6. Lucy and Desi Divorced in 1960
In 1960, Lucy and Desi would have celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary had they not gotten a divorce. The past five years of their marriage had been nothing more than a routine to make life easier for their children, but in reality, Desi’s behavior had deteriorated to nothing more than “booze and broads.” The womanizer whose drunken behavior had created national scandals was now a severe alcoholic and sex addict. Lucy finally came to terms with the painful reality of what his conduct had caused, and she mentioned his affairs and alcoholism in the divorce papers.
Regarding the divorce, Lucy said, “We had a great attraction going for each other in the beginning, but we didn’t approve of each other. He disapproved of my moderation and my conservatism. I was square, he said. I disapproved of the way he worked too hard, played too hard, and was never moderate in anything.” The final episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, which aired at about the same time as their divorce, featured the couple in a heated argument that escalated until they ended up in a passionate kiss. That moment defined their troubled marriage. Desi said, “This was not just an ordinary kiss for a scene in a show. It was a kiss that would wrap up 20 years of love and friendship, triumphs and failures, ecstasy and sex, jealousy and regrets, heartbreaks and laughter… and tears.”