Avril Lavigne is dating record producer J.R. Rotem, releasing new album

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Remember Avril Lavigne? Back in the aughts, she was all the rage, what with her pop/punk aesthetic and songs about “Complicated” relationships and “Sk8er Boi” beaux? Well, it appears the singer is gearing up for a big comeback. The 33-year-old singer, who recently received the dubious distinction of topping McAfee’s annual list of celebrities who, when Googled, are most likely to affect users’ computers with malware, is receding new music and showing off a new squeeze.

On Sunday, Avril was spotted leaving LA eatery The Nice Guy with music producer Jonathan Reuven Rotem. The South African-born Jonathan, who goes by J.R., has produced music for Rihanna, Maroon 5, Gwen Stefani and Usher and way back in 2006 was romantically linked with Britney Spears. JR has also been in the studio, working with Avril on her next album, her sixth. Avril posted a shot back in late August when she was making music with JR. I like the more mature, non-punky Avril, she looks nice and happy.

Recording last night with @jrotem

A post shared by Avril Lavigne (@avrillavigne) on

Avril recently celebrated birthday #33 with a BFF-packed dinner at LA’s TAO restaurant. Avril rocked a black lace mini dress, which was okay, and black, knee-high boots, which are never a bad thing. Among the friends who attended the shindig was longtime buddy Ryan Cabrera, who also sent birthday wishes to his gal pal via Instagram. In a post, which Avril later retweeted, Ryan said,“Haaaappy birfday week to this badass batch @avrillavigne you r truly one of a kind & as beautiful inside as you are out!! Can’t wait for u to shock the world with yur new music!! #AL6 #bestfriends.”

The pair, who have been friends for over a decade, were also spotted catching some rays together on a Malibu beach. The friends were spotted hugging and taking photos. Nothing really to see here – especially because I’m all for guy/girl platonic friendships. My guy friends are among my best friends. To be honest, I really only have one female BFF.

Avril keeps her friends close, but she also maintains a healthy relationship with ex-husband Chad Kroger, with whom she was married from 2013 to 2015. Last month, she joined Chad’s band, the universally despised (but someone is buying their albums, just saying) Nickelback, on stage at a gig at LA’s Greek Theater, lending her vocals to their song “Rockstar.” The band posted a pic to Twitter and Avril shared a clip of her performance on Instagram with the caption, “Impromptu performance of ‘Rockstar’ with @nickelback last night in Los Angeles. Good to be back on stage. Feeling excited, happy and grateful. #feedthemachinetour #family.”

If you can’t wait for Avril’s album, she contributed to a track that might tide you over for a while. On September 29, a track dropped featuring Avril and Circa Survive’s lead singer Anthony Green collaborating with LA production duo Grey for a new single, called “Wings Clipped.” It’s actually not bad.

It really seems like Avril is excited about her new music. On August 31, she tweeted a message to fans, acknowledging their patience, and asserting “It’s been a long recovery and I want to make sure that this is perfect for you guys!! You only deserve my best effort and that’s what I’m going to deliver!”

I was never a big fan of Avril, but if “Wings Clipped” is indicative of her new material, I might give it a listen. And, she and JR make a cute couple, so congrats on that.

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Photos: Getty IMages, Backgrid

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19 Responses to “Avril Lavigne is dating record producer J.R. Rotem, releasing new album”

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  1. pumpkiny says:

    remember that terrible ‘Japanese’ hello kitty song or whatever? did we deserve that? was that one of her best efforts? is that what she’s recovering from?

    • Mimi says:

      That song was the worst!
      I think she suffered from Lyme disease a few years back?

    • Kelaine says:

      That song really grew on me! It has a pretty cool drum track. It was meant as an homage to her Japanese fan base. She’s really big over there. I hope she will do an album that’s a little more “grown up” though. I’ve been a fan for a long time, and I hated outgrowing her.

  2. Clare says:

    HAHAHA THANK YOU for reminding me of Nickelback.

    I needed a good laugh today!!!

    Much more entertaining that the Melania/IVana wars.

  3. HelloSunshine says:

    I have a soft spot for Avril (ten year me had her on repeat, sorry Mom and Dad!), so I hope she does well. I’m digging the toned down style but her hair is driving me nuts! Why is it so brassy?!

  4. polonoscopy says:

    With the lace dress and thigh high boots, she looks like Alyssa Edwards from RPDR. Except, Alyssa has a personality.

    • senna says:

      Alyssa should definitely put an Avril look in her arsenal! I can’t think of anything I’d like to see more than Alyssa channeling Avril in a fake interview on “Alyssa’s Secret.”

  5. Toot says:

    I’ll admit to liking Nickelback. They have some really good song. Good luck to Avril and her new guy.

  6. DiegoInSF says:

    I actually like her music so I’m looking forward to that. ::ducks:: he’s hot in a douchey way, just like her ex Brody Jenner. She has a type. Her bfs are hotter than her husbands ha!
    That is some real housewives hair in the header pic though!

  7. HH says:

    I just can’t get over punk rock Avril Lavigne and then her opening her mouth to reveal a valley girl accent. Haha! It’s no surprise her image has “matured.” But I don’t think Avril has quite found her sound with her music. Hence some of the awful music that she’s put out as an older artist. It’s weird, but I still get a feeling of inauthenticity from her.

  8. Erinn says:

    Young preteen/teen me loved her first album. It was a solid effort. But pretty much everything since has been a flaming pile of dog doodie.

  9. Jenna says:

    She’s starting to dress like Mariah. Noooo. I’m not a fan of her new boobs, but whatever, her body, her money.

  10. BorderMollie says:

    I can’t see her now without thinking of that ‘Melissa’ nonsense lol!

  11. Bryan says:

    Lol, what persons stuck in a 12 year old mind frame would want to listen to avril lavigne music? unless you were an actual 12 year old.

    Btw the producer has also produced garbage for the likes of paris hilton, ashley tisdale, jojo and kevin federline but nice cherry picking of “artists” he’s produced.

    • Britney says:

      First, Avril is morphing into Heidi Montag.

      Last, Didn’t this creep work with Christina Aguilera too? I feel like her one album had a diss track supposedly about JR after they broke up?

  12. gwen says:

    She looks a whole lot different than she did in her skater girl days.

  13. Matahari says:

    She’s always been a poser

  14. Lylia says:

    Reading all the HW & Trump articles from all the different news sources has left me tired, angry and furious. Rape survivor here. Thank you Celebitchy for posting a nice fun fluff story. I can’t believe she is 33. I feel so old. I agree somebody is buying Nickleback’s album’s and going to their concerts too. That concert looks packed.