When it comes to Elaine's relationships in Seinfeld and her reasons for ending them, some are just plain ridiculous and she tends to look a bit selfish. The other main characters have the same problem. Jerry once broke up with a girlfriend over her "man hands." That being said, some of Elaine's breakups are justifiable for any respectable woman and based on her personal opinion, which is acceptable.
Dating can be hard for women. Elaine has even been slut-shamed a couple of times, like when her ex ridiculed her for her accidental wardrobe malfunction. Another ex used insults to get back at her. When it comes to Elaine's exes, some were seemingly perfect but had different moral values, and others were just plain creepy.
Not Justified: Tony's New Face
The breakup between Tony and Elaine had more to do with physical appearance than anything else. This breakup had Elaine looking a bit too self-absorbed and worried about looks, but it's down to personal opinion on whether or not her reasoning was justified.
Tony is the youngest person Elaine dates on the show. He's defined as a "cool" guy and Elaine makes it clear that she's really only dating him for his looks. Evaluating Tony, he's not a bad guy. He's more than happy to sit at Monk's and chat with George. He even invited him and Kramer to go rock climbing. Tony's a swell guy but the rock climbing accident leaves his face damaged and in the end, Elaine breaks it off because he's no longer attractive.
Justified: Carl's Stance On Abortion
Elaine falls deep in love in "The Couch" in season six of the show. Jerry gets a new couch and has some movers come in to take the old one away and replace it. The delivery came with a tall, handsome man who Elaine couldn't help but be attracted to. Things start really well for the two. They hit it off and Elaine wasn't bothered that they spend most of their time in the moving van.
Before the breakup, Elaine makes a stance at Poppy's restaurant when he disagrees with a woman's right to an abortion. Jerry raises the question of whether or not Carl also believes in the right to abortion. Elaine knows this will be their downfall. On their last date, it is revealed that Carl is pro-life and Elaine ends it. It's Elaine's right to stand for her beliefs and wanting to be with someone who thinks the same.
Not Justified: Kurt's Baldness
Kurt was a boyfriend that many fans liked. He was nice, tall and good looking. But Elaine discovers from his driver's license that he once had luscious hair. She convinces him to grow it back, but they both realize he's starting to go bald. Elaine rationalizes that she still has a good year to be with him before the real baldness hits.
When Kurt gets mistaken for George by the police and fights an officer, he lands in jail for 10 to 12 months. Elaine realizes her year with him would be a waste and gives him back his engagement ring - all because she didn't want him when he turns bald.
Justified: Dr. Reston's Control
Dr. Reston appears in two episodes of Seinfeld. Many find this breakup completely justified on Elaine's side. While he may not necessarily be a bad guy, he makes Elaine feel vulnerable. She even calls him her “Svengali." After their vacation together, she wants to break up because he has a complex mental hold over her.
Being her psychiatrist, he knows her fears and insecurities and uses them to his advantage. Her reasoning for wanting to break up with him is more than okay by any standards. She even has Kramer try and help her, but he ends up getting sucked into his charm as well.
Not Justified: Aaron Was Too Nice
When it comes to ranking Elaine's boyfriends by likability, Aaron lands high as the nicest. He was incredibly sweet to everyone he met, but maybe he was too nice for Elaine's liking. Elaine had no problem with his "close-talker" habit that everyone else noticed, but the nail in the coffin was how he treated the Seinfeld's.
Many would assume that it's a nice quality in the person they're dating to be so accommodating to a friend's parents. Aaron lands them some tickets to a Broadway show, takes them on a tour of the Met, and even buys them good dinner, all of which Jerry didn't do. For Elaine, it was too much and too nice so she ended it.
Justified: Keith Hernandez Is A Smoker
Smoking can be a major turn-off for certain people. It can either be because of its health implications, the smell, or both. The gang becomes smitten with the baseball player, Keith Hernandez. Jerry even starts to act out of sorts when he doesn't call. But Keith sets his eyes on Elaine and asks her out.
Things go seemingly well, at first. He's charming, good looking, but strangely thinks in the third person. Elaine thinks he's a great catch until they meet for drinks and Keith pulls out a box of cigarettes. Elaine was unaware of his smoking habit. He asks if it will be a problem, which it clearly is, seeing as Elaine breaks it off.
Not Justified: Hal Was Just Worried About Elaine's Back
Fans of the show could say that Elaine missed out on a great future with Hal Kitzmiller. Hal has back pain and takes certain precautions to avoid any damage, including buying a specially made mattress. When he starts dating Elaine, he becomes concerned for her health, as well.
He buys her a custom-made mattress and it's easy to assume that it would cost a pretty penny. Hal did it because he cared for Elaine, but Elaine took it as a ploy to get in her bed. By the end, Elaine's reasoning for the break-up doesn't sit well.
Justified: Phil Takes "It" Out
Jerry sets Elaine up with his friend Phil but had no idea of the type of man he really was. The reason why Elaine breaks up with him after one date is more than justifiable for any woman, as this was just plain rude and grotesque.
While on their date, Elaine and Phil are in his car having a good laugh. When Elaine says goodnight and leans in for a kiss, her eyes open wide. She realizes that "he took IT out." This is more than enough reason to never see him again and even more so when he makes a remark to Jerry about being uncomfortable when women breastfeed in public.
Not Justified: The Exclamation Point Fiasco
This break up has more to do with what Elaine did to cause it and many fans of the show would agree that it was one of the more annoying things she's done. She starts dating a writer named Jake Jarmel. Anyone could see that he's the perfect guy. He cleaned her apartment and was in the middle of cooking her dinner. Bravo Jake.
But Elaine gets incredibly peeved at the fact that he didn't use an exclamation point when jotting down that her friend had her baby. It leads to a ridiculous fight and a breakup. When they get back together, Elaine, again, is the one who causes the final breakup. She stops her rush to the hospital to buy Jujyfruits before seeing Jake. On Jake's side, his reason for breaking up was justifiable.
Justifiable: Joe Davola Was A Stalker
This is a clear break up that needed to happen for Elaine's safety. It just so happens that while waiting for Kramer to break her relationship off with Dr.Reston, she meets Joe Davola. They flirt and hit it off. Elaine is smitten until she makes a surprise appearance at his apartment.
To start, it's dark and creepy and he has the door open. To make matters worse, there are pictures of Elaine plastered on his wall. It's clear that he has been stalking her. Elaine starts to feel uncomfortable and even more so when he says he leaves the door open to encourage people to come in. Elaine is trapped and uses a cherry throat spray to escape.