Social media went into overdrive over the weekend when Draya Michele, star of former “Basketball Wives LA” decided to give her two cents on the rumored relationship between the music world’s multi-talented diva, Mariah Carey, and another Grammy Award-winning talent in Anderson .Paak. The new pair, sighted holding hands through dinner in Aspen, has ignited talk of the possible romance between them. Michele jumped onto the ‘Gram with a post that is now viral:
“That’s that 17-year age gap smile!!! Go Mimi (with y’all selective a—-).”
However, it didn’t take long before Michele received backlash for the comment, as many felt she made a poor comparison to her controversial relationship with 22-year-old NBA player Jalen Green, 17 years her junior.
News about Michele and Green’s romance first made headlines in mid-2023. Then, the star gave birth to her first child in May 2024. After having this child’s chatter increased due to their more-than-a-decade age gap. Michele was branded predatory by critics, including podcaster Joe Budden.
”You wanna date a 21-year-old, cool,” Budden said on one episode of his podcast. “But now you’ve got a baby by a 21-year-old? You are a predator.”
The new couple is 55-year-old Mariah Carey and 38-year-old Anderson .Paak-are separated by 17 years, but many critics put a quick separation between the rumored relationship and Michele’s. Namely, while Carey and Paak are established adults in their respects, 22-year-old Green is closer to Michele’s kids.
One Twitter user put it best:
“Tell Draya to subtract 17 years off Anderson and he would still be of drinking age, while years older than Mariah’s kids.
This backlash points to an ongoing societal debate about nuances in age-gap relationships. Many believe that while relationships between two consenting adults should be left free from judgment, factors such as life stage, maturity, and power dynamics complicate perceptions.
While the two have not denied the rumors—insiders claim they are working on new music—the age difference between Carey and .Paak has raised eyebrows. However, Michele’s response to the rumors has shifted focus to her romantic history. The stir caused by Michele’s comments reflects a wider cultural reality: the microscopic examination of celebrity couples.
While age-gap romance is new to no one in Hollywood-think George and Amal Clooney, Beyoncé and Jay-Z-public reaction often sides based on gender and other factors.
