Something to ponder: if Tina hadn't become a multi-bazillion platinum success/icon in her own right, would Ike have been as severely vilified by the public? I can't help but wonder if her fame and his perceived evilness aren't exponential.
Miles Davis beat the shit out of Cicily Tyson. If Cicily were more famous, would everyone know about this? Miles' name isn't synonymous with spousal abuse like Ike. But still.
Whenever you're friends with a couple who splits up, which member do you retain as a friend, if both is not possible? The smarter one? The better looking one? The more successful one? You probably don't think of it in those terms. Maybe the one you were closer to? But does the other automatically become an asshole?
Is it better to lie and play nice or is it better to be truthful, even if that truth is nasty and unbecoming? What price do you pay for telling the truth? What price do you pay for playing nice?