Madonna wanted 'marriage of equals' with Sean Penn but he wanted gender roles

01 October 2023 , 12:07

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Madonna married Sean Penn in the 80s, with their divorce coming to light before the 90s

Madonna is said to have wanted a "marriage of equals" with Sean Penn but he wanted traditional gender roles and to be "the man" amid her skyrocketing fame, it has been revealed.

The Material Girl singer was famously married to Mystic River star Sean Penn, with their marriage somewhat short-lived. Meeting on the set of the aforementioned song's music video in January 1985, the couple wed months later in August of the same year.

Collaborating together for a couple of projects, Madonna then dedicated her third studio album True Blue to her husband. But their love story wasn't to stand to test of time, which was apparent when Madonna filed for divorce in December 1987, but withdrew the papers two weeks later. The couple's divorce was then officially filed by Madonna in 1989, citing "irreconcilable differences".

The American couple were married within months of meeting (Getty Images)

But now further details surrounding the couple's marriage and relationship has been unveiled, with Sean supposedly "jealous" and both of their massive careers also posing as a problem. Mary Gabriel has published an extract from a new biography of the singer in today's Sunday Times.

Mary wrote about how when things broke down, Madonna’s career was skyrocketing. She said: "In the three years since they [Madonna and Sean] had met she had gone from being an up-and-coming pop star to being the wealthiest female entertainer in the world."

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She noted: "Their expectations for their relationship had also diverged. She wanted a marriage of equals. He had a strong streak of traditionalism that required him to be the 'man'."x

The couple split in 1989 (Getty Images)

Mary then noted how this caused paparazzi to plague the couple, which led to Sean "drinking more" and Madonna "working harder". Touching upon their projects in 1988, Mary then spoke of how on the Hurlyburly play's opening night, the couple fought. "The fight was unique in that it was so public, but it was just one more drama during those last months of 1988 as their bonds frayed," she elaborated.

Reflecting on the couple's split and the years that followed, Mary added: "Years later both took responsibility for the marriage’s demise. Penn described himself as an angry young man during that period and admitted he was hard to live with. For her part, Madonna said she hadn’t been ready to be married."

Mollie Quirk