Yesterday, I covered the photos of Aaron Taylor Johnson, 22, and his wife Sam Taylor Johnson, 45, at the London premiere of Anna Karenina. I also excerpted from a recent interview with Aaron, in which he discussed his marriage to a woman more than twice his age, and their blended family of two older daughters from Sam’s previous marriage and two young daughters which Sam gave birth to in the past three years. I was surprised by the continuing interest in this family, and how there’s still so much discussion about Aaron age-contemporaries (Emma Watson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Swift are all 22 years old as well) and the differences between them.
Anyway, these are new pics of Aaron and Sam and their two girls arriving in Toronto for TIFF. They look… like a nice family. I think it’s interesting that Aaron seems so physically protective of his wife and daughters – I mean, many men are like that, but it’s just a reminder to me of how much responsibility Aaron has taken on in the past five years. Also, Aaron continues to give interviews to promote Anna Karenina, and here are some assorted quotes and such:
On taking his wife’s name: “I just don’t see why women need to take the man’s name. I wanted to be a part of her just as much as she wanted to be part of me.”
The way the press treats the age difference: “When me and Sam got together, there was a whole f**king uproar. From that moment on, I never read anything about us. There’s loads of f**king horrible s**t out there on the internet. It never filtered into our lives, into our relationship. I’m not going to allow it.”
He wants to be a good husband and father: “I strive to be the best father and husband I can be. I gain a lot more out of my kids and Sam than anything else in my work world. I take my family very seriously.”
His feelings on the age difference: “Sam might be older than me, but she’s such a young, spirited soul that I sometimes feel I’m older than her. I don’t wake up and go, ‘F**k, I’m 22!’”
On Anna Karenina: “It’s a beautiful, a magical love story, it taps into everyone’s fears and ambitions. It’s that moment you fall in love someone or you see that someone across the room, you know instantly you take a leap of faith or move on and regret it for the rest of your life, and I think people can relate to that or feel moved by that.”
Fearlessness: “I think I just have a ballsy approach to everything. I’m f–king fearless when it comes to how I feel. I go to the deep end, and I’m not afraid to because I know when something’s right.”
On being a heartthrob: “Playing the love interest is not really my comfort zone. It shouldn’t just be about the way you look. I prefer not to be all groomed up and looking suave; I find that cheesy as f–k.”
On his former life as a bachelor: “Before having a family, I just grabbed everything. I was an opportunist. I had to be. Selfish, ambitious, that’s what actors are, man, what they have to be. I got fed up; I wasn’t really happy. It’s a lonely business and you can get burnt out.”
I love the part about the name change. I love the part about taking his family seriously. I do not like Aaron’s reflections on his “bachelor days” because he got with Sam when he was 18 YEARS OLD. He barely had any bachelor days, for the love of God.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
i really do love him! he’s such a good actor in my opinion. and honestly, as much as i don’t necessarily agree with the relationship, it’s their relationship and if they’re happy, that’s fine. i know a lot of people have discussed the predatory issue and how if the roles were reversed, and the man was older it would be creepy. part of me feels like at the age of 18 you really don’t know what you want because you still have more years to mature, but hey maybe that only applies to me. i’m 22 and still unsure and feel i’ll still continue changing. so i guess everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for someone else? also, he is gorgeous 😀
Yeah, this won’t end well… Cute kids
Agree it won’t end well, people can argue that love conquers all and that age is just a number but this 22 year old man is a stepfather to her 6 and 15 year old daughters from a previous marriage and now has two daughters of their own. Four children at 22 is just too much.
But good luck to them, I have a feeling they will need it.
But people have to consider that his life at 22 is not the life that most 22 year olds have. He’s not just graduating and having to look for work – he’s a highly paid actor with a flexible schedule and a pretty reasonable amount of job security. + his wife is successful as well.
and so many marriages end well? divorce between people of similar ages is as likely as their relationship breaking up. At least they will have some years of love.
Everything he says I just hear his wife talking – it’s like he has never thought for himself. I’m not against their age difference, just that they got together when he was 18. I know love won’t wait, but he’s too dependent on her.
But you don’t actually know them, do you?
I don’t get why he can get away with saying the F word so much? I find it childish, doesn’t matter who says it, can’t people articulate without using this word so much?
I also found it distracting.
Yeah, not a big fan of the f-bomb bandied about so often. It detracts.
well he’s a Brit.
He’s hot and talented but yeh this won’t end well, just wait until he turns 30 and start wondering around.
I can’t imagine the kind of magical thinking Id have to do to get involved with a teenager, then proceed to have kids with him and feel okay about it. Love is love but any serious relationship (especialyl involving children) is more than that.
THIS. I’m Sam’s age and I find him extremely hot. I can see the temptation but I would never, ever act on an attraction to someone that young. At my age, I could handle a fling (especially with someone as exquisite as him, lol). But to expect him to give up his young adulthood and have a family with me? That’s just not fair to him.
