Roxane Gay recently suggested that all of us heterosexual ladies should take, in her words, a “d-ck sabbatical.” I agree. I also think we need to take a romance sabbatical. It’s because I’ve spent the last two months writing about sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape every single day. I’ve become even more jaded and suspicious than usual. So when I came across this added story from People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive package, I just didn’t even feel anything. Blake Shelton wants you to know that his relationship with Gwen Stefani works because he puts her on a pedestal. We’re supposed to go “aww…” but remember, this is the guy who likely voted for the guy who grabs women by the p-ssy.
There’s nothing sexier than a guy who adores his girlfriend — just ask Gwen Stefani.
“I try to be a gentleman as much as I can. I think the thing that she needs most in her life is to be put on a pedestal,” newly crowned Sexiest Man Alive Blake Shelton tells PEOPLE exclusively about his girlfriend of two years. “Every day that I’m around her, that’s what my goal is.”
Shelton, 41, and Stefani, 48, started off as friends after meeting on The Voice in 2014, and romance blossomed when they formed an unbreakable bond after going through heartbreak at the same time.
“When you’re where she and I were, and you just feel so betrayed and on bottom, this bond that we formed when we found out what each other were going through, it’s still there,” says Shelton, whose holiday duet “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” with Stefani is featured on her holiday album. “What’s most important to Gwen is somebody who has her back and is a best friend so that’s kind of how it started. It just feels like it gets stronger all the time,” adds the country star, whose new album Texoma Shore hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart this week.
As two of the busiest stars in the world, it’s no surprise the pair prefer staying in for date night.
“Laying in bed and watching a movie, that’s it,” says Shelton. “That is such a coveted, special-like and rare thing for her and me, you know?” Shelton’s also the first to admit it’s not just the fans who were confused by the pairing of a country king and rock queen. “She and I, on paper, we couldn’t be more different,” he says. “But in life, nothing’s ever worked better for me.”
He’s laying it on a bit thick. Again, I’m feeling pretty cynical these days. In truth, I’ve never heard anything about Blake Shelton groping, harassing or assaulting women. He cheated on his first wife, but everyone was a consenting adult in that situation. Still… are you into this? I know Gwen Stefani is into this, this kind of aw-shucks-I-put-my-lady-on-a-pedestal thing. She’s obviously not part of the D-ck Sabbatical Movement. No, the D-ck Sabbatical Revolution! Come on, let’s do this (or NOT do this).
Also: “When you’re where she and I were, and you just feel so betrayed and on bottom…” That’s the closest he’s come to saying the words “Miranda betrayed me.” Reportedly, she was cheating on him. A LOT. And when he found out, he quickie-divorced her.
Photos courtesy of Getty, cover courtesy of People.
Future ex wife number 3?
Talk about some of the most nonsense things about 2017. Everyone is collectively confused by this cover. Although, they have also given the female equivalent title (most beautiful?) to Gwenyth Paltrow one or multiple times. So, I guess no one at People HQ can see/hear/read.
This coupling makes me gag. So gross!
Every time I see these two I get the feeling that Gwen just doesn’t like being alone and like she believes so strongly in “the one true love” that she ends up batting below her worth. This guy just looks like a people pleaser, a bland bore who you never really get to know. One day she’s just going to realise it’s not what she thinks it is and move on.
You just summed up my love life. Who knew I’d have a breakthrough on celebitchy.com!
@reverie Yep! and seems like Blake doesn’t want to betray their bond by breaking up with her – cause she is fragile.
100% on board with the d-ck sabbatical. I’m in my mid-thirties and dating is just as much the worst as it was in my 20s. The sh-t men say to me now because, I dunno, I guess they think I’m desperate to settle down before 40…? One guy recently casually asked if my eggs are frozen. On a first date. Ughh.
So yeah, d-ck sabbatical. There’s always vibrators.
Some choose to take a d-ck sabbatical; others have a sabbatical forced upon them. (with apologies to Selma Bouvier)
Omg, when I was in my late 20s, early 30s a guy in his 40s (I thought he was younger) was talking to me about my fertility on a first date! There was no second date. Awkward since he was in graduate classes with me.
Ugh putting either partner on a pedestal is not healthy in a relationship and the fact that he said she needs that makes her sound like an insecure diva; I don’t think this is the case this time but typically the men who claim to “put women on a pedestal” or “worship women” are usually the most sexist/misogynistic of all since they completely treat women as ‘other’ or as trophies. I don’t get that vibe from him but this whole interview was gag-worthy.
Right?! I don’t want to be on a pedestal!! I like what I’d heard a while ago and it’s waking up thinking, “How can I make my partner’s day a good day?” …not blindly putting them above all else.
pinetree13, you are so right. It was the view of women in the Victorian era. The pedestal idea kept men from seeing women as equals[ or allowing them to vote.] Anti-feminist leaders picked up this idea, and will still tell women how progress has robbed them of the “worship” from men. Garbage.
I would normally agree….but…I feel like gavin Rossdale did the opposite from that, so yeah. Maybe Gwen needs to be worshipped like the goddess she is for a bit.
