Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, on why she dates younger men: 'A lot of men my age are steeped in toxic masculinity'
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- Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, says she prefers dating younger men.
- Part of the reason is that men her age are often "steeped in toxic masculinity," Ross said.
- "I have long been past the age where I feel like it's my job to teach somebody or grow them up," Ross said.
Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, prefers dating younger men because they're less bound by traditional gender roles.
During an appearance on the Wednesday episode of the "IMO" podcast — hosted by Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson — Ross reflected on her dating preferences and shared why she gravitates toward younger partners.
"Why does this keep coming up, other than they're hot and gorgeous? There's that," Ross told the podcast hosts. "But a lot of men my age are steeped in toxic masculinity and have been raised in a culture where there is a particular way that a relationship looks."
"And anything that starts to smell of that for me — I did enough of it where I was controlled and felt like I was a possession or a prize — I just have no interest in it. And I will not do it again," Ross said."
The "Black-ish" actor admits that "it's a generalization," but she's had very different experiences dating men her age and younger men.
"There is a difference. There is an openness that occurs with a younger man around, whether it's gender fluidity or not even having an issue with homosexuality — something as basic as that," Ross said.
She added that she's no longer willing to take on the role of helping her partner mature.
"I have long been past the age where I feel like it's my job to teach somebody or grow them up," Ross said. "That, I'm not interested in."
Ross isn't the only female celebrity who has spoken about dating younger men.
In 2024, Cher revealed that she prefers dating someone younger because men her age or older "were always terrified" to approach her. Cher has a 40-year age gap with her boyfriend, Alexander Edwards. They went public with their relationship in November 2022.
Apart from Cher, there are several other celebrities who are in age-gap relationships with younger men.
Kris Jenner, 69, has a 25-year age gap with Corey Gamble, 44, whom she has been dating for almost a decade. Heidi Klum, 51, has a 16-year age gap with her husband, "Tokio Hotel" rocker Tom Kaulitz, 35. Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who have been married since 2012, have an age difference of 23 years.
In a 2024 episode of "The View," Joy Behar said that it's "scientifically smart" for women to date younger men because they'll have similar lifespans.
A representative for Ross told Business Insider that the actor had no additional comment.