Kaia Gerber is a successful actor, an esteemed model and all-around Young Hollywood icon. She also turned 18 last month. That matters, because she is currently rumoured to be dating Pete Davidson, 25-year-old comedian and actor.
The pair were spotted having lunch in New York City recently, as documented by a fan, and according to Page Six he was seen leaving her home last week. Just last night, in fact, they were spotted on a dinner date in Malibu, Los Angeles. Naturally, the internet jumped to conclusions and assumed they’re romantically involved – because why else would a man and woman spend time together?
The assumptions are worrying, not just because they’re unconfirmed but because if they are true, that the Twittersphere is now stanning a relationship between a teenager and a grown man. A month ago, it would have been illegal in some American states for Gerber and Davidson to be sexually involved.
When you think back to yourself at 18, it’s understandable why some feel squeamish at the idea of them being a couple. Yes, you’re officially an adult, but you’re still immature, naïve and generally easily taken advantage of. 18 is very, very young. Considering the level of maturity and worldliness at 18 versus 25, is it not a bit strange for a man of his age to be fulfilled by a woman so young?
Clearly, it's quite the contentious issue - not just when men date younger women, but when adult men date teenagers.
‘While it's natural to be protective of younger women, and we absolutely should given the countless instances of older men taking advantage of them, the online backlash against Pete Davidson seems a little extreme,’ says Toni*, 28, from London. ‘Shouldn't we give 18-year-old Kaia who has been acting since she was 10, and now flies around the world as a professional model, a little more credit for choosing an appropriate coffee date? It seems a little more about people not liking Pete Davidson, and less about being worried for a young woman's safety.'
Saoirse*, 28, from Sussex on the other hand, has a very different opinion.
‘I was in relationships with people between five and 35 years older than me when I was 18 and had just left school and I still question why any of them wanted to date someone that young,’ she says. ‘These were guys who'd been to university, got jobs, lived some life. I was basically still a child. Wouldn't you want to date someone who was in a similar life stage to you? Or at least who can legally drink in America?
‘I think there is a perception that girls are more mature 18 than men are in their twenties,’ she continued, ‘but that's just a social construct. As far as I'm concerned, men who are over 21 should date women who are also over 21. Let's not forget: Kaia Gerber would still be in school if she were a normal teenager.'
It's an interesting debate, and is clearly being had in the interest of Gerber's wellbeing. But alas, until the pair actually confirm a coupling, we needn't be too worried - maybe men and women can actually just go for lunch and have it not mean anything? Revolutionary.
Read More: Celebrity couples you probably forgotten about...
Celebrity Couples That Youu2019d Forgotten - Grazia
1 of 10Ryan Gosling and Sandra Bullock
Before Eva Mendes, before Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling dated Sandra Bullock. The two met on the set of their 2002 film Murder By Numbers and hit it off despite the 16 year age difference. The relationship was short-lived though, with the pair calling it off after just a year.
2 of 10Ryan Reynolds and Alanis Morrisette
Canadians Ryan Reynolds and Alanis Morissette met in 2002 and dated for four years. The pair got engaged, but sadly split in 2006 before they made it down the aisle. Ryan has gone on to marry Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively, sharing two daughters with the latter.
3 of 10Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow
Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow were one of the hottest couples of the late '90s, dating on and off from 1997 until 2000, after her split from fiance Brad Pitt. Recently, Gwyneth has spoken about the reason behind their break-up, saying they were very different people: 'Ben makes life tough for himself,' she said. 'He's got a lot of complication, and you know, he really is a great guy. I just think we have a very different sort of value system.'
4 of 10Matt Damon and Winona Ryder
After the breakdown of her relationship with Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder moved on with another hot actor of the '90s, Matt Damon, dating him from 1998 for a few years until 2000. The couple were introduced by Gwyneth Paltrow, who was dating Matt's Good Will Hunting script-writing partner Ben Affleck.
5 of 10Jared Leto and Cameron Diaz
It's weird to think about now, but Thirty Seconds To Mars singer, Oscar-winning actor and Gucci fanboy Jared Leto, once dated Queen of Rom Coms Cameron Diaz, with the pair being an item from 1999 to 2003. The actor once spoke about how he abstained from sex with Diaz during filming of Requiem For A Dream to get into character.
6 of 10Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst
Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst were the cutest up-and-coming couple in Hollywood in the early noughties, dating for two years from 2002 onwards. The pair broke up suddenly, but have supposedly remained friends - unlike Gyllenhaal's other famous ex, Taylor Swift.
7 of 10Mila Kunis and Macaulay Culkin
Before she was married to That 70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis was in an 8-year relationship with child star Macauley Culkin. Pretty weird, right? The pair dated from 2001, when Culkin was noticeably absent from the spotlight, and Kunis' career had stalled, but when her star rose, the couple split.
8 of 10Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz
Tom Cruise dated similarly surnamed actress Penelope Cruz in 2001-2004, after the two starred in Vanilla Sky together. The pair dated for three years, with Cruise reportedly devastated by their break-up. Scientology was apparently to blame, with Cruz saying it was the 'third wheel' in their relationship.
9 of 10Keira Knightley and Jamie Dornan
They're both happily married with children now, but in 2003, Keira Knightley and Jamie Dornan were Britain's coolest new acting couple. While Knightley's career was on the rise, Dornan's had barely taken off, and was still mostly known for being a Calvin Klein model. The two called it quits in 2005, with Knightley apparently devastated by the split.
10 of 10Britney Spears and Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell and Britney Spears never confirmed a relationship, but that didn't stop them getting flirty on the red carpet for his 2003 film 'The Recruit'. It was the height of Farrell's fame (or infamy, depending on how you look at it), and he was linked to several women at the same time, including Lindsay Lohan.