06 June 2023 , 18:09
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Reports have alleged that Natalie Portman's husband cheated on the Hollywood actress with a younger French woman.
It's claimed French ballet dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied, 45, reportedly had an affair with Camille Étienne, 25, leaving many to question whether the married couple can salvage their 11-year marriage.
However, while some sources say Benjamin is "doing all he can" to save the relationship, Ashley Madison’s Chief Strategy Officer Paul Keable told Mirror Online the alleged affair could actually help the duo in the long run.
Paul, who works for the married dating app, insists cheating doesn't have to end in a split and said in this case it could work the opposite way - if rumours are correct - and bring the pair closer together.
He said: "From our understanding, it isn't overly surprising and they [Natalie and Benjamin] hit a lot of metrics in terms of why people would like to have an affair; busy, professional lives, parents of young children, and they're in that middle stage of life where opportunities are abound and questions about where they're going happen.
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Natalie Portman's husband allegedly cheated on the star (Luca Carlino/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)"But the critical thing to see is that it doesn't necessarily indicate that there is an issue in itself with the marriage. It does not indicate a lack of love or respect."
He added that research shows people often seek affairs, not for a lack of love or affection for their spouse, or from a lack of satisfaction, but more because of their overall lives.
"Obviously Miss Portman has a higher profile," he continued. "And so if she's working and she's in a movie or she's on a shoot, he may feel less affection within a relationship because she is busy elsewhere.
"But that does not mean he is not loving towards her. He could be seeking what's missing. And what's critical here is, now that this affair has been allegedly discovered, it could shine a light on it, but it also gives them an opportunity to discuss what is missing in the relationship and gives them opportunity to hash out what really went on versus was this an opportunistic affair."
Paul described how the allegations could indicate a "can opener affair" which is where people purposely try to get caught in a bid to save their marriage.
Natalie Portman and husband Benjamin Millepied have been married for over a decade (zz/Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX/IPx)
Benjamin is reported to have cheated on the actress (zz/Galaxy/STAR MAX/IPx)He explained: "Often that is actually an attempt to save the marriage because they vocalise their concerns and try to address their issues with their partner. They may have even gone to the step of having couples' counselling, but the message didn't get through.
"And so this becomes a bit of a drastic step and not one we would necessarily recommend but we do see it when people make the choice to have an affair purposely to get caught so that they can put it in front of their partner and say, 'I was serious, you didn't hear me' and it gives them that opportunity to say 'okay, maybe we do need to address some things' and give them an opportunity to rebuild and recreate a new relationship, not one based on the old patterns and behaviours that was causing the frustration."
Black Swan actress Natalie was spotted attending a French Ligue 1 soccer match earlier in the week between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Clermont Foot 63 and put on a smiling face amid the alleged drama.
Since the initial reports, People Magazine has said that an insider has now claimed that the affair was "short-lived" and is now "over", with Page Six reporting that Natalie found out about it back in March.
The outlet also claimed that the couple had separated last year with them able to work through any bumps in the road.
'My wife said she'd stop seeing fella at work but I keep catching them at it'