Rob Lowe, Jerry Seinfeld, and Other Celebrities Who Cozied Up to Teenagers
Some celebs have no trouble finding a partner their age and living happily ever after. Others, like Rob Lowe and Jerry Seinfeld, however, seem to have a really hard time keeping their full-grown hands off of teenagers. Some celebrities have even ended up proposing to their younger loves. So is age just a number when it comes to love, or is it totally creepy to date a teenager when you’re a grown adult? Fans were shocked by these adult celebrities who’ve been involved with teenagers.
Rob Lowe’s sex tape fiasco with an underage girl
These days, you might recognize actor Rob Lowe for his roles on hit shows like The West Wing and Parks and Recreation.
Back in the ’80s, Rob Lowe found himself in the middle of a horrific scandal when a sex tape surfaced that he’d filmed with two girls he picked up at an Atlanta nightclub, one of whom was only 16 years old at the time. The girl’s outraged mother brought a civil lawsuit to Lowe, who insisted that he didn’t know that the girl was underage when they filmed the tape.
Although Lowe was able to reach a settlement with the girl’s family, public backlash and media attention during this incident nearly ended his career. “… I knew I was in some serious trouble,” he wrote in his 2011 memoir, according to Yahoo.
Hollywood gave Lowe a second chance, and he’s now happily married to make-up artist Sheryl Berkoff. These days, he looks back on the incident with gratitude. “I think it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he’s said. He credits the controversy for pushing him to get sober and reevaluate his life.
Jerry Seinfeld dated a 17-year-old for over three years
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most recognizable names in television. He launched to success in the 90s with his self-titled sitcom, Seinfeld.
When the show was at the height of its success, Seinfeld made headlines by dating Shoshanna Lonstein, a 17-year-old high school senior he picked up in Central Park, according to Defamer. He was 39 at the time, making for a 21-year age difference. The couple’s age gap caused a media backlash, and celebrities like Howard Stern and Conan O’Brien taunted Seinfeld publicly.
Despite public misgivings, Seinfeld and Lonstein’s relationship lasted for nearly 4 years. Seinfeld is even rumored to have proposed to Lonstein, although the details of the proposal are unclear. To their critics, Seinfeld always defended his love for his young girlfriend. “Shoshanna is a person, not an age. She is extremely bright. She’s funny, sharp, very alert. We just get along.”
Seinfeld has moved on from this relationship and now has three children with his wife, Jessica.
Chad Michael Murray, Fergie, and more all dated teenagers
Actor Chad Michael Murray rose to fame in the 2000s as a teenage heartthrob in shows like Gilmore Girls, Dawson’s Creek, and One Tree Hill. Back in 2006, he shocked fans by getting engaged to One Tree Hill extra Kenzie Dalton. Dalton was only 18 years old and a high school senior at the time, while Murray was 25. Murray and Dalton stayed engaged for an impressive 7 years before calling it quits in 2013. Murray married his wife Sarah Roemer in 2015 and have two children together.
Men aren’t the only adult celebs who’ve dated younger. Fergie dated Justin Timberlake when she was 23 and he was 16, prior to him getting involved with Britney Spears, as reported by Life & Style. Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who got married in 2012, met when director Sam was 42, and Aaron was 19 years old. Nick Jonas, prior to getting married, dating Australian singer Delta Goodrem when he was 18 and she was 26.
