Celebrity Break-Ups: An 'Epidemics' Of Splits And Divorces

Has Hollywood been plagued by a break-up 'outbreak'?

April's tally -- three new break-ups and two separation sagas finally ending in a divorce.

This is where the celebrity world stands this month alone, and April is not even finished yet.

CNN anchor Larry King and his wife of 12 years Shaw Southwick announced their divorce on Wednesday, citing "irreconcilable differences." Actor Jim Carrey and his partner Jenny McCarthy separated after five years without much of an explanation for their split. Finally, actor Mel Gibson split with his girlfriend Okasan Grigorieva, just one year after divorcing from his wife of 28 years Robyn Moore.

• Larry King Shawn Southwick Divorce Triggered by an Affair?
• Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey Breakup, Couple Call it Quits
• Mel Gibson Oksana Grigorieva Split: Cheating or 'Drifted Apart'?

But, the last 12 months have been marred by other numerous highly publicized break-ups and divorces:

1. Kate Gosselin/ Jon Gosselin  - the couple filed for divorce on June 22, 2009, launching a media frenzy surrounding the conditions of their split. The divorce was finalized in December of 2009, giving Kate Gosselin primary custody of the couple's eight children. However, the Gosselins are now entering a bitter custody battle with Jon Gosselin trying to regain full custody of his children.

2. Sandra Bullock/ Jesse James - the dirty cheating allegations pressed against Jesse James by five different women caused Sandra Bullock to stay out of public eye, despite winning an Oscar just weeks prior. James apologized for his alleged affairs publicly, but to no avail. Bullock has moved out from the couple's family home days after cheating allegations surfaced and has not been seen in public ever since. Although the rumours have not been confirmed, it is alleged Bullock and James are arranging for a divorce.

3. Tiger Woods/ Elin Nordegren - arguably, one of the most publicized and messy break-ups, the split between golfer Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren has been put under the microscope. Meanwhile, the list of Tiger Woods's mistresses keeps on growing four months after first allegations of cheating. Despite Woods's relatively successful return to golf at the Augusta Masters Tournament last week, it seems his personal life is far from being back on track. On April 14, rumours circulated that Woods/ Nordegren divorce was imminent.

4. Kate Winslet/ Sam Mendes - in stark contrast to Woods/ Nordegren saga, Kate Winslet's and Sam Mendes's divorce was one of the quietest and most mature celebrity splits this year. It was alleged the divorce was "entirely amicable and by mutual agreement."

5. Kim Kardashian/ Reggie Bush - the couple is alleged to have split twice in one year. The first break-up came about in July of 2009, but the couple was back together only to go through another break-up in March of this year.

6. Mel Gibson/ Robyn Moore - Mel Gibson has been dumped twice in one year. The actor separated from his wife of 28 years Robyn Moore in April of 2009. On Wednesday, it was reported that Gibson is splitting from his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. The duo lived together for one year and fathered a child.

So, why the string of divorces? Are perceptions on infidelity changing? Are public break-ups another way to seek publicity or even revive careers? Could it be the aftermath of the financial crisis? Or, is there no trend at all and the onslaught of break-ups is just a random coincidence?

What is your take?