Age is a number. We've heard it a thousand times. But when Love After Love hit the news cycle involving Cher and her boyfriend Alexander "AE" Edwards, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. It wasn't just about the 40-year age gap, though that certainly fueled the tabloid fire for months. It was the fact that Cher, at 77, was once again proving that she doesn't follow anyone's rules but her own. She’s been doing this for six decades. Why would she stop now?
People love to judge. They really do. Especially when it involves a legendary woman dating a much younger man. If it were a male rockstar, nobody would bat an eye. But because it’s Cher, people have thoughts. Big ones.
What Love After Love Really Means for Cher
Let’s be real for a second. Cher has seen it all. She’s lived through Sonny Bono, Gregg Allman, and Gene Simmons. She knows what she’s doing. When she stepped out with AE, the music executive who is four decades her junior, it wasn't some accidental PR stunt. It was a statement.
"On paper, it's kind of ridiculous," Cher actually admitted during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. She isn't blind to the optics. She knows how it looks to the outside world. But she also noted that AE is "fabulous" and "very kind." He's smart. He's talented. And honestly, she says younger men don't find her intimidating the way men her own age often do.
Think about that. A woman who has won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and three Golden Globes is a lot to handle. Men in their 70s might want someone to bake cookies with. Cher wants to live. She wants to create. She wants to be seen.
The AE Connection
Alexander Edwards isn't just some random guy. He’s the VP of A&R at Def Jam. He’s worked with big names. He has his own money and his own career. That matters because it shifts the power dynamic. It isn't just a "fan" dating an idol. It's two people in the same industry who met at Paris Fashion Week and realized they actually liked talking to each other.
They met in September 2022. By November, they were holding hands in West Hollywood. The paparazzi went nuts. The headlines were brutal. People called him a "gold digger" or a "clout chaser." Cher, being the Twitter (X) queen she is, shut it down immediately. She posted a photo of him with a heart emoji. When fans questioned his intentions, she famously replied: "I don't defend us. Haters are gonna hate."
Why the Age Gap Discourse is So Biased
We have to talk about the double standard. It’s unavoidable.
Look at Mick Jagger. Look at Steven Tyler. Look at Al Pacino. They date women 40, 50 years younger, and the world just shrugs. It’s considered "par for the course" for a successful man. But when a woman does it? Suddenly, she's "desperate" or "losing her mind." It’s a weirdly sexist hangover from a previous era that Cher is currently dismantling with a sledgehammer.
💡 You might also like: Charlie McDermott Married Life: What Most People Get Wrong About The Middle Star
Science actually has something to say about this. While society focuses on the "creepy" factor, psychologists often point out that high-achieving women frequently find better matches with younger partners. Why? Because younger men often have a more progressive view of gender roles. They aren't as threatened by a woman’s success. They grew up in a world where women were already bosses. To a 38-year-old man, Cher is a legend. To a 78-year-old man, she might be "too much."
Navigating the "Gold Digger" Narrative
The biggest hurdle for Love After Love in the public eye is the assumption of financial exploitation. Everyone assumes AE wants her money. But Cher has survived the music industry for sixty years. You don't get to her level of wealth and longevity by being a fool. She’s survived bad contracts, public divorces, and career lulls that would have ended anyone else.
She also knows that life is short. Her mother, Georgia Holt, passed away shortly after the relationship became public. Losing a parent often makes people realize that waiting for "socially acceptable" happiness is a waste of time. If AE makes her laugh, if he treats her well, and if they have fun together, what else really matters?
The Impact on Modern Dating
Cher is accidentally—or maybe on purpose—changing the game for older women. She’s showing that the "invisibility" that often happens to women after 50 is a choice, or at least something that can be fought.
Dating after a certain age is hard. It’s exhausting. Most people give up. They settle into a routine of grandkids and gardening. And that’s fine if that’s what you want! But Cher is shouting from the rooftops that you don't have to stop being a romantic, sexual, vibrant being just because you've hit a specific decade.
