Photograph by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
“She’s 19” is trending on Twitter this morning, and it has nothing to do with the age of Leonardo DiCapro’s new girlfriend. As an alternative, everyone seems to be taking to their timelines to gossip about 19-year-old Millie Bobby Brown. For her total profession, the Stranger Issuesstar’s each transfer has lit up the web for one purpose or one other—and right this moment, it’s as a result of she obtained engaged.
Brown’s objectively candy engagement put up—shared on Instagram this morning to her almost 63 million followers—reveals her in a bear hug together with her now-fiancé, 20-year-old Jake Bongiovi. (Sure, he’s Jon Bon Jovi’s son.) She’s obtained a band on her ring finger, the place she’s by no means been seen carrying one earlier than. The caption, in excellent 19-year-old trend, borrows from Taylor Swift’s “Lover”: “I’ve beloved you three summers now, honey, I need ’em all.”
That’s an engagement announcement if I’ve ever seen one. However between the timing—Swift solely simply broke up with “Lover” inspo Joe Alwyn, like, 10 minutes in the past!—and Brown’s age, the discourse has diverged in each potential path. (Be aware that it’s solely been 5 or so hours since Brown’s put up went up.)
For some critics, Brown’s engagement looks like an ill-advised transfer for a pair so younger. Pleas for Brown to “not rush” into marriage at her age—neither one is sufficiently old to drink but!—run rampant. It doesn’t matter if she (and Bongiovi) are financially steady, they add; too younger is simply too younger.
True or not on the finance entrance, this argument does run the chance of infantilizing Brown. Sure, she performs a personality named “Eleven” on the beloved Stranger Issues, however the actress has showcased a maturity past her years for the reason that begin of her profession. That maturity has, nevertheless, incited a lot backlash—to the purpose the place Brown left TikTok attributable to widespread harassment. (Widespread complaints embrace that she seems to be older than her age, comes off as impolite in interviews, and has exhibited problematic habits on-set.) Individuals had been proper to be mad at Drake for claiming to have a texting relationship with Brown when she was 14—however directing that anger at Brown is misplaced.
Maybe that’s why, for all of the individuals aghast at Brown’s engagement, there are as many who're utilizing this as an opportunity to dunk on themselves. “She’s 19 and the man is 20,” one consultant tweet reads. “After which there’s me, 21 and haven’t had one single boyfriend ever 😭” As somebody who didn’t have a boyfriend till she was [redacted], I really feel this very intensely. Evaluating your self to a profitable Netflix star is a idiot’s errand, however if you’re already feeling pitiful, that comparability feels inevitable. Whether or not it’s Brown or your random former classmate, studying that somebody your age or youthful has discovered the love of their life whilst you eat Oreos on the sofa alone feels unhealthy, man.
That mentioned, a minimum of individuals are being supportive within the replies for all of the unhappy sacks on the market. Generally, the web is nice.
After which there's the Swift of all of it. It’s a fragile (sorry) time for Swifties proper now, and Brown invoking one of many artist’s most romantic songs isn’t serving to. Stories that Swift and longtime boyfriend Alwyn broke up trickled out over the weekend, ravaging group chats and subreddits for untold quantities of time. The Swifties are uncooked, and Brown calling consideration to an Alwyn-inspired love music positive ain’t serving to.
Let it's identified: Every little thing comes again to Taylor Swift. However Swift would most likely belong to the extra constructive contingent of commenters: those who're glad that Brown seems to be comfortable. Marrying a Bon Jovi is “very stylish,” mentioned one; “I want everybody to discover a love like this,” mentioned one other. Most significantly, they’re reminding the Twitter customers who're shocked that their little child Millie is, actually, an grownup who makes her personal selections. Plus, loads of individuals get married younger, and it nonetheless works out. This stuff occur! (And possibly getting married if you’re older isn’t at all times what it’s cracked as much as be, anyway.)
No matter aspect you’re on—as a result of I’m positive you’re on one—hopefully you may understand that the very best place to take is wishing these two loopy children all the very best.
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