Michael Douglas discusses 2013 separation from Catherine Zeta-Jones in Sunday Times interview
Michael Douglas, 82, told The Sunday Times that the 2013 split from Catherine Zeta-Jones was "mutual" and that "marriage is a lot of work", ahead of the release of the memoir One Helluva Ride on 6 October.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Michael Douglas, 82, spoke about the brief 2013 separation from his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones in an interview with The Sunday Times, published ahead of his memoir One Helluva Ride. The IndependentLC “Michael Douglas has spoken about his brief split from wife Catherine Zeta-Jones” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “Speaking to The Sunday Times to promote his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, the 82-year-old was pressed on his brief 2013 split from Zeta-Jones.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Asked how he "won her back", Douglas rejected the premise, replying: "What, I won her back? It was mutual." The IndependentLC ““What, I won her back? It was mutual,” he told the publication.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “a terse Douglas replied, 'What, I won her back? It was a mutual.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Douglas added: "we had our problems but I love her dearly", said "marriage is a lot of work", and described the couple as "in good shape". The IndependentLC ““You know, we had our problems but I love her dearly and, 25 years, you know.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “We're in good shape. It's all I can say.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2The couple married in 2000 after meeting in 1998 and have two children, Dylan and Carys; in August 2013 Zeta-Jones confirmed they were "taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage", and they reportedly reconciled that November. The IndependentLC “In August 2013, Zeta-Jones confirmed that the couple were “taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage”.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “The couple, who met in 1998 and got married in 2000, went through a temporary separation in 2013” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Left · 1In the memoir, Douglas writes of the break: "I never gave up hope that we would reconcile." According to Douglas, Zeta-Jones has not yet read the book. The IndependentLC ““I never gave up hope that we would reconcile.””“According to Douglas, Zeta-Jones is yet to read the book” Read at The Independent ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail links the split to a run of health problems: Zeta-Jones disclosed bipolar II disorder in 2011 and returned to a mental health facility in 2013, while Douglas was treated for cancer after a 2010 diagnosis. Daily MailR “In 2011, Zeta-Jones revealed that she was battling depression and had been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder”“Zeta-Jones then returned to a mental health facility in 2013 to continue treatment for bipolar.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets recall that in 2013 Douglas said his cancer was linked to oral sex; his publicist later retracted the remarks, and in 2015 Douglas said he "regretted any embarrassment" caused to Zeta-Jones. The IndependentLC “with his publicist later retracting the remarks and saying that he was not referring to his cancer” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “'It was one of those things … and I so regretted any embarrassment that it caused Catherine,' he said.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail also quotes a 2015 Event magazine interview in which Douglas called the split "a little bump in the road" and said that if both people want to work something out, "you can do it". Daily MailR “'We had a little bump in the road.'”“if both people want to work something out and make it better, you can do it.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Left · 1The Independent adds that the memoir details affairs during Douglas's first marriage to Diandra Luker, including falling in love with Kathleen Turner while filming Romancing the Stone in 1984; One Helluva Ride is released on Tuesday 6 October. The IndependentLC “he fell in love with Romancing the Stone co-star Kathleen Turner while filming the 1984 film in Mexico”“One Helluva Ride is released on Tuesday (6 October).” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent leads on Douglas's pushback against the idea that he had to win Zeta-Jones back, then moves to memoir revelations about his first marriage and Kathleen Turner.
- Emphasis
- Douglas's quotes, the memoir, and past affairs during his marriage to Diandra Luker.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the health struggles (Zeta-Jones's bipolar II, Douglas's cancer treatment) that the Daily Mail ties to the split.
- Charged language
- “controversially”
- For example
-
“Michael Douglas opens up about Catherine Zeta-Jones split after 13 years: ‘We had our problems’” — The Independent
“Douglas seemed to take exception to the suggestion that he had to make amends.” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Daily Mail presents the interview as rare insight into the marriage, describing Douglas as "terse" and giving the split a backdrop of the couple's health problems.
- Emphasis
- Zeta-Jones's mental health treatment, Douglas's cancer and 2013 remarks, and both stars' current projects.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover the memoir's accounts of Douglas's earlier affairs or Kathleen Turner.
- Charged language
- “terse”“controversial”
- For example
-
“Michael Douglas has offered some rare insight into his 26-year marriage to Catherine Zeta Jones in a new interview.” — Daily Mail
“went through a temporary separation in 2013 after a series of personal health woes.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Douglas gave the interview to The Sunday Times and replied "What, I won her back? It was mutual."
- He said "marriage is a lot of work" and that the couple are "in good shape".
- The couple married in 2000 and separated briefly in 2013.
- The memoir One Helluva Ride is out on Tuesday 6 October.
Where accounts differ
-
How long the marriage has lasted
- Left
- The Independent's headline refers to a split "after 13 years" and Douglas cites "25 years".
- Right
- The Daily Mail calls it a "26-year marriage".
Michael Douglas person
Douglas says the split was mutual rather than something he had to repair, acknowledges they had problems, and says the couple are in good shape.
““What, I won her back? It was mutual,” he told the publication.” — The Independent
“marriage is a lot of work, you know. And so, you know, we're good.” — Daily Mail
Catherine Zeta-Jones person
Zeta-Jones confirmed the 2013 time apart in a statement; in September she told The Sunday Times that the secret to the marriage was "working", according to the Daily Mail.
“Zeta-Jones confirmed that the couple were “taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage”” — The Independent
“Zeta-Jones said that the secret to her marriage with Douglas was 'working'.” — Daily Mail
Left1 article
-
Michael Douglas opens up about Catherine Zeta-Jones split after 13 years: ‘We had our problems’
Neutral Reports Douglas's pushback on the "won her back" question, with background on the 2013 remarks and memoir revelations about earlier affairs.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Mixed Frames the interview as rare insight into the marriage, calls Douglas "terse", and adds health context and the couple's careers.
- 5 Oct 14:24 First The IndependentLC Michael Douglas opens up about Catherine Zeta-Jones split after 13 years: ‘We had our problems’
- 5 Oct 21:55 +7h 31m Daily MailR Michael Douglas details separation from Catherine Zeta-Jones in new interview: 'Marriage is hard work'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.