Yeah, they look like a great family. Like a grandma with her son and her two grandchildren.
Seriously, the brain doesn’t complete development until around age 25. He’s just 22 and already a married father of two? For the sake of those two little girls I hope things work out well, but I have serious doubts about that.
Plenty of people get married and have kids before age 25. It’s a really modern, western assumption that maturity comes after age 25. People all over the world, and even in western countries, have typically been able to handle settling down at a young age. So what I mean to say is, there is nothing inevitable about how someone may react in this situation (being young, married with kids to an older person).
Exactly.
Even in the Western world, until recently it was quite normal to start a family in your early 20s. That’s when you’re in your physical prime, after all, so biologically speaking it makes perfect sense.
Of course it’s true that many people are not psychologically, emotionally or financially ready to have kids at that age, but Aaron seems to be mature beyond his years, and his wife can well afford the children, so why not?
Samihami didn’t say maturity. She said brain development, which is a completely different thing and has been proven by the scientific community.
Just wanted to point that out.
@ Lukie
exactly. brain development continues into your 20’s- and it’s the part of development that deals directly with understanding fully the consequences of your behviours and actions.
no kidding. proven by science 🙂
No need to be condescending and calling her “grandma” she is 45 not 60.
Hi everyone, long time lurker here…you guys always crack me up with the comments. Anyway, had to reply to this comment because I’m 43…and a 3-time Gramma! One of my sons is 22 and while we get along great and do many things together I couldn’t imagine having a relationship with somebody his age. Again, it’s the brain development – they just don’t think the same as someone over 40 (or even 30), I don’t care what anyone says. And I cringe when I hear him say her friends are now his and he never goes home or associates with anyone from his past. It’s like she just took over his life….kinda creepy
@ Acemom2
Finally an expert weighs in! Thanks for the insight. I’m 50 and an 18 year old would bore me although he would be pretty to look at (for a while).
@acemom:
acemom2:
Yeah maybe, but being a grandma at your age is quite rare!
The time you graduate from college, a couple of internships and to land your first real job you are around 28/30.
In most western countries the actual average age of the mother for a first children is more around 30, double that and you have a grandma.
I am 25 and in my world there is no 43 yrs old grandma.
So congrats for you for being a grandma, buyt Sam Taylor is clearly not one nor in the average actual age for being one so then calling her that was just an attempt to be tarnish her and being condescending. and a qite lame one actually.
and on their relationship if they are happy I will not cast a stone at them harder than what I will do if the gender were reversed. Because if the gender were reversed… of course nobody would blink and eyelid!
@ Elizabeth:
Ditto for me, lol. It would be fun for a while but then the novelty would wear off. He talks exactly like my son & most of his friends too with the constant f-bombs…tell me that wouldn’t get annoying after a day or so.
and @ lafairy:
It used to be that there were many Grammas under the age of 50 but as you say, that seems to be changing as people are waiting longer before having children. I can’t say that I agree with it – kids are for the young! You have to keep up with the little buggers, lol. I won’t cast any stones either but I hope for the sake of the kids that he doesn’t wake up one day going “what the hell did I do to my life??”
@acemom: well… I differ from you on another point:
“kids are for young!”- well to me people in their 30’s are young! Actually to me the 30’s decade make even more sense to be a parent.
I don’t even imagine being a mom before 30.
Except if you are born wealthy the earlier you become a mom, the more precarious your child’s future will be (good schools,college, dentist, etc.)
Maybe we are just from different generations and backgrounds (my grandma had my mom at 34) that’s why we have such drastic different perspectives.
Nowadays it is normal to seek being something else than just a mom as a woman (I am not looking down on moms at all, because it totally can be one’s choice) and finding your path, making your choice and building your life take a great deal of time.Our modern societies have opened up this possibilities to women, they have children later but atre more educated and more independent financially.
Grandmas in their early 40s can still be found but more oftenly in countries like Afghanistan than in western countries.
“I won’t cast any stones either but I hope for the sake of the kids that he doesn’t wake up one day going “what the hell did I do to my life??”
I
Sorry my comment was published before completed
@acemom:
“I won’t cast any stones either but I hope for the sake of the kids that he doesn’t wake up one day going “what the hell did I do to my life??”
I don’t understand why you are asking that regarding your previous answer, because he just did what you did yourself and obvioulsy you seem pretty content, so why aren’t you more comprehensive of someone reproducing what you exactly did (having at the exact same age as you) and falling into what you think is best for reproducing as you said “”kids are for young!”-
So why sould he regret that in the future? do you?
I don’t think it’s rare at all. My Mom became a Grandmother at 45. And I know many other women who became grandmothers in their 40’s.
