Lots of things can break up a relationship, like falling out of love, or falling in with someone else.
Generally, pursuing higher education is not a reason.
Sadly, that's not the case for actor/perpetual grad student James Franco. (He recently completed a masters in fine arts at Columbia University and has since become a PhD student at Yale University.)
In the August interview of Playboy, Mr. Franco reveals that he and his long-time girlfriend, actress Ahna O'Reilly, spilt after he decided to continue his education. The pair had been together since 2006.
"It's over," the New York Daily News quotes him as saying. "We'd been living together in L.A. and then came to New York to go to school for two years. Then I signed up for more school at Yale. I think that was it for her."
During a recent radio interview he added that he takes his schooling, "very seriously," partly because "it helps my soul."
Despite the breakup, Mr. Franco is thinking about "settling down" in a few years, the New Zealand Herald reports, adding that he feels guilty for not spending more time with his loved ones (perhaps Ms. O'Reilly is one of them?). But until then he suspects he has a few more years of "overworking" himself.
Beyond completing his doctorate and promoting his new film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the 33-year-old has a big project he wants to work on for his occasional role on General Hospital, according to USA Today.
"I don't have time to pull that part of it off yet," he told the news outlet. "I'm just crossing my fingers. I just hope it doesn't get cancelled before we can pull this off because it's going to be awesome."
Luckily for him, he should have a little more time now that he doesn't have a girlfriend.
Would you ever leave someone because they decided to continue their education?
Madeleine White