I feel like after what Gwen Stefani supposedly went through with Gavin Rossdale, that this “put on a pedestal” thing is exactly what she needed. and Shelton seems to need the old-fashioned “I never let him see me without makeup” type woman that Stefani is.
Every interview with her while with she was with Rossdale sounded like she worked so hard to keep it all together, putting HIM on a pedestal, and meanwhile, he was cheating left and right.
So while it may not be what Roxane Gay suggests, if it works for the two of them, that’s all that matters.
@ Kay. Agreed. It did often sound like Gwen worked hard at loving Gavin R. Turns out to no avail. I also agree, I feel like from the things I have read that she is super “girly-girl” and loves being put on a pedestal. If this relationship works for them so be it. Plus, I love nothing better than laying in bed and watching a movie.
I don’t know why but “she needs most in her life is to be put on a pedestal“ doesn’t seem like a compliment to me….maybe I’m wrong.
Exactly my take on it as well. I took it as an ‘oh shit that comment is gonna cause some problems’ type thing because I don’t look at it as a compliment either.
You’re right!
I am not for a d~~~ sabbatical! Why give up something so fun and healthy? I say have more sex, it would make the world a happier place.
I’ve already started my sabbatical. I live in a VERY red county and just decided – nope. I saw the voters and the Trump signs and nobody around here is getting any. Hopefully I’ll be moving next year, maybe, MAYBE then. But as Weinstein has showed us, even liberals can be creepers so my nerves are on high alert when it comes to men. Also: yes, he’s laying it on a little thick. If you put me on a pedestal, I promise I’ll fall right off of it in no time so please don’t.
I hate being put on a pedestal. It’s gets so damn old. I can fix myself a cup of coffee. I can open doors. I can pay for a meal every now and then. I find it all very smothering. Their relationship sounds like a nightmare to me. Guess I’m cynical too…
Ultimately, being put on a pedestal is condescending, as the worshipped one is generally not considered an EQUAL one.
And I can’t get past this guy’s veneers…
People magazine is the same magazine that named Julia Roberts the “Most Beautiful Woman 2017”. Enough said.
Not to mention Jennifer Aniston.
It should obviously have been Ivanka.
Have a baby. That will guarantee a dick sabbatical.
I think the thing that she needs most in her life is to be put on a pedestal – well, he got that right so maybe ot will last (longer that any of us expected). Gwen just seems like that tiresome person who just needs to be adored and in love. It is like she is a mother of 3 but still lives in high school in her head when she just desperately wants to be cool and cool=dating the cool guy. I think this is how her relationship with Gavin began. He was a sexy rock start with a carriere at the time. But she jist coild not make him do it, hut her on pedestal and just adore her. So I think now she probably made some agreement with People for her album promotion and sold Blake as sexiest man alive just to show everyone she is with the cool guy who adores her this time. I mean just go to her instagram. You always hear those stories from the People’s sexies men alive how their friends/partners do not care for the title, but look at Gwen. So proud and celeblatory.
I still hate People could not put an effort to make a deal with someone who is not (probably) a Trump suppporter and a bit more progressive
“He cheated on his first wife, but everyone was a consenting adult in that situation.” If his first wife consented to it, then it wasn’t cheating. If she didn’t consent to it, then she was betrayed without her consent.
You’re right, of course, but you’re taking that out of context.
“He’s laying it on a bit thick. Again, I’m feeling pretty cynical these days. In truth, I’ve never heard anything about Blake Shelton groping, harassing or assaulting women. He cheated on his first wife, but everyone was a consenting adult in that situation.”
I used to hate on them but whatever. They seem happy. Just let them be twee. I think he means put on a pedestal because she seems like an awesome mom and if Gavin was off cheating left and right and with the help, it certainly probably felt like she was overlooked and under appreciated with him. Plus Gwen ha spoken openly about feeling like the insecure un pretty girl for the longest time. She really didn’t become a glamazon until after no doubt. So if he makes her feel special and sexy and appreciated? Fine by me.
It sounds like her self esteem is incredibly low if her partner feels he needs to constantly put her on a pedestal every day. Sounds exhausting.
I’m not a big fan of their over-the-top-ness but, meh… they seem happy.
I didn’t read it like SHE was the one who needed to be put on a pedestal, rather, he felt that HE needed to put her on a pedestal because that’s how he felt she should be treated, no?
Also, I kind of appreciate that neither of them speaks as if they are together because of fate, or magic, or soul-mates but that they grew into love through their respective lives and where they were at. That actually seems pretty grounded and real to me.
Blake cheated on Miranda as well. He is no saint himself especially when he was hitting on women and talking about them while married to Miranda. I always felt like Blake treated Miranda like she was beneath him. That’s fine if him and Gwen are happy but lots of times Blake comes across as sketchy. Not really sure I believe it I still think he will end up with a country lady again. But he has Gwen hooked for sure.
Gwen has major self esteem issues which why she is with this guy. I hope she finds herself.
“….it’s not just the fans who were confused by the pairing of a country king and rock queen. ”
I think the most confusing thing is when TF did Gwen Stefani make rock music?
He is a charming guy,