But as for what others have said about it being ‘completely normal’ to settle down and start a family at his age, well speaking as someone who did settle down and have children at that age, I will say whether I was in my ‘biological prime’ or not, I think I could have used a few extra years to grow and just be with my husband. I don’t regret it at all of course, but I can’t say it’s been easy. Waiting those extra years would have left me better equipped and more ready for that step. So many of my friends who started around the same age as us didn’t make it. Now that I’m 30, looking back I see what an idealistic view I had back then. You do A LOT of changing between 20 and 30. I’m proud to say my husband and I are still together (not without our fair share of bumps, mind you) but we’re also about the same age so we went through these things together! These two are on completely different wave lengths, whether he knows it or wants to admit it or not.
Demi and Ashton are a perfect example, things were good for a while but that age gap will keep getting wider. I don’t have to know them to say that. It’s human nature to grow and change. I wish the best for them anyway, especially since there’s two children involved.
Wow .. he’s 22 and more mature on family and relationships than most 40 year old men I know!! Way to go!!
Until he has an early mid-life crisis at 30-something like Ashton Doucher, who used to push that tired old schtick of “age ain’t nothin’ but a number,” then when Demi hit 50 he was out shacking up with twenty-somethings (like the rest of his Hollywood counterparts).
Is age actually the issue though? Because people in relationships cheat and split regardless of age. Ashton cheated because he was being a jerk. A person always has the opportunity to do the right thing, regardless of their age. If someone feels like they missed out on their youth, partying, and casual sex; they can end the relationship they are in and not be a cheating jerk.
And a person can be involved with someone of the same age and still be cheated on. Age is just an excuse.
^^2nd^^ The person you are when you’re 22 is not the person you are when you’re 32. These 10 years are full of so much growth and change.
@merritt, To clarify I was addressing the maturity of these 20-something men. Ashton was 24-25 when he started dating Demi, he was probably still thinking more emotionally and passionately (as Aaron seems to admit), rather than practically, which is classic behavior in people with an immature prefrontal cortex. They’re young, seem to be living in the moment, and don’t think about how they will feel about living with an aging woman (who may not look conventionally attractive in a few years or act young and fun or be able to keep up with him and the kids). With increased age comes more obvious difference and, once the whimsy wears off and he starts to feel like he’s missing out, he may explore other options. Add to that the fact that he’s a young parent, who has yet sow his wild oats and he may feel like he’s missed out on his youth. He seems to be living his life in fast- forward and may look back with regret on what he missed out on. I hope I’m wrong (for the sake of his children) but this just seems like a recipe for disaster.
such beautiful little girls, I absolutely love their names. While I am still creeped/grossed out by the age difference, I’m not the one in the relationship-so..
Also, I love when a guy rocks curly hair..
I thought he was older. I didn’t even think of having kids when I was 22.
He’s seriously hot.
It’s a personal choice whether or not to change your name. I can’t say I think is wife is pretty, but maybe they love each other. He is really hot…my doctor has that same curly hair and I am IN LOVE with him! Also, speaking about older people, I’m reaching here, but I can’t keep it to myself, it was some great. Went to a 50th wedding anniversary this weekend: the two “kids” were dancing to “Still The One”, and she snuck up and grabbed his ass. It was fab.
I don’t normally go crazy for this kid but DAMN he looks good in these pics.
Had to block out the wife with my hand, but yeah, I could see he and I together…..
HAHAHA – Kitten, I love that you had to do that.
I wish I could have one night with him. Those eyes, those arms… He can probably go at least 3 times with hardly any recharging. Ah, young men…
I completely agree. I got TONS of shit for not changing my name when I got married. I ended up hyphenating it when my son was born, but regret doing even that.
Doing it b/c you want to is one thing, but doing it b/c its traditional is a crap reason.
Me too, and much of that shit came from my own family. Certainly made my life easier though when we divorced.
I hyphenated my name too. My husband told me he would understand if I didn’t want to take his name because it’s long and not particularly flattering. We even discussed his taking my name, but his father seemed hurt by the idea that his only son wasn’t carrying on the family name. So, I took his to prevent any hurt feelings. Besides, It was enough for me that he was willing to give patriarchy the middle finger by suggesting we take my surname.
My husband was bummed that I didn’t want to take his name, but he didn’t push it. My mom didn’t change her name when she married my dad & I’m an only so he understood. His parents didn’t, though, & even asked me what our son’s last name would be when he was born. Seriously? I have my dad’s name, so….
I have some friends named Chris & Kris. When they got married she wasn’t going to change her name b/c, well, Chris & Kris xxxx is silly to say the least. He pitched a fit a week before the wedding & said that if she didn’t change her name he’d call the wedding off. I’m still upset about it for her 🙁
Thanks for posting your thoughts on this ladies. I’m recently engaged, have been with my man for over 5 years now. I have stated from the beginning that I am keeping my last name when we are married. It’s my name, why should I have to change it? And frankly, although this sounds silly, I like how my Ukrainian last name sounds over my fiance’s English last name :). My fiance gets pretty upset over me not wanting to change my name to his though. I just don’t get it – just because it’s “tradition”, do we really have to follow it? Sometimes tradition is outdated and sexist and needs to change. My fiance’s mother, a very traditional type woman, was quite upset when she found out I intend to keep my last name. At the very least, I’ll hyphenate my last name, but there’s no way I’m getting rid of it all together.
