" comes on and Kanye's entreaty to holla "we want prenup" causes a loud erruption of male voices on the dance floor? But I'm mad that Eric Benet is getting alimony . . . that Nick Lachey, who claims that he doesn't want any, could get alimony because he checked the correct box on his divorce papers?

Why shouldn't men get alimony? Eric Benet is really pretty to look at, and he totally led the crowd in the standing ovation for Halle's tear-streaked Best Actress acceptance speech. Sure, he may have run out that very night for an illicit hookup and continues to deny a sexual addiction problem, but does that make him undeserving of alimony? Think of how many Hollywood jigglebots (TM Papa Burgundy) survive on their alimony payments. It's like a public service in LA . . . JLo's exes get alimony. They probably totally deserve it! Think of all of the tantrums they probably had to put up with. Think of all the events they had to attend. Think of the hours spent getting sprayed with Body Bling. That's hard work!

I'm going to try to be more egalitarian in the future, and weigh my judgements. More power to Eric Benet. Alimony, indeed. Brother gotta support his hooker habit somehow, right?