‘Age gap autumn’: New trend sweeping Hollywood
There’s a new trend sweeping Hollywood and not everyone is very approving of it.
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There’s a new trend taking over celebrity land, and no, it isn’t men wearing tiny shorts.
You might not have noticed, but dating someone significantly older or younger than you is very much this season’s tiny purse that you can’t even fit your iPhone into.
It has been happening for a while, but until now, none of us had the language to describe the phenomenon.
Then, assumedly, some Gen Zer (I have no way of knowing their age, but look at how they write) logged onto X, formally known as Twitter, and put words around what we have all been noticing but weren’t sure how to bring up.
“RIP brat summer. It’s age gap autumn.”
If you don’t know what ‘Brat Summer’ is or you were unaware we were having one, it is probably too late for you to understand.
Back in June, British pop singer Charli XCX released her critically acclaimed album Brat and declared it a ‘Brat Summer’, and everyone agreed.
But with ‘Brat Summer’ now over, and the northern hemisphere moving into ‘fall’, ‘Age-Gap Autumn’ has officially arrived in America - or the far less catchy Age-Gap Spring in Australia.
That simple catchphrase on X was viewed more than five million times, it was very bang-on and quite divisive at the same time.
“We love age-gap autumn,” one declared.
“Yes,” another agreed.
“You just made that up,” someone else accused.
“Ya’ll need therapy,” one argued.
The post is controversial but correct.
So many celebrities are embracing age-gap relationships with the same vigour your mum is embracing Temu.
There have always been a slew of age-gap relationships in Hollywood.
Even Ryan Reynolds is a decade older than Blake Lively, but now the trend has gone far more mainstream.
It isn’t just a trend that older men are embracing, the young Hollywood types are getting involved now, too.
One of the most random age-gap relationships is David and Victoria Beckham’s 19-year-old son Cruz dating 28-year-old singer Jackie Apostel.
The new relationship is having quite a big effect on some fans, partly because most people were shocked to discover that Cruz is even 19 years old, wasn’t it just yesterday that Victoria was a Spice Girl and David was rocking undeniable blonde highlights?
Now their son is a legal adult who is old enough to drink in Australia, but not the US, and people are divided about him dating an older woman when he is still a teenager.
Someone online called it “yuck”, while another claimed it would be a good “experience” for the youngest Beckham boy.
Then we’ve got Lana Del Rey, who ditched finding another rich and famous man to date, instead marrying someone older who is an expert on alligators.
Seriously, he is a swamp tour guide and airboat captain, which is the exact opposite of being a Hollywood actor or famous muso.
The 39-year-old songstress married Jeremy Dufrene, 49, last week, which was shocking because they’ve only been linked for just over a month.
They even wed in Louisiana by the swamp where he captains his tour boats, which is very much a choice.
It’s hilarous to think of her Hollywood friends treking out there and having to act impressed by a swamp.
But generally, fans are quite positive about this romance because it gives us all hope that we can marry a celebrity.
“Didn’t she meet this man yesterday?”, one asked.
“I’m over the moon,” another shared.
“Is this real?”, another asked.
There’d be no point making a list if we didn’t mention model Gigi Hadid, 29, dating actor Bradley Cooper, 49.
This relationship has not been seen as great for Hadid, who went from dating the hot boy-bander Zayn Malik, who she shares a child with, to now an ageing actor.
Someone online suggested it was Hadid’s “rock bottom”, which isn’t what anyone wants to hear about their new relationship,
Another called it a “downgrade”, while someone else called their age-gap romance just straight up “ew”.
Brad Pitt’s age-gap relationship is getting more mixed reviews.
The 60-year-old and his 34-year-old girlfriend Ines De Ramon have gone red carpet official, which is basically like being Facebook official in celebrity land.
They’ve even been co-ordinating their outfits, which again is quite the choice.
Imagine seeing your dad fresh from a divorce matching with his younger girlfriend, but anyway, people aren’t sure on this relationship.
One person online wrote, “Brad, yes, you have a young girlfriend, but please dress your age,” which really wasn’t beating around the bush. Was it?
An old favourite that always seems to shock people is Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson’s marriage.
This couple has been together for over a decade, but every time they post a photo together, everyone loses it because she’s much older than him.
Plus, people aren’t happy that they met when he was 19 and she was in her 30s, a newly divorced mum.
Recently Aaron, 34, posted photos of himself enjoying some relaxation time, including one of him shirtless in board shorts, cuddling up to his bikini-clad wife, 57.
Well, people were not happy about it.
Fans on X are reposting the photos Aaron shared on Instagram and complaining that the couple haven’t broken up.
One asked, “When is this going to end?” This is one of the nicer and more respectful posts about the relationship.
Just because it Age-Gap Autumn does not mean everyone’s going to like it.
Originally published as ‘Age gap autumn’: New trend sweeping Hollywood
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