A couple I know got married last year (I performed the ceremony…yay!). She decided to take his last name…as her middle name. So when Mary Smith married Bill Jones, she became Mary Jones Smith. I kinda liked that.
I took my hubby’s name when we married, but that was my choice. I like his name, and honestly, if anything were ever to happen to him, I’d probably keep it forever regardless of what other circumstances might occur in my life.
My only issue is when someone acts like I am somehow a lesser person because I made that choice, and I have run into that.
Shave, please. Though I love his views on names (as someone who received ooooodles of crap from my in laws for keeping my birth name).
I must confess that I always feel a little pang when a friend tells me she’s taken her husband’s name. I know, her life, her business, but no matter what way you cut it, taking your husband’s name IS a patriarchal, sexist custom. No man worth marrying would insist upon it. If for whatever reason you feel husbands and wives should have the same name, why can’t both of you adopt both surnames?
It’s also worth pointing out that the custom of taking a man’s name is by no means universal: in much of the Middle East, Asia and Southern Asia, women retain their own names on marriage.
Oh, please. What if you simply don’t want your maiden name anymore? Or you don’t want to hyphenate either? For that take any name. You don’t have to generalize it into a patriarchal, sexist custom.
This custom comes from centuries of patriarchical dominance.
Don’t pretend it has nothing to do with that.
The fact that many get upset when you don’t change it, should tell you enough.
There are definitely a lot of good, modern reasons why a woman would take her husband’s name, but historically yes it’s a patriarchal and sexist custom. It’s a complex issue, I think.
Of course it is a patriarchal and sexist custom. It dates back to the days when a woman essentially became a man’s property upon marriage. In other words, a woman’s identity is not her own – it changes according to her marital status. Even the expression ‘maiden name’ (ugh) says it all.
And yes, it’s true that some women take their husband’s name because they don’t like their own family name, not because they believe in the ‘patriarchy’. But ask yourself how many men wish to do the same. Not very many. That’s because it’s considered somehow unmanly to take a woman’s name. So the custom is not a neutral one. It has definite sexist connotations.
I said not to generalize. Did I say it was strictly not a patriarchal, sexist custom? No, I did not. There are tons of cultures where children get both parents names, not only the fathers. If you want to have the same name of your other, you should without, having it deemed ‘sexist’ and such.
Like I’ve said, some women may take their husband’s name for non-sexist reasons.
But that in no way changes the fact that the custom itself is sexist.
To repeat: If it is not sexist, why do men almost never take their wife’s name? To those women who say they took their husband’s name because they don’t like their own family name, how many of their brothers do the same?
To repeat: I said not to generalize. Can it be labeled a sexist custom? Sure. And it’s been that way for centuries. But your original comment seemed to take all the reasons one might change their surname and umbrella it.
If you don’t like your last name, change it. Why not change it to your mother’s name. Hell, you can make it up if you want to. If you want to keep it, keep it. It’s a name. It only has as much power as you give it.
We thought about taking our own entirely new last name….though in the end, i replaced my middle name [which had no sentimental or family connection per se other than my mom choosing it of course], to his last name….with no hyphen, so my name is essentially the same-works for me. i did not want to be part of his particular family that staunchly, either-lol-a very big clan and i like my irish last name and autonomy.
Kids have his last name-just seemed like the right match for them/us.
But….imagine if we all chose a new last name, and our kids did, as well? sure, we could not trace the family tree as easily, but what if we all followed our own interests and took a name that somehow suited us, when we got married, or became adults?
I think that’s be a fascinating change in the world.(: perhaps for the better-less attachment to status and bloodline-it might break down cast and class systems, too.
Christina: +100! I get SO much shit for deciding to keep my name. Who cares?My husband doesn’t, and that is what matters.
I’m with you Christina. It’s each person’s individual choice, but I feel a little pang when a friend changes her name (while keeping my mouth shut, as I expect them to do in return with me not changing my name!).
Interesting article here: http://www.salon.com/2000/01/20/surnames/
Yup and Yup I was just going to say the woman taking the man’s last name used to show “ownership”. Personal choice though, honestly I’m just glad women DO have the choice!
Okay… that’s all well and good, but likely the name you were born with was your fathers name. Not always, but often. So really to avoid the patriarchal sexist issues, let’s all do away with last names. Because that’d be super easy and reasonable.
You can’t say that if a woman willingly takes her husbands name it is sexist but say keeping the name you were born with (passed from the father [again, not always]) isn’t.
