Infidelity is a deviation from the generally accepted norms of the relationship between husband and wife. This violation of rules of relationships gives rise to sexual jealousy and very often culminates in temporary separation or divorce. The repercussions are grave and vary from lawsuits to divorce, defamation, loss of career, physical domestic violence and, at times, even an attempt by the betrayed partner to launch a fatal assault on the unfaithful partner. According to Barta & Kiene, ‘What constitutes an act of infidelity is dependent upon the exclusivity expectations within the relationship.’ According to a Kinsey report, about 50% of men and 25% of women had committed adultery According to a survey of the University of Chicago’s General Social Survey, conducted on a wide population, 12% of men and 7% of women had extramarital affairs. This statistical data analysis is considered to be more credible.

1. Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana Frances, better known as Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, was born to Viscount and Viscountess Althorp, on July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk. Immediately after the announcement of her engagement, she became a public figure. She was the first wife of Charles, the Prince of Wales. In the early 1990s their marriage was jeopardized and fell apart due to the allegations of infidelity from both sides. In May 1992 her relationship with Major James Hewitt, who was her former riding instructor, surfaced and created media hype. In a BBC interview, Diana said, ‘Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down. .Andrew Morton exposed this affair in his publication Diana: Her True Story. In August 1992, the taped conversation between Princess Diana and James Gilbey revealed the intimacy of their relationship. Diana also dated Hasnat Khan, the heart surgeon called by some as ‘the love of her life.’ Diana was also seen with Dodi Fayed.

2. Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard, sometimes known as a rose without thorn, was born to Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper in 1523 and died on February 13, 1542 at the age of 18 years in the Tower of London. From 1540 to 1541, she was the Queen of England as the fifth wife of Henry VIII. She married Henry VIII on July 28, 1540 in Surrey. In early 1541, Catherine developed a romantic relationship with Thomas Culpeper, who was a young favorite male courtier of Henry. A few who knew of the relationship, started blackmailing her and sought her favors. It was in this context that she appointed Francis Dereham as her personal secretary and this proved a fatal blunder on her part. He played a pivotal role in proving her unfaithful to the King and she was consequently beheaded in the Tower of London after less than two years of marriage.

3. Nicole Natalie Austin

Nicole Natalie Marrow, better known as Coco, was born on March 17, 1979 in Palos Verdes, California, U.S. She is a well-known American actress, dancer and model. Her younger sister, in her early childhood used to call her Cole Cole, which later on evolved into her popular name Coco. She was introduced to the stage at an early age. She appeared in the March 2008 issue of the Playboy magazine. On December 31, 2001 she married Tracy Marrow, the rapper/actor and on June 4, 2011 they celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in Hollywood. In December 2012, Austin’s affair with the Oakland based rapper, Bishop Shakur surfaced. He released her nude photo with him and also claimed having sex with her.

4. Leann Rimes

Leann Rimes was born to Belinda Rimes and Wilbur Rimes on August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi in the U.S. She started singing at an early age and debuted with her album Blue in 1996 and it topped the Top Country Album charts. She is the recipient of many awards, including three ACMs, a CMA, a Grammy, 12 Billboard Music Awards and one American Music award. Rimes has won many awards, including two Grammys, three ACMs, a CMA, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and one American Music award. A year after meeting the backup dancer Dean Sheremet, she married him. She was unfaithful to her husband and while still married she had an affair with the actor, Eddie Cibrian. When the affair came to the notice of public, she commented, ‘I take responsibility for everything I’ve done. I hate that people got hurt … But I don’t regret the outcome.’

5. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez was born to David Lopez and Guadalupe Rodriguez on July 24, 1969 near Castle Hill, The Bronx in New York. She is of Puerto Rican descendent. She is an American producer, entertainer and a successful businesswoman. For the first time, she dated David Cruz in 1984 at the age of 15 years. She married the Cuban actor Ojani Noa in February 1997 and it continued until January 1998. She began dating the rapper Sean Combs while working on her album, On the 6. She left Combs and married Chris Judd. After her second divorce, she married Ben Affleck.

6. Elizabeth Taylor

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor DBE, better known as Elizabeth Taylor, was born on February 27, 1932 in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, England and died on March 23, 2011 at the age of 79 years in Los Angeles, California, U.S. She was one of the most famous actresses of the golden age of Hollywood. She is particularly known for her beauty, violet eyes and acting capability. While she was married to Richard Burton, she had an affair with Eddie Fisher and the Vatican condemned this relationship. She is also known for having married eight times to seven husbands and when asked about it, said, ‘I don’t know, honey. It sure beats the hell out of me … I was taught by my parents that if you fall in love, if you want to have a love affair, you get married. I guess I’m very old-fashioned.’

7. Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Monique Union was born to Theresa and Sylvester C, in Omaha, Nebraska on October 29, 1972. She is a well-known American actress and a former model. She was raised in a rich African American community. At the age of 19, in 1992, she was assaulted and raped. The attacker was sentenced to 33 years imprisonment. She married the football player Chris Howard on May 5, 2001, but they divorced in 2006. She had an affair with NBA basketball player, Dwyane Wade, since 2007.

8. Barbara Jill Walters

Barbara Jill Walters was born on September 25, 1929. She is an American author, journalist and television personality. She came into prominence after The Today Show, a morning NBC News program which she hosted. She had been married four times to three persons. Being faithful to one person throughout her life was not an interesting idea for her. In 1995, she told The New York Times, ‘I’m convinced that you stay married when the sex is bad, only because you really want to be … But I always had an out. I had this job, and this life and enough money. I didn’t have to fight the bad days.’

9. Kristen Stewart

Kristen Jaymes Stewart was born to John Stewart and Jules Mann-Stewart on April 9, 1990 in Los Angeles, California. She is an American actress and is best known for her role as Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga. She was married to Robert Pattinson and both looked an ideal couple. Stewart, however was unfaithful to Pattinson and her affair with Rupert Sanders was projected by US Weekly, which published her photographs with Rupert Sanders. She apologized to Pattinson publicly, saying,’ This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.”

10. Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum was born to Erna and Gunther Klum on June 1, 1973 in Bergisch Gladbach, a suburban town outside Cologne, Germany. She is a German American model, designer and television host and producer. She has appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was also a Victoria’s Secret Angel. She married Ric Pipino in 1997 and the couple divorced in 2002, after she had been allegedly unfaithful to him. She started a relationship with Flavio Briatore in 2003 and became pregnant. While she was still pregnant, she started an affair with the musician Seal.

Conclusion

A marriage is intended to be a long-term, rather lifelong relationship, therefore only loyalty is the compatible virtue with it. Although men are more unfaithful, it is more devastating when a woman turns unfaithful. The reason for this is that men are far less tolerant and much more jealous in respect to sexual deviation from the expected norm. The phenomenon of infidelity is not new, though; it has been changing in terms of methodology, with the changing times and cybersex being the latest mode.