Have you seen the latest pictures of actress Mary-Kate Olsen and her beau, Oliver Sarkozy (yes, that's former French president Nic's half brother)? The headlines have been merciless about the 16-year age gap between the lovers and their recent, awkward PDA at a New York Knicks game with Oliver's kids in tow.
The ensuing snark provoked by the odd couple ranged from happy Vets Day to daddy drop-off.
Commenters on the post at Gawker question such pairings, as in what's the appeal? No doubt, this particular match looks creepier than most because Mary-Kate looks practically prepubescent when juxtaposed to Oliver's own daughter. And Oliver looks much, much older than his 42 years.
While one commenter wonders whether Mary-Kate can truly be attracted to this man or whether she's got a classic daddy complex, another suggests that because she started working as a child, her maturity level stretches puts her in her late 30s.
In many cases, the draw is obvious: the young beauty is with the old boy because said old boy happens to be stinkingly rich. Not in this case, though.
In an interview with WSJ Magazine, she defended her relationship. "Everyone has an opinion," Mary-Kate said of the age difference. "I find it's better to focus on what's in front of you and to keep putting one foot in front of the other."
Mary-Kate and Oliver have been together for six months now, and by all accounts are madly in love. Oliver, MD of the Carlyle Group's glacial financial services division, and Mary-Kate reportedly shacked up three months ago in a $6.25 million East Village townhouse.
Love has a serious case of cataracts. It's found in unlikely places, for sure, and as an old-fashioned romantic, I'm not about to cast stones. Just curious as to why some women dig men old enough to be their grandfathers.
Fat age gap between you and your partner? Spill it.
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