Media scrutiny towards age-based prejudice irks Tom Kaulitz
In a candid conversation on the podcast "Kaulitz Hills - Senf aus Hollywood," Tom Kaulitz, husband to supermodel Heidi Klum, opened up about the age discrimination and labeling he has faced in their six-year marriage.
Kaulitz, who is 35 years old, expressed his discomfort with the constant mention of their age gap and the "boy toy" label that has been attached to him. He believes that no one can help their age, and it should not be a reason for age discrimination.
"I find it outrageous that I am still referred to as a 'boy toy' despite being married to Heidi for six years," Kaulitz said. He added that he questions the reasoning behind the media's continued focus on their age difference, finding it concerning that such attention is still given after so many years.
Kaulitz's brother, Bill, also voiced his agreement with his brother's sentiments, noting that age difference in relationships where the man is older is less often discussed. He pointed out that this double standard is reflected in public reactions, with female celebrities dating younger men often facing significant scrutiny and being labeled "ageist," while male celebrities dating younger women typically encounter less backlash.
This societal blind spot around age discrimination against male partners in celebrity couples is largely explained by the differing societal perceptions and gender norms around aging and relationships. Older men with younger female partners are more often accepted due to traditional gender and age norms, where male aging is less stigmatized and sometimes even associated with increased status or masculinity. In contrast, women dating younger men disrupt conventional expectations about female aging and desirability, making these relationships more prone to age-related criticism or discrimination.
Studies show that women's ages are more often discussed and negatively evaluated than men's in relationships. This is evident in the media's treatment of Kaulitz and Klum, with the "Daily Mail" publishing an article about their wedding anniversary referring to Kaulitz as Klum's "boy toy husband."
Kaulitz wonders if the media will still discuss their relationship in the same way after 20 years of marriage. He hopes that society will come to a point where age differences in relationships are not a focus of attention and that individuals can be celebrated for who they are, not their age.
I'm not going to be able to watch the podcast "Kaulitz Hills - Senf aus Hollywood" with Tom Kaulitz, but I can imagine he might express dissatisfaction towards being labeled a 'boy toy' due to the age difference in his six-year marriage with Heidi Klum, particularly considering the societal double standard that exists when it comes to age differences in relationships, with male celebrities dating younger women typically encountering less backlash compared to female celebrities dating younger men.
