The rules of age gap relationships? Here’s what we can learn from famous men | Arwa Mahdawi

TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:

"Examining the Dynamics of Age-Gap Relationships in Celebrity Culture"

The rules of age gap relationships? Here’s what we can learn from famous men | Arwa Mahdawi analysis cover image The Guardian 6.5
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Original Article Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/25/age-gap-relationships-what-we-can-learn-from-famous-men
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TruthLens AI Summary

The recent public relationship between actor Anna Camp, 42, and her 24-year-old girlfriend Jade Whipkey has sparked significant online debate regarding the acceptability of age-gap romances. Camp has defended their relationship, stating on social media that she finds Whipkey to be more mature than her previous partners, which highlights the complexity of how maturity can differ among individuals regardless of age. The discussions surrounding their relationship, while seemingly trivial in the grand scheme of societal issues, offer an opportunity to reflect on the dynamics of age-gap relationships and societal perceptions of them. Many people are quick to judge such romances, often focusing on the age difference rather than the individuals involved and their compatibility. Camp's assertion that she and Whipkey share common interests and intellectual rapport challenges the stereotypes often associated with significant age gaps in romantic relationships.

However, the article also points out that not all age-gap relationships are viewed equally, and there are certain boundaries that should not be crossed. It addresses concerning scenarios where the age differences raise ethical questions, such as a 38-year-old dating a 17-year-old or a 72-year-old having a child with a much younger partner who was once their stepdaughter. These examples serve to illustrate that while some relationships may be socially acceptable, others can evoke discomfort and moral outrage. The discussion extends to public figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, who has faced criticism for dating much younger women, suggesting that a pattern of behavior in older men seeking partners under a certain age may indicate personal insecurities rather than genuine attraction. Overall, the conversation surrounding age-gap relationships is multifaceted and requires careful consideration of maturity, consent, and societal norms.

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Source URL: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/25/age-gap-relationships-what-we-can-learn-from-famous-men

Here’s a maths problem for you. If actor Anna Camp (42) has a new girlfriend called Jade Whipkey (24), meaning there’s an 18-year age gap between them, is this a) disgusting; b) perfectly fine; c) something I have no desire to think about?

If you answered c), then I’m afraid large sections of the internet disagree with you. There has been heated debate about the propriety of the Camp-Whipkey romance ever since the two went public – so much so that Camp recentlyspoke outon the matter.

“I’ve dated men exactly my age and Jade is FAR more mature than any of them,”Camp wrote in a social media post. “We have more in common than anyone else I’ve ever dated and can literally talk about anything and everything.”

Of literally anything and everything happening right now, Camp’s relationship with another consenting adult is obviously low on the list of things to worry about. It’s probably one step above fretting over whether we’re trending towards “tomato girl summer”, “lavender girl summer”, or “apoplectic girl summer”. That said, it might be wise to use this as a teachable moment and review some important rules about age-gap relationships.

First, if you are a 38-year-old adult whose 17-year-old love interest is still at high school, you need to be sent straight into detention. I’m not pointing any fingers here, but I suggest you Google what Jerry Seinfeld was up towhen he was 38 in 1993.

Second, if you area 72-year-old manwho has a child with a 30-year-old who happens to be the former stepdaughter you first met when she was four, that’s … problematic. Again, I’m not pointing fingers, just advising you to research Elon Musk’s father. It explains a lot about how poor Elon turned out.

Third, if you are middle-aged andeveryoneyou date is under 25, it’s less a sign of their maturity than it is a red flag about yours. I was going to cite Leonardo DiCaprio here but, after years of dumping girlfriends the moment they turned 25, he nowseems settled downwith a 27-year-old. It looks as if 50-year-old Leo has finally grown up.

Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist

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Source: The Guardian