Robin Williams Partly Killed By Alimony
Linda Stasi reports in the New York Daily News that Robin Williams was paying $30 million in alimony, and that burden contributed to his death.
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While states are finally, gradually catching up to the modern age in terms of alimony (now they call it “maintenance” — as in “high maintenance”) the practice of men paying women because they once were married is not just primitive but, yes, sexist.
Yeah, go ahead, call me anti-feminist, call me whatever you want, but the truth is alimony (which is different from child support and fair distribution of assets acquired during the marriage) doesn’t mean the non-working spouse is entitled to live as high as the Kardashians. It’s that concept that is fundamentally anti-feminist.
[su_r_sky_ad]Stasi recounts here own history:
No, I’m not talking out of my head. I’m talking as a formerly divorced, unemployed woman who didn’t ask for alimony, just a fair amount of child support for our then-2-year-old daughter, which never happened anyway.
And thank God for it. Had I been “maintained,” I would never have found my own way in the world. I wouldn’t have written books at night as a side-job, I would never have fought against sexism to be given decent assignments, and my daughter would have had a “maintained” mother as opposed to an ambitious one as an example…
Despite all the love in his present, all Williams saw was what the past had cost him and what the future would bring. As he once said, “Divorce is expensive. I used to joke they were going to call it ‘all the money,’ but they changed it to ‘alimony.’ It’s ripping your heart out through your wallet.”
Richard Sanders August 17th, 2014 at 4:16 pm
Robin should stayed single.
fancypants August 17th, 2014 at 4:21 pm
I will believe this when it comes from robins lawyer who had no control or able to reduce the amount ? now im more suspicious of foul play
William August 17th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Alimony is paying someone not to live with you.
whatthe46 August 18th, 2014 at 3:28 am
HA!!!!
Vickie August 17th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
As someone who came from a broken home.My mother did everything and worked her butt off so she could feed and clothe us while our father moved over and over so he didn’t pay child support..I don’t believe this article at all…not at his age.He had plenty of money to have 5 wives..and child support/ alimony is
GoldenBoy August 17th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Your comment makes no sense. Your dad sounds like a shitty person. But the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, if you think that alimony laws are just and fair.
Vickie August 17th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
I do….if the man wants a divorce then the woman is forced into poverty if she has been home taken care of kids It protects them and it should
Hirightnow August 17th, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Williams’ second wife divorced him, citing “irreconcilable differences”.
Just thought I’d tell that to you up there on that horse…
Vickie August 17th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
Are you paying for alimony????lol
Vickie August 17th, 2014 at 7:58 pm
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Tommy6860 August 17th, 2014 at 7:37 pm
Stasi makes it appear that men suffer the cost of alimony. While I have my own opinions on it, there are plenty of men out there getting alimony from their former wealthier spouses. Keep in mind, this article comes from the tabloid New York Daily News, not exactly a fact based insightful place to read journalism.
Carla Akins August 17th, 2014 at 9:13 pm
In the regular world, alimony is rarely awarded these days. Beyond child support, wives/spouse/significant other are generally given maintenance for a short period of time depending on a set of circumstances. The most common reason for awarding maintenance is that the lower earning spouse (generally wife) put the high earning spouse through medical or law school. Another more traditional reason is if the wife gave up a career in the furtherance of her husband’s career. It’s generally limited to 5 years – enough time to get or update a degree or jump start an old career.
labman57 August 17th, 2014 at 9:31 pm
That’s a hell of a guilt trip to impose on his former spouses.
Elliot J. Stamler August 18th, 2014 at 2:29 am
Did Williams and everyone else ever hear of pre-nuptial agreements?
Bianca Bradley August 18th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Raises eyebrows. Alimony as sexist??????? Sigh. Someone hasn’t thought through their argument. Also nice indulting women who get alimony as “maintained”.
twocents August 19th, 2014 at 9:50 pm
What a load. Divorce comes before alimony so if things were so great it wouldnt have come to that. Was he not the “breadwinner”? Men have always been in control so they’ve had to pay for their women like their other servants. Thank god he didnt take the modern remedy and just kill his exes and kids.
disqus_Pb08cMVY2B September 8th, 2014 at 12:28 am
So the f what if they were married for however long. After the marriage, the perks end on both sides. She’s no longer obligated to have sex, show love, do choose for, or in any way care for her ex spouse, yet he is obligated to maintain all the perks of being married? Where the f did these laws come from? She should appreciate that she had it as well as she did for the time she did. Child support is fair, alimony is mere lottery entitlement.