“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”

Obviously Liza Minnelli never removed her mask as her yearlong marriage to producer David Gest came to a close in July. Perhaps if Minnelli had heeded Baldwin’s wisdom, things could have ended a little differently. Minnelli is in the process of being sued for $10 million by her former beau. Gest claimed Minnelli’s alcoholic tendencies turned even more painful than listening to her croon “Cabaret” as she began to abuse him while intoxicated. Gest still suffers from the terror Minnelli stirred in him. He reported that Minnelli used to strike him, verbally abuse him, and throw objects at him. All these acts are quite terrible forms of spousal abuse, but any woman who willingly accepts Michael Jackson as part of the wedding party cannot exactly be the most balanced.

Gest retreated to Hawaii, where he is receiving treatment for the neurological damage he received in the alleged attacks. One wonders what attacks he is speaking of for watching Minnelli shimmy in her risqué Bob Mackie party dress proves just as painful as being smashed repetitively into a brick wall. However, Minnelli stands behind her plea of not guilty saying that Gest was “cruel and unhuman.”

What’s cruel and inhumane is the fact that no one spoke up about the absurdity of their marriage. One understands the many freedoms in the United States, even the freedom to exercise a publicity ploy in effect to regain celebrity status; however, from the start things were sketchy. Finally, the chaos comes to a close.

One could give numerous pieces of advice to the “happy” couple as they venture back into the dating world. When looking for a spouse, perhaps, don’t swoon over the most sue-crazy person. Or maybe, just make sure you can love yourself before loving someone else.

If Minnelli would have recovered from her alcoholism and regained her lost confidence, maybe she would have been a better wife to Gest.

If Gest had worked hard and rebuilt his career, maybe he could have been a more caring husband.

Or perhaps, they could have both found better spouses. Depending on someone else to make you feel better about who you are is never healthy. One has a final piece of advice for future romantic ventures. If you want it to last don’t agree to air it on cable television (VH1 was supposed to air a reality TV show on their marriage, closely resembling MTV’s “Newlyweds”). The educated viewer wonders if they really wanted it to last at all. Only in celebrity marriages can love be transformed to a deranged masquerade.