I know what you mean, but as I’ve said, the tradition of a woman taking her husband’s name means that her identity changes according to her marital status. The same does not happen for men, and I’m certain most men would protest if anyone suggested it should. Would men be happy to change their name on marriage, and then have to change it back again if they get divorced? And change it yet again should they remarry? If it’s not good enough for men, why should it be good enough for women?
+1
@erinn, excellent point. One of many great posts.
I get what you mean Christina, but to be secretly sad for your friends might be stretching a little too far, unless they’ve said they didn’t want to change their name. I like my name, and it’s crossed my mind to keep it before, but at the end of the day I’ve decided when I do get married, I’ll take my husbands. Unfortunately, both our names are too long to hyphenate, but I’m happy with my decision.
@Mort
Thanks. I try haha
Actually you cannot even compare having your family name by your father to switching name by marriage.
for the birth name, both men and women got it by their father.
for marriage, only women are required to change their name to take their husband’s.A man never has to change his Last name for his entire life, while a woman is expected to do it as many times as she will get married in her life. and it is exactly where lies the patriarchal transmission: a woman is supposed to be tied systematically and during her entire life to a man.
The name changing custom is like a “transfer of property” in ancient time, and even nowadays in very traditional societies, when a woman got married by changing her name she is symbolically living her’original’ family to entering another one.
So comparing having your name by your father to switching your name y marriage is a bit a nonsense.
And yes it is totally based on a very sexist ground built by the patriarchal rules that drove ancient societies.
I tell my dad all the time that I can’t wait to get married just to get rid of my AWFUL last name. It’s a made-up Ellis Island dealie and it’s TERRIBLE.
I’m going to marry a Smith.
This. I’ve had a number of female friends get married recently, and I’ve found it very upsetting when they change their surname. It’s like the person they’ve been their whole lives doesn’t matter anymore, and suddenly they’ve become completely defined by their spouses. I find a mentality like that which establishes one partner as superior to the other to be really unsettling.
Yes i was bummed a little when my sister took her hubbys last name. I felt like we really were having to let her go. And she was a women’s studies major. 🙂 i dont want to change my name because its tight! It has a Z in it need i say more… But who knows, i might lose my mind when i meet my soul mate and change it
So taking your husband’s name is patriarchal and sexist, but keeping your father’s name isn’t? I think this is where this whole argument falls apart. Want to pick a name that is just yours? Fine, but to say that your father’s name is somehow less patriarchal than your husband’s is completely illogical. At least you’re choosing your husband’s name, which was never the case with your fathers.
“So taking your husband’s name is patriarchal and sexist, but keeping your father’s name isn’t? I think this is where this whole argument falls apart.”
Can you explain your point please? Where does this argument fall apart?
Because there are plenty of urban anthropolgy studies and researches that actually have be done on the subject, the subject being classified into a category called patriarcal dynamics…
It is a gradation in the sexism, a reinforcement of the patriarcalism: yes you do have your name by your father (first patriarcalism gradation) as your brother, but only you will have to change yours by marriage (second patriarcalism gradation), your brother will have just one and one name for the rest of his life… because he is a man.not you.
Having your father’s name is just as sexist as changing your name to your husband’s name. As someone has explained, this is a custom borne of patriacal rules where women had no rights literally. They were seen a no better than animals, albight ones that could carry on the family name by reproducing. Ask yourselves how come a woman, no matter if she is deemed high/higher status than the man still takes on HIS name but he never takes hers. That’s because women didn’t have any rights whatsoever. They were transferred as property from one male to another and any children they bore were considered property of the father. If a man should divorce his wife, she automatically lost everything including the children who were deemed not to belong to her and only belonged to the man/father. Your father’s name is only an identifier that you are your father’s property. And changing your name to your husband’s name is simply changing the bill of ownership. All these things, feminists have had to fight for, so it’s mindboggling that women,and it’s women who are always more resistant,are willing to maintain such a custom for the sake of tradition. Tradition that doesn’t recognise them as separate valued members of society.
If any of you ladies really thought about your ‘father’s name’ and still called yourself a feminist,you’d either drop the name entirely or use your mother’s first name without recourse her ‘property of’ name.
aww… i LIKE these pics of them 🙂
i really do.
Her nails look great too (makes me wanna get to the salon)
Yeah, it might be a bit creepy but in terms of role reversal, look at John and Bo Derek. Apparently he was a bit controlling, and I’m sure Sam is with Aaron, but those two stayed together for over 20 years until his death.
I gave him such a: “Bitch, please” for him talking about his ‘Bachelor Days’.
I wish more men would be open to taking their wife’s last name. I’ve met so many guys who don’t like their own last name or have a bad relationship with their father, but you mention the possibility of them changing it when they marry, and they freak out. Patriarchy is sadly very strong.
