Brazilian television journalist William Bonner has rejected suggestions that his 26-year marriage to fellow presenter Fátima Bernardes was a failure, ten years after their divorce.
The 62-year-old newsman addressed public perceptions of their split during an appearance on Cá Entre Nós, a video podcast hosted by Bernardes, also 62, and the former couple's 28-year-old daughter, Beatriz Bonemer, broadcast on Tuesday.
Bernardes initiated the conversation by asking her former husband about the inquiries and comments directed at them after their relationship ended. She said that following their separation, members of the public frequently approached her to express sympathy that the marriage had not worked out, adding that she was certain Bonner had faced the exact same remarks.
Bonner explained how he pushed back against those comments at the time. He stated that while the marriage had reached its conclusion, describing it as unsuccessful was merely an outside judgment that he strongly disputed.
He pointed out that the pair had spent 26 years together, raised three wonderful children, and enjoyed harmony and mutual respect throughout their shared life right up until the end. Bonner stressed that because they had separated with equal respect, there was no justification for claiming that the union had failed.
Challenging societal views on marriage
Bonner also challenged broader social expectations surrounding marriage. He questioned whether society expects couples to stay together until death separates them even when their personal goals and life projects diverge, asking whether partners should remain trapped in frustration simply because an institution is expected never to conclude.
He added that a decade after their separation, nobody would dare make such comments today. He noted that people have now seen the positive developments in their individual lives, the well-being of their adult children, and the respectful relationship the two former spouses still maintain.
A landmark broadcast partnership
Bonner and Bernardes were long regarded as one of Brazil's most prominent media couples. Together, they spent more than a decade co-anchoring Jornal Nacional, the flagship nightly news programme broadcast across the country by TV Globo.
The couple were married for 26 years before publicly announcing their split in August 2016. In October 1997, Bernardes gave birth to their triplets, Beatriz, Laura and Vinicius.
Both journalists have since moved on to new relationships. Bernardes is currently dating federal deputy Túlio Gadelha, while Bonner has been married to physiotherapist Natasha Dantas since 2018.
