We've seen our fair share of creative ways to announce the end of a marriage. But in the era of social media, nothing screams "I'm moving on" like a well-crafted divorce announcement on Instagram. And who better to take cues from than the celebrities who have mastered the art of sharing their personal lives with the world?
Here are some tips on how to announce your divorce on Instagram like an A-lister.
Pay attention to how the experts write captions
And by experts, we mean celebrities. Celebs and their PR teams are skilled at announcing not just their divorce but other life milestones on social media. Most celebrities have entire teams handling their divorce announcements, and that’s why their Instagram captions announcing their divorce and/or new movie, makeup line, or perfume almost always look so professionally done.
Here’s an example:
“The beginning is often the best part of love. Fireworks, magnets, rebellion — the attraction. The onset signals a wide open expanse of possibility… Our greatest honor has been to experience love like this, and to continue to marvel at the beauty of love’s evolution. What happens when we reach the end of something and realize…we are just at the beginning.”
Actress Kate Bosworth crafted a brilliant divorce announcement through a post on Instagram, notifying the public of her separation from director Michael Polish. From the classy black-and-white photo to the anecdote, we have no notes.
Use the right keywords
Using the right keywords on your divorce announcement post will help attract the right audience (your friends and family) and increase your engagement (i.e., social media engagement). Some notably worded divorce announcements we’ve read in recent times include “moving forward with love and respect,” “being grateful for the love,” and the like. If you are divorcing with kids, you can’t go wrong with declaring that you and your ex will be “co-parenting amicably.”
You don't want your followers to think you're mourning the death of your pet goldfish instead of your marriage, so choose your words wisely. Here are two fine examples of celebrities’ smart use of the right keywords:
“We have always conducted our relationship privately, and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and co-parent, we will be able to continue in the same manner. Love, Gwyneth & Chris”
No other ex-couples have announced their divorce as memorably as Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin did. Full disclosure: this announcement wasn’t made on Instagram but on Gwyneth’s Goop website. If she had posted it on Instagram, it probably would have crashed the app.
Reese Witherspoon did announce she’s divorcing her husband Jim Toth on Instagram, saying:
“It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce.”
It’s simple, it’s straightforward, and it alliterates. It may not be as catchy as “unconscious uncoupling” but it sends the message across, and truthfully, no one does or says anything like Gwyneth Paltrow.
Learn from others’ mistakes
Mistakes may be the best teacher, but you do not want to make a mistake on your first (and ideally, last) divorce announcement. Learn from others’ mistakes instead. Here’s an example of a post that many consider to be a mistake:
“Guys. For real. Look how she’s looking at me! I mean. Find you somebody that looks at you like that!! You know!? …She’s given me an amazing life, a gorgeous healthy daughter, she chews so loudly that sometimes i put in my ear buds to drown it out…”
In an Instagram post, Chris Pratt professed his adoration of his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger looking at him adoringly. We know it’s not a divorce announcement, but it did remind the general public of his divorce from ex Anna Faris with whom he shared a son who was born premature and suffered from serious health issues. If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s that it’s often wise to keep some things to yourself.
Ask for privacy (whether or not you actually want it)
Think long and hard about whether or not announcing your divorce on Instagram is necessary and/or wise. Do you have a strong personal brand and want to tap into the relatable experience of divorce? How would publicly announcing your divorce on Instagram affect your personal image and reputation? These are some of the things to ponder. And if you’ve resolved to announce it anyway, it pays to consult a family law attorney.
Related reading: An essential guide to announcing your divorce on social media
Comments: Close or open?
On one hand, turning off commenting on your posts protects you from unsolicited advice and nosy inquiries. It's like saying, "I just came here to drop the bomb, not engage in a therapy session with internet strangers." On the other hand, leaving the comments open is like throwing yourself into a wild jungle, where you'll encounter a colorful array of condolences and conspiracy theories. The choice is yours: Will you lock yourself away or dive headfirst into the comment chaos? Remember, you can't unread what's been written.
Leave the tedious divorce paperwork to the experts — family law attorneys. Buckingham, LaGrandeur, & Williams is the legal team to call for your case in Washington State. Visit our Renton law offices, or give us a call.