Katy Perry, Russell Brand Spend Christmas Apart Amid Break-up Rumors

After originally planning to fly her family to Brand's hometown for the holidays, Katy Perry changed course and spent Christmas in Hawaii with her friends.

Rumors are swirling once again that Katy Perry and Russell Brand may be on the fast track to a break-up of their new marriage. Us Weekly is reporting (yet again) that Brand and Perry had a huge fight as the holidays approached, allegedly resulting in a heated exchange which drove them to spend Christmas on opposite sides of the world. This is at least the second time in the last two months that Perry and Brand break-up rumors have surfaced, and the pair had given some clues that perhaps their marriage wasn't all sunshine and lollipops.

The reality is that marriage can be a difficult endeavor and, at the end of the day, it is completely unnecessary. If a couple find themselves happy together and enjoy an exclusive relationship with one another, then they should not feel obligated to marry. Long-term monogamy should never be dictated by religious beliefs or societal expectations. Instead, it should be a mutually beneficial decision shared by two people who love one another's company.

How much happier and simpler would Russell Brand's and Katy Perry's lives be if they were only dating - and not "married"? If things broke down, then they would simply part ways, lick their wounds and move forward with their lives. But because they are married, there is an extra layer of stress and expectation that hovers over everything that they do.

There is some odd societal expectation that people should attempt to endure a miserable existence simply because they should want to stay in a bad marriage. It makes no sense and, ultimately, leads to more hurt feelings and emotional trauma. If you're lucky enough to find someone you love and who loves you in return, enjoy one another's company for as long as possible. Marriage is not a requirement.

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies