Elvis Presley and His Complicated Relationships: The Hypocrisy of Fidelity

Elvis Presley, one of the most iconic figures in music history, may have portrayed himself as a committed and faithful partner, but the truth behind his relationships reveals a different story. Despite demanding total fidelity from his girlfriends, Elvis himself struggled to remain loyal. Let’s explore the complex dynamics of Elvis’ romantic entanglements and the impact they had on his love life.

Elvis Presley’s Expectation of Total Fidelity

When Elvis first started dating Priscilla, he shared with her his vision of an ideal woman. He preferred blue-eyed brunettes who would mold their opinions to match his own. Elvis longed for a relationship that adhered to traditional gender roles and expected complete loyalty from his partner.

Priscilla captured these sentiments in her book, “Elvis and Me,” stating, “Fidelity was very important to him, especially on the woman’s part. He constantly reminded me that his girl had to be completely constant.”

Despite his insistence on fidelity, Elvis failed to uphold the same standards in his relationships. Even at the beginning of his romance with Priscilla, she sensed he was being unfaithful.

“Despite his moralizing, I feared Elvis wasn’t always faithful to me,” Priscilla shared. “His bantering with some of the other girls at his house made me think that he might be intimately familiar with them.”

The Hypocrisy: Elvis’ Relationship with Anita Wood

Priscilla’s suspicions were justified. When Elvis entered into a relationship with her, he was already involved with Anita Wood, another woman. In fact, he often complained about Anita to Priscilla.

“He admitted that he was concerned about Anita,” Priscilla revealed. “She was a Memphis beauty queen and television personality. Elvis said that lately her letters had become impersonal, and he suspected she had been with another man.”

Despite being in a committed relationship with Priscilla, Elvis seemed oblivious to the hypocrisy of his words. He frequently discussed Anita with Priscilla, creating confusion and insecurity in their relationship.

“Occasionally, he’d talk about Anita, saying their relationship wasn’t what he had expected when he returned from the Army,” Priscilla recounted. “He was no longer sure he wanted to be with her. I didn’t know where I stood. Time and distance had created doubts and questions; I wanted to ask him, ‘Where do I fit in your life? Or do I?'”

This tumultuous situation eventually led Anita Wood to end her long-term romance with Elvis.

The Final Straw: The Breakdown of Elvis’ Marriage to Priscilla

Elvis’ infidelity ultimately contributed to the failure of his marriage to Priscilla. Although she loved him deeply, she struggled to cope with his constant cheating.

“He wasn’t faithful, not that he had someone special, but when you’re in the entertainment business there is always that, and I tried to turn my back to that, but I just didn’t want to share him. Simple as that,” Priscilla revealed in an interview with “Sunday Night.”

Priscilla questioned whether Elvis was ever capable of being faithful to one woman, despite his desire for marriage and a family. The couple eventually divorced in 1973, marking the end of their tumultuous journey together.

Conclusion:

Elvis Presley’s desire for total fidelity from his girlfriends was overshadowed by his own inability to remain faithful. While he may have placed high expectations on his partners, he struggled to uphold those very standards himself. The complexities of his relationships and his constant infidelity ultimately led to the breakdown of his marriage with Priscilla. Despite his flaws, Elvis’ music and legacy continue to captivate audiences around the world.