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'Eat Pray Love' Author Announces She Is In A Lesbian Relationship

LOS ANGELES (CBS SF/AP) – "Eat Pray Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert, who split from her husband of nine years in July, says she's in love with her best friend, a woman named Rayya Elias, who was recently diagnosed with incurable pancreatic and liver cancer.

Gilbert says in a lengthy Facebook post Wednesday the terminal diagnosis uncovered her true feelings for her longtime friend, and those feelings led to Gilbert's divorce from Jose Nunes, whom she described falling for at the end of her best-selling memoir. The posting was confirmed by Gilbert's publicist at Riverhead Books, Jynne Martin.

ME & RAYYA Dear Ones - There is something I wish to tell you today — something which I hope and trust you will receive...

Posted by Elizabeth Gilbert on Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Gilbert says she is making her relationship with Elias public because such "truth and transparency" make her life easier and more ethical.

She asked her readers for their love.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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