Rita enjoyed what could be called a bohemian lifestyle for her time, flouting convention if it didn’t suit her. She was a famous, divorced woman who lived happily alone but had no problem inviting her lover into her home. She had a strong publicity machine at her back to smooth over any transgressions, but should she have been more circumspect regarding her private life, in your opinion?
I found it interesting how she cared and didn’t care at the same time. She definitely didn’t want anyone to know she was divorced but had not problem with a lover, though she did fuss at what her family would do when she visited them.
I think she lived her life like she wanted. The publicity was not like today when celebrities are constantly followed and photographed. There was no social media with posts that continue. I don’t even know if they had gossip columns at that time. Some rumors might not have hurt their careers.
I think it is difficult to judge Rita’s lifestyle from today’s vantage point. She made choices that would not bother anyone today. She was strong willed and independent; both characteristics served her well in her career but not necessarily her personal life.
This is another aspect of the story that can only be evaluated through the lens of that time in history. There were no paparazzi following Rita’s every move, taking an infinite number of photos, and posting them online. Yes, there were reporters focused on her, but it was before the days of tabloid journalism. And that publicity machine had the ability to quash unflattering stories. That doesn’t work today. She was protected when in the U.S. and Europeans have always had a more relaxed attitude about such activities, as compared to puritanical Americans.