My sister’s old boyfriend (who wanted to marry my sister but alas she ended up dumping him) was eager to ditch his last name in exchange for his wife’s for precisely that reason: abusive father. I know he was in the minority for sure, unfortunately. Maybe one day it will catch on.
I like him more and more…
The more I read about him the more I like him!
there’s only two times a celebrity should take their significant others last name to mark a landmark anniversary like 25 years or in memoraim after the spouse has passed. as fpr example Joanne Woodward recently took Paul Newman’s last name when she wouldn’t while he was alive because when they first got married she was the bigger star. this kid is a leach all he wants is fame
Yes, but were her breasts enhanced in that Playboy feature?
Dont’ get me wrong, I think he is a decent guy, a good actor etc. etc. but his personal life it’ a bit strange -understatement-
He has started his relationship with his wife at 18 and she was 40?? 41?? And people bashes Taylor Swift for age difference…
Even if I know Swifty is more a Kennedy stalker, this is an age difference which is seriously creepy.
They look like a very happy grounded couple. On the name issue, I am a feminist but I kinda hate my last name. My bf has a fab name so I am taking his.
Right there with you. I agonized over the decision, but in the end I could not deny the coolness of my husband’s name over my own.
One thing that was important to me, having the same last name as my children. My mother resumed her last name after her divorce, while my bother and I had our father’s last name, and I just hated it. I wanted to have the same last name as my mother.
I thought I would dislike it, but really I have no problem with using my husband’s last name. Or being Mrs. {My First Name} {Husband’s Last Name}. What I have a HUGE problem with is being Mrs. {Husband’s First AND Last name}. That ticks me off to no end! I’ve bristled at people referring to me as such.
I hear you. I spent my entire childhood and 20s having my last name mispronounced and misspelled constantly, and often my first name, too. My husband’s name is easy. It was frankly kind of a relief to make the switch.
So what they end in divorce? They are happy now, aren’t they? People get married because they felt ready. I don’t think Aaron look unsure or stressed about being a Dad or the husband of someone much older. Some people can’t even settle down when they are 40.
I see a couple in love. They keep things pretty low key. Just because an idea doesn’t appeal to you, doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. It’s just a different idea.
Don’t look at love and spit on it. Look at love and celebrate it. If it doesn’t work out in the end, then it’s too bad for them. Whatever the outcome, as long as they are happy now, and keep on being good parents to their children, who is anyone to pass on judgement?
Exactly.
The divorce rate in Britain is close to 50% of all marriages, and it surely must be higher when both partners are in ‘show business’. So if this couple do end up divorcing (and we have no way of knowing) they’ll hardly be alone in that. All we can say is that they’re happy now. Who knows what the future holds, but the same could be said for all couples.
Agree. And, older men have been marrying women half their age for eons, such unions are glorified in literature and even religious texts, but people freak out about relationships such as theirs, largely because the older one in the couple is female.
Met my hubby when he was 21 and I was 30 (a very young 30 but still), no one thought it would work, even I thought he was too young! But I gave it a try and 12 years and 2 sweet babies later we’re still going strong. I must add (this is shallow I know) but I do feel lucky that hubby and I look the about the same age and nothing like mom/son or anything like that. ;D
Oh and just as a side, I kept my last name too!
there are some people that are born with old souls and grow up much faster than their peers. I know a few people like that and they’re always the wisest and most sensible because they somehow are not interested in all the static of life. they know how to filter it. this guy seems to be like that and their relationship has outlasted probably 50% of normal aged difference relationships so there’s something real there!
I really like them as a couple. They look genuine and in love. Very protective!!!!
I don’t get why people make such a big deal between the age difference. If it were all the way round, nobody would say anything.
Amen, Aria.
I get that people are startled by this relationship because it’s atypical, but I don’t get why people are so gleefully predicting its failure. Plenty of people have kids young. Plenty of relationships have an age difference.
It’s the norm for make stars to shack up with women twenty years younger. We only find it creepy when he’s a creep in his own right (cf Alec Baldwin, Kelsey Grammer). But a hit guy over forty can get away with it. It’s the norm. Who’s bitching about, say, Gary Oldman having a wife twenty years younger? Nobody with any sense.
If Aaron and Sam are happy, then good for them and long may they continue. And if they separate one day, well, lots of relationships end, whether there’s an age difference or not, whether there are kids or not. But if they split…people will be crowing about how it was inevitable because of the age difference, and that’s just sad.
I tried to get my husband to take my last name so he could have been Thurman Turman, but he shot it down…no idea why 🙁 haha!
ha ha, I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes, thanks for that!
LOL!!
I just have to laugh because Sam is wearing her “mom jeans” and it’s just so… not 22.
Oh man…Remember the SNL digital short “Motherlovers”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0DeIqJm4vM
HA!!!
Thanks for making gigglesnort, kitten.
I’d forgotten all about that skit.
