Ted Turner Likes ‘Em Crazy
So novelist Elizabeth Dewberry recently left her older, somewhat successful husband, Pulitzer prize winner Robert Olen Butler for even older and mega rich Ted Turner. Whatever. People leave their spouses for older, richer people (or younger, hotter people) all the damn time. What makes this interesting is that Robert Olen Butler turned his considerable writing skills to crafting an email to “friends and colleagues” explaining overexplaining the situation. Here’s my favorite part:
Further, Elizabeth has never been able to step out of the shadow of the Pulitzer. As you know-and she knows-I have been an avid admirer and supporter of her work. Everyone has heard me proclaim my sincere high regard for her as an artist. I often did this publicly. But she has published two brilliant novels since she’s been with me and neither has gotten anywhere near the recognition that they richly deserve. That made it harder and harder for her to live with the ongoing praise and opportunity that flows to a Pulitzer winner. Not because of jealousy. She has always been very happy for me. But the multitude of small reflections of regard that came my way inevitably threw a spotlight on the absence of those expressions of regard for her. She felt as if she was failing as a writer.
Do you all smell the “condescending” and the “delusion” puddling at your feet? Dude, she didn’t leave you because of your goddamn Pulitzer. She left you because she had a shot at Ted Turner, a freakin’ billionaire. Damn. Of course, in a few years Ted Turner himself may send out a similar note, stating that Dewberry left him because she felt inferior to both his big bags of money and his big-breasted girlfriends.
You can read the full email, along with lots of follow up, at Gawker.
Ted Turner, Elizabeth Dewberry, Robert Olen Butler, Robert Olen Butler email, Gawker
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