It's Not Just JoJo Siwa And Chris Hughes – Age Gap Relationships Are Quietly 'In'

It’s official: JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes are dating. 

The Celebrity Big Brother pair’s relationship has been beset by speculation and controversy, with their strong “friendship” on the show coinciding with Jojo becoming single. Later photos of a kiss between the then-supposed “pals” on their holidays together came out days before JoJo admitted their romance. 

Now, though, the focus is on a different issue: Google search’s autofill suggests a lot of people are looking into the age gap between the pair (JoJo is 22, while Chris is a decade older).

Still, Johanna Mason, CEO of Cherry Dating, told HuffPost UK that she’s seen he hot-button issue face a “rebrand,” especially among older Gen Z. 

So, we spoke to the expert about how, or if, the tide is turning on age gap relationships. 

The dating app CEO thinks age gap relationships are becoming more accepted

Two measly years ago, The Cut published an article about age gap relationships, addressing the endless internet discourse and scrutiny about love between adults at different life stages.

“Increasingly, people engaging in online conversations about age gaps assert that any relationship between a person in their early or even mid-20s and someone older is inherently predatory,” they wrote. 

Indeed, a 24-year-old Florence Pugh’s relationship to former beau Zach Braff, 45, was so criticised she felt compelled to state on Sue Perkin’s podcast: ”!’m old enough to be an adult and pay taxes, but I’m not old enough to know who I should and should not have sex with.”

But Mason thinks the conversation about relationships between consenting adults born years apart is changing.

“Social norms have shifted – we’re seeing more age gap relationships represented in media, on dating apps, and in everyday life,” she told us.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, released this year, is one such example.

“What’s changed is that people are now choosing partners based on shared values, lifestyle, and emotional compatibility rather than adhering to outdated expectations around age,” the dating app CEO added. 

“There’s also more alignment in life stages than before – a 38-year-old and a 28-year-old might both be focused on career, travel, and independence, which makes the age gap feel less significant.” 

She has noticed that people have recently been setting their filters to be more flexible on Cherry, suggesting they’re “more open to exploring purposeful connections that don’t fit the traditional mould.”

“It reflects a wider cultural shift”

Mason tells us this seems to be part of a broader trend. 

“Nearly half (47%) of Brits say marriage isn’t a priority, but building a meaningful long-term relationship is,” she advised.

“That mindset encourages people to focus on the depth of connection rather than demographics.”

Older Gen Z, in particular, “approaches dating with fewer assumptions and more curiosity,” she adds.

“They’ve grown up in a digital world that normalises diversity in all forms, including age dynamics in relationships.

“They value emotional intelligence, communication, and authenticity – and are generally less constrained by traditional dating ‘rules.’” 

Perhaps, she suggests, relationships like JoJo and Chris’ will become less controversial as daters in their 20s focus on connection above all else.