Try having four kids and then come make fun of mom jeans.
What does having 4 kids have to do with attire worn whilst walking through an airport? “Mom jeans” is the style and cut of the jeans, some young people with no kids wear them too.
Relax already, here on Celebitchy everything is fair game as long as we don’t violate the TOS.
Laugh your ass off, this is meant to be a fun place.
I had a friend years ago, he and his partner gave their children an entirely different, made up last name. [not a made up name, just made up to them-it was a nice one, actually….] they couldn’t decide whose to use and did not want to hyphenate since one always gets dropped in that case.
A little weird. But here’s something even weirder. A friend just told me about a couple she knows. The wife kept her maiden name. They have four kids and decided to alternate last names — first kid got dad’s last name, second kid got mom’s last name, etc.
Call me weird, then! I didn’t change my last name. My husband and I have 2 kids – one has my last name and the other has his last name. This way both names will be carried on!
I live somewhere where it’s rare that women take their husband’s name. It seems outdated to me personally. I won’t be changing it when I get married. My name is my name and that’s that. And I would never expect my husband to take my name or do any of this hyphenated business… Seems complicated for nothing.
Agreed this won’t end well, she snared him barely out of his teens, he can protest all he wants, but this is wrong on every level, to have his youth snatched away from him.
He just strikes me as emotionally damaged in some way, maybe he has ADD and she ties his shoe laces. But she obviously took advantage of him and this relationship is going to crack
This woman has STOLEN HIS YOUTH. I’d co sign on this if he were like at least 30 years old…but not 18.
She’s a perv.
he does have a mind of his own but ur totally right, i bet he’ll regret it. lol, I know I would
I understand the history behind taking your husbands name but really?? Feeling sorry for your friends that did it?? Thats a hugh stretch. Im planning my wedding right now and the entire ceremony of western weddings is sexist! But that doesn’t mean Im not going to have my Dad walk me down the aisle. I couldn’t imagine not having the same last name as my future children. I see us all having the same name as us being a family unit. If we hyphenated our names, whats that mess going to look like 3 generations from now?
I don’t think I fully understand your point, is it an ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ kind of thing?
“If we hyphenated our names, whats that mess going to look like 3 generations from now?”
LOL ikr? For the most part taking the man’s name just helps simplify things. If my fiance had an embarrasing surname I might ask him to tweak it first (fom say “Butts” to “Burt,” or something like that).
Honestly I’ll be proud to become “the Mrs.” Does that make me pathetic? Probably to some (hardline?) feminists, but oh well.
Sorry my post was a little confusing. I am saying I agree in taking my husbands name. It is building a family together under one name. If my son were named John Smith-Black and he married Jane Doe-White, would that give me grandchildren 4 last names? Seems crazy. I don’t judge women that dont take their husbands name so I find it silly that some women here were stating they felt sorry for their friends that did.
@ Piper
Hehe maybe a *little* confusing, but I figured that’s what you meant. You’re right that it does seem a tad condescending to feel pity for women who decide to take their husbands’ name. It’s not on par with an arranged marriage or something, you know? :/
WHIPPED
I can see you appreciate feminism and equality!
LOL!!
I never found him hot before, but the way he struts around with his wife and kids is unbelievably sexy (I might be clucky).
As for all the “this won’t end well” comments: who really cares? No one can predict the future, but it doesn’t diminish what they have RIGHT NOW. Just like any other relationship, really.
he is so evolved and mature for such a young guy! sam taylor wood definitely lucked out with this one.
Ladies I just don’t get the steam you build over a family name…There are others so much more important things.What if a woman keeps her name and her husband still makes a gray mouse out of her?Will her maiden name make her his equal?
His bachelor days? I cringe.
I would have loved a boyfriend like him when I was 20. I can’t see what they have in common besides sex.
Still find this relationship a little off. Yes, he’s an adult. However, late teens and early 20s makes someone a young adult…and there is something a little disturbing about a young adult having a stepdaughter who is only seven years younger and three other kids. She’s middle aged, and he’s a young adult…Just off, sorry. I hope it works, but I doubt it will.
There is now guarantee that any marriage will last even if they are exactly the same age. I love that they are both willing to go for it and be happy for now and not giving a good damn to what anyone else says.
It is a big gap, but something about them really makes me pull for them. I hope it leads to a long happy lasting marriage.
In pictures and words, that is MAN who loves his family. Like another poster said, I know MANY 40 year old men that are afraid to commit to anything.
Team Taylor Johnson!
Apparently I have to vent about somethings.
Okay, take the part out about their age difference. I, personally don’t get it, but I don’t have to, it’s not me.
The age thing though in regards to getting married and having kids has gotten to be a bit ridiculous. Just a generation ago it was completely normal to get married at 18 (not that I advocate it but for some it just is okay). Now we have the opposite extreme.
