A remarkable trend seems to be becoming especially popular among couples over 50 who decide to end their long marriages.
This phenomenon, often referred to as "grey divorce," has seen a significant increase, with the divorce rate for adults aged 50 and over more than doubling between 1990 and 2010.
A 2022 study published in The Journals of Gerontology found that 36% of divorcees in the US were 50 or older. Susan Brown, a sociology professor at Bowling Green State University, helped coin the term "grey divorce."
"Women seem to be slightly more likely to initiate divorce proceedings," Brown said.
The artist Edith Heyck belongs to those who chose to divorce after 50.
"I'm a 70-year-old looking for a 60-year-old," she told Nightline. "I have a son that I train. I have a skiing partner. I am living the most vivid moment of my life. Something I didn't even dream of."
Heyck grew up in a traditional family, but stated that her life experiences are far from conventional.
"I have never thought about divorce and I have never known anyone who was divorced. We women discovered a sense of our freedom, so that we were not forced to stay in a marriage or a relationship, like my mother, say, who was not even able to make ends meet."
She stated that she is thriving as a single person, taking on new career opportunities, such as managing a local park near her home, and trying new hobbies, such as stand-up comedy.
Like Heyck, Laura Stassi is enjoying her post-divorce single life.
The 64-year-old was married for almost 30 years, until her then-husband asked for a divorce. At first, she said she felt like she had lost her identity, but regained her independence after the divorce.
She now hosts a podcast called "Dating While Grey," which focuses on relationships and the dating scene for older adults.
"I don't want to blame everything on my ex-husband," Stassi said. "I'm in many ways grateful that he asked for a divorce."
The trend is also popular in Hollywood
Gray divorces aren't just for ordinary people, as their growing number have also sparked interest where they've featured in films such as 1996's First Wives Club - starring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton - and It's 2009's Complicated - with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin;
Survey data shows that the divorce rate among Americans over the age of 50 doubled in the time between the release of these two films.
Some celebrities have also surprised the world with their breakup announcements. This trend includes prominent actresses such as Meryl Streep, "X-Men" star Hugh Jackman and Leah Remini. In addition to artists, the same trend was followed by billionaire entrepreneurs, such as Bill and Melinda Gates.
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