- She wears what she wants.
- She dates who she wants.
- She works when she wants.
It’s about agency. That's the core of the Love After Love phenomenon. It’s the refusal to be put into a box.
Critics and the Reality of High-Profile Romance
It hasn't all been roses. There were rumors of a breakup in mid-2023. People were quick to say "I told you so." They waited for the crash and burn. But then, they showed up together at fashion shows again. They worked on music together.
In late 2023, Cher released her first Christmas album. Guess who was right there helping? Alexander Edwards. He produced tracks for her. They weren't just dating; they were collaborating. This is a crucial detail that people miss. They share a language—the language of music production and industry politics. That's a strong bond that transcends birth certificates.
📖 Related: Charlie Kirk's Kids: How Old They Are and What Really Happened
There’s also the family aspect. Cher’s kids are older than AE. That’s a weird Thanksgiving table, sure. But reports have suggested that while there was initial skepticism, the family mostly just wants her to be happy. After the passing of her mother, the support system shifted. If AE is part of that support system, he’s earned his place.
The Psychological Component of Late-Life Love
Experts like Dr. Helen Fisher have studied the brain in love for decades. Interestingly, the "rush" of a new relationship feels the same at 17 as it does at 77. The dopamine hits the same. The sleepless nights thinking about the person are identical.
When Cher says he makes her feel like a teenager, she isn't being hyperbolic. Biologically, she is experiencing the same chemical cocktail she felt back in the 60s. The difference is she now has the wisdom to enjoy the ride without losing herself in it.
Lessons We Can Actually Use
So, what do we take away from this? Is it just celebrity gossip? Not really. It’s a case study in personal autonomy.
First, stop caring about "the rules." The rules were written by people who aren't living your life. If Cher had followed the rules, she would have retired in 1980.
Second, value compatibility over demographics. A shared interest in music, a similar sense of humor, or a mutual respect for work ethic is a better foundation than being born in the same decade.
Third, understand that "Love After Love" is a cycle. You don't just get one shot at it. You can reinvent your romantic life as many times as you need to.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Age-Gap Dating
If you find yourself in a situation similar to Cher's—perhaps not with a Def Jam VP, but with someone significantly younger or older—here is how to handle the noise:
👉 See also: Celebrities Born on September 24: Why This Specific Birthday Breeds Creative Giants
1. Identify Your Non-Negotiables
Don't let the age gap blind you to character flaws. If they are kind, stable, and respectful, the age doesn't matter. If they are toxic, the age gap won't save it, and it shouldn't be the excuse for the toxicity.
2. Address the Financial Elephant
If there is a massive wealth disparity, get a prenup or a cohabitation agreement. Cher likely has the best lawyers on the planet. Protecting your assets isn't "unromantic"; it's what allows the romance to exist without suspicion.
3. Build a Shared World
Don't just live in their world or force them into yours. Find the "third space." For Cher and AE, that’s the recording studio and the fashion world. Find your version of that.
4. Develop a Thick Skin
People will talk. They will whisper at dinner parties. They will leave weird comments on Instagram. You have to decide if the person you're with is worth the social friction. If they are, then the whispers become background noise.
5. Check the Power Dynamic
Ensure that the younger partner has their own agency and the older partner isn't using their status to control the relationship. Healthy age-gap relationships are built on mutual respect, not a teacher-student or parent-child vibe.
Cher and Alexander Edwards might last another ten years, or they might break up tomorrow. That’s the risk of any relationship. But by living out loud, Cher has given a lot of people permission to stop checking the "age" box on their happiness. She’s proving that Love After Love isn't just possible—it can be the most exciting chapter of the whole story.
Ultimately, the biggest takeaway is simple: stop waiting for permission to be happy. Whether you're 27 or 77, the only person who has to live with your choices is you. Cher knows this better than anyone. And honestly? She looks like she's having a blast. That's the real win.