Get married at 40 (to the first guy who lands in your path when you’re finally ready and isn’t completely disgusting) and pop out a bunch of kids in quick succession before your ovaries stop producing viable biological options (but if you’re smart your hubby will be 10 years younger because men who reach 35 increase their chance of having children with autism).
Now you can be between the age of 58 and 63 before your kids are ready to fly the coop. If your kids follow the same path you did, you’ll never see your grandkids or you will be too old to enjoy them.
So the way I’m seeing it, waiting until you’ve f-ed everyone there is to f-, drank, partied, got the best education, the best job or waited for the right alignment of stars before settling down and procreate is just as risky as getting hitched at 18 and pooping out a few kids when your young.
We’re designed to have kids when we are young. There is nothing wrong with it. Biologically it makes sense and economically it would makes sense if we’d just STOP thinking we’ve got to give little Johnny everything his heart desires (he can play baseball in his jeans like we did).
Our maturity can be useful when we can slow down and enjoy grand-parenting (and watching our kids struggle with a tantrum in the store – payback for when they were 3 yrs old).
We’ve swung so far the other way that we miss out on a lot of potential too.
I had my son at 24 and everyone thought I was too young. For a while I believed them. Now I think it was the smartest damn thing I’ve ever done. All my friends are just now having babies. LOL! They are tired and I’m sleeping like a baby and letting my ass go numb on a baseball bench once a week. Life is good when you get sleep.
Great post 🙂
Great points. I remember my doctor being in utter despair that his daughter was getting married at age 24 (to a guy her same age, btw). He thought she was throwing her life away. I remember thinking he was over-reacting a bit and always wondered how it all turned out.
Not sure we will ever go back to those old days, however. I think the average age for getting married and having kids will continue to creep up.
I really love the maturity of this guy but the grim on his wife’s face “HES MINEEEEEEEEE”, not so much.
He seems like a really terrific guy, but there is something a little off about this. He got together with a woman in her late 30’s/early 40s when he was 17 or 18. Which bachelor days is he referring to? (She’s very lucky she was able to become pregnant, actually.) Not that he should be one of those dumbasses who thinks he should go to clubs and parties and do drugs, but he seems to have gone into a very serious part of life at a very young age. Maybe it’s because I’m in my 30s and can’t see how a woman of 39/40 saw an 18 year old as a serious boyfriend and partner. Though he does seem like a seriously cool guy. Hell, what do I know- Amy Poehler seemed to have had a good marriage to someone she had a lot in common with. It just seems like this guy has a huge heart and jumped into a serious situation with a woman old enough to be his mom who has kids close to his age.
He is defiently Kristen’s age. You can tell by how much he uses the F Word. Very telling, and annoying. 🙁
f-k
f-k
f-k…
yes he is 22.
Browser problem: wrong place for my comment! sorry!
He gave a really cute interview to BULLETT where he talks about his wife! It seems like they’re really happy together…
http://bullettmedia.com/article/aaron-taylor-johnson-all-he-needs-is-love/
Gross. Sorry but she is ugly and is old enough to be his mother. She already two kids from another marriage, and one of them is 15 or 16. Only 6 years younger then her husband. Now she has two with this young guy? Yuck. Does anyone know about what is parents think? I heard he doesn’t talk to his freinds anymore but not sure about parents. This Wwoman is robbing him of his youth. And yes, if this was the other way around I would still find it gross.
He’s refreshing. I’m digging their relationship. Good for both of them. He sounds really cool.
I don’t see any chemistry between them, he always looks sad when he’s with her.
What Bachelor Days is he talking about, he went from buying lollipops at the mall to living with a woman old enough to be his mother in nano seconds, have you seen picture of him at 18? he looks 14.
I’m gonna call it for what it is, an older woman taking advantage of naive, inexperienced teenager.
As for Ashton Kutcher, he was doing threesomes with Demi, I guess in the end it was not enough, because they were not compatible to begin with, just like these two.
She must have a GREAT PERSONALITY.
Yeah, when he was in Thongs and Snogging movie he looked much younger then 17-18. I seriosuly thought he was around 15 or 14.
@ eric
I have read an interview of hers and she comes across as a vain woman. She was saying things like men are age are fat blokes and why would she want them? Which is funny since she herself is not really pretty to begin with. She thinks she is too good for any men around her age group apparently lol. She has neither the looks or a nice personality.
Agreed, this is some “ Lolita,” “Notes on a Scandal” crap, mature woman seducing an innocent teenager, she’s a sick woman to do this to a young boy. They have nothing in common except sex.
Just wait till he’s 30 and completely disenchanted with this disaster of a marriage, if it lasts that long.
Amazing guy,very brave.
Their children are gorgeous and they look so happy together. I know many couples like them and the chemistry is amazing.
I’m sure they plan on more kids(maybe a boy). He must be an amazing dad.
Congrats, the haterz are just bitter and loney. —-> 4eva alone.