Last week it was reported that after several years of dating, Leonardo DiCaprio and Camila Morrone split. It was hot news not only because of the surprise breakup but the actor who is notorious for splitting with women over the age of 25. Lo and behold, Morrone had just turned 25.
Kristen Zang who dated DiCaprio between 1995 and 1999 has since discussed the internet hysteria in an essay for People, and slammed the “ageist” commentary.
“I’m a very private person, much like my ex-boyfriend,” the former model wrote for the publication. “But this past week, for the first time, I have felt compelled to share a few things. Leo and I dated for four years. I met him casually through friends when I was 19 years old and we started dating when we were both 21.”
She continued, “I visited Leo for long periods of time on various sets in different countries. I loved his friends and he loved mine. We were like one big happy family. Leo was a very sweet and thoughtful boyfriend. We also had some hard times like all couples do, and broke up for a bit in 1997 and then got back together. Then, about 4 months after my 25th birthday (ha, I know what you’re thinking) it was over for good.”
The now 48-year-old explained that working as a model in the ’90s meant that your career was over after 21. She is now married to a man named Shea and lives in Oregon where she works in dog nutrition “of all things.”
She added, “Now over 20 years later when I read the headlines and online comments with his most recent ex-girlfriend being referred to as having ‘aged out’ or being ‘too old for Leo at 25,’ puh-lease (insert dramatic eye roll). I think we can and should do better. What kind of message is this sending to young people?”
“I met the love of my life when I was 38 and got married when I was 40,” Zang continued. “So you youngins out there, listen up. Life gets so much better after 25. Yes, you get more wrinkles but you also get more confidence and more love for yourself. Turns out, I was barely scratching the surface of life at 25.”
This is the kind of energy we needed.
