Carrie Bradshaw may have been searching for love in HBO’s Sex and the City, but Sarah Jessica Parker found hers a long time ago. In fact, she and Matthew Broderick have been happily married for more than 20 years – which may come as a surprise to many, considering that long-standing romances are such a rarity in Hollywood.

SJP has never pretended that maintaining the relationship is easy. Indeed, she has always been as open and honest as possible with fans, and reminded them on numerous occasions that a marriage always takes work, no matter how many people decide to hashtag a couple as #relationshipgoals.

“Anytime that any relationship is hard, it’s the point in which you’re deciding, is this worth the investment getting through whatever that thing is?” she said in a recent podcast episode of Girlboss Radio with Sophia Amoruso.

And, reflecting on how their conflicting schedules actually work for them, SJP added: “I know this sounds nuts, but we have lives that allow us to be away and come back together. His work life takes him here, and mine takes me there. In some ways, I think that that’s been enormously beneficial because we have so much to share in a way.”

We completely agree, obviously. However, some “disgraceful” journalists decided to ignore the reasoning behind this revelation and instead use the quotes to shape yet another one of those baseless ‘celebrity marriage on the rocks’ narratives.

SJP took to Instagram on Wednesday 15 May to share an email from the National Enquirer requesting comment on the state of her marriage. Why? because they had an alleged eyewitness account claiming Parker and Broderick got into a “screaming match… just days before their 22nd wedding anniversary.”

“Just like clockwork. Over a decade of the same, untrue, disgraceful nonsense,” Parker wrote in a lengthy caption alongside the screenshot. “As usual, days ahead of our anniversary on 19 May, The National Enquirer is making its annual best effort to fabricate and undermine, this time a blissful four days with my husband in London.”

“There was no ‘screaming match’ as alleged in a restaurant or on the street,” Parker added, “nor was there a confrontation as alleged about his time in London. My children and I are enormously proud of the work [Broderick] is doing.”

The Sex and the City actor continued: “After much thought, I have decided to share a typical letter of ‘inquiry’ from these people. As if the truth, a response or any comments from me or my publicist had any bearing on what they threaten to ‘report.’”

Directly addressing the team at the National Enquirer, SJP finished by saying: “Hey, National Enquirer and your sister publications, why not celebrate a marriage of 22 years and relationship of 27 years? Because, despite your endless harassment and wasted ink, we are nearing three decades of love, commitment, respect, family and home.

“There’s your ‘scoop’ From a ‘reliable source.’ #tabloidharassment”

Naturally, the photo has attracted almost 170,000 likes in less than 24 hours, and the number is still growing.

“Social media has its dark side but the brightest light shines when the truth comes from the trusted sources account,” wrote one fan.

Another commented: “SJP keeping it super classy and calling out the gross side of the media.”

And still one more noted: “Much love to you and your family. It’s beyond my thinking how this so called news outlet is still in existence. Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby.”

It wasn’t just fans who felt the need to comment, though: SJP found support from her celebrity peers, too.

“YOU GO SJ!!!!!!!! AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO A BEAUTIFUL LOVING COUPLE!!” wrote Andy Cohen in the comments.

“This is brilliant,” added Gwyneth Paltrow. “And happy anniversary.”

Parker and Broderick first met in 1991, when one of SJP’s brothers introduced her to the Ferris Bueller actor, and they began dating shortly afterwards. They married in six years later in a surprise ceremony: 100 guests showed up to a Lower East Side synagogue on 19 May 1997, thinking that they were there to attend a party. Further defying convention, the SATC star didn’t wear a traditional wedding dress, opting instead for a black ruffled Morgane Le Fay dress.

“I never thought about a wedding dress. Never. Had not one daydream about it,” she told People. “At one point I just simply remember thinking, ‘God, I really hope he asks me to marry him.’ I don’t know when or why. It was fairly early on.”

In 2002, the couple welcomed a son, James Wilkie. Seven years later, they had twin girls — Marion and Tabitha — via a surrogate. And, by all accounts, their relationship seems to be as strong as ever.

“I love Matthew Broderick,” Parker declared in a magazine interview in 2013. “Call me crazy, but I love him. We can only be in the marriage we are. We’re very devoted to our family and our lives. I love our life. I love that he’s the father of my children, and it’s because of him that there’s this whole other world that I love.”

Image: Getty