It came as a total shock to me when I heard that he and Heidi Klum had split up.
This was one couple I always believed would make it to the very end.
As an eternal optimist, I hope this is not the end of 'Team Seal' though.
They renewed their wedding vows every year, they seemed in love with each other. He in particular seemed to be very expressive in the way he felt about his family.
And yet, they split.
But...was the writing on the wall all along?
I come from a family and a social group of 'quiet men'.
I too am 'quiet' in real life.
I do however talk a little bit more than the men in my entourage. Like at least one word per day more :-)
Given my background, I find that I am 'allergic' to men who 'talk too much'. I have female friends for that!
I have become used to the 'strong silent' type, so for me personally, 'quiet' is my particular hallmark of masculinity.
So, hearing Seal gush forth after the breakup of his marriage, I was not surprised to note the familiar hives starting up all over my skin.
In particular, I note the 'quietness' of Heidi Klum.
This is a role reversal I don't see very often.
So naturally, it has elicited my curiosity.
Seal is an extremely well-spoken and eloquent man (we Brits are suckers for each others' accents).
Moreover, he appears to be the very epitome of masculinity, whatever criteria you use. He has been described as 'alpha' by some men in the Manosphere, using various yardsticks.
Even the scars on his face add to this phenomenon.
Heidi Klum had said before how tall he was. Apparently he is 6ft 4 or thereabouts.
He had a hard childhood but overcame all to become one of the most famous men in the world.
So top marks for fulfilling his potential.
And yet, watching him, I was reminded of an incident with Wanda Sykes (the american comedian and actress who is so funny, one look at her and laughter is immediately induced. As the sidekick to Jane Fonda in 'Monster-in-law', for example, she is absolutely hilarious).
Sykes was being interviewed in London many years ago, and the topic of Prince Charles leaving Princess Diana for Camilla Parker-Bowles came up.
She looked straight at the camera in a way only comedians know how and said, "Chucky, yer doin' it wrong, honey, Yer doin' it wrong! Yer supposed to go from the older woman to the younger one, not the other way round, stupid!"
I still laugh out loud when I remember that.
My first instinct was to scream at Seal, "Yer doin' it wrong, brother, yer doin' it wrong!"
But no. Let him show his soft side. Let him be 'beta' as long as he chooses.
With any luck, Heidi Klum will return the favour one day and 'chase him back'.
It should be a dance of Tango.
One thing he said however, which made me think is this:
"Heidi made me a better man."
Can a woman make a man 'a better man'?
Like a man can make a woman a 'better woman'?
Does a man need a woman to make him a better man? Or is it just nice to have?
Can a man who has encountered such a woman ever let go? Is this why Seal is so helplessly 'mushy'?
It is highly publicised that when Seal met Heidi, she was pregnant with someone's baby.
Some men (and women) might find it incompehensible that he didn't run fast in the other direction.
But I don't, in this case.
Afterall, Seal was not deceived. He chose to take this woman on fully knowing she was pregnant.
This woman who 'made him a better man'.
(In any case, it would have been hard in this case to convince Seal the baby was his, had any attempt been made to deceive him. He would have had to be Michael Jackson to believe this :-)
There must have been something special about Heidi Klum.
Any suggestions?
Is it just because she is a beautiful woman? Somehow I think not. Because the world is full of beautiful women.
But I am willing to be corrected on this if indeed this is the case.
Did Seal get it horribly wrong?
Did he fail to spot a 'reluctant bride' all along?
Despite all his external 'alpha' traits, is he deep down just another 'beta' dude who just happens to be rich and famous?
