Podcaster Vogue Williams has criticized Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis for his history of dating significantly younger women, specifically highlighting his past relationship with a 19-year-old model when he was 50.
The conversation unfolded during a recent episode of the podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, where presenter Vogue Williams and comedian Joanne McNally examined high-profile age-gap relationships. Williams, a self-described fan of the band, did not hold back her astonishment regarding the rock star’s romantic history.
Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally Debate Age-Gap Romances
Opening up about her frustration, Williams addressed the frontman’s past. The musician started dating Australian model Helena Vestergaard in 2013 when she was 19 and he was 50. The couple stayed together for approximately two years before parting ways.
Williams argued that legality does not automatically validate the appropriateness of a dynamic where one partner is decades older. Just because you can doesn't mean you should,
she remarked during the broadcast. She also shared that her husband, Spencer Matthews—himself a fan of the band—reacted with similar dismay upon learning of the age gap.
Co-host Joanne McNally offered a cynical counter-perspective on the realities of dating culture among wealthy celebrities, arguing that a significant number of men are drawn to much younger partners and that such dynamics are unlikely to shift.
“It is what it is, and I don’t think there’s any getting away from it. We judge it, but it’s not going to change.”
Joanne McNally, comedian
Rock Star Status and the Reality of Power Imbalances
The dialogue quickly turned to the socioeconomic factors that facilitate these pairings. McNally pointed out that fame and wealth play a central role in bridging generational divides.
“No 19-year-old girl wants to be going out with some old lad who is driving a Toyota Corolla around town. They want to be going out with a millionaire rockstar who is going to treat them like a princess, and they’re going to have a gorgeous life.”
Joanne McNally, comedian
Beyond the Vestergaard relationship, Kiedis has a documented pattern of dating younger partners. Prior to his relationship with Vestergaard, the musician had a relationship with Heather Christie, with whom he shares an 18-year-old son, Everly Bear Kiedis, born in 2007 when Kiedis was 44 and his partner was 21.
Furthermore, the heartbreak stemming from his 2013–2015 split fuelled the writing for the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ album, The Getaway, with the frontman noting that the fallout left him raw and creatively available.
Eileen Kelly Defends Her Relationship in Vogue Essay
The discussion on age gaps also touches upon the frontman’s current romantic life. Kiedis has been linked to podcaster and sex educator Eileen Kelly, who is 30 years old—roughly half his age. The two began dating in late 2025.
In April, Kelly published an essay for Vogue titled My Boyfriend is Double My Age
, addressing the dynamic without directly naming Kiedis, though PEOPLE subsequently identified him as her partner.
“There is something to be said for a man who’s simply had more time to get his s*** together, and my much older boyfriend seems genuinely excited to be with me – not like he’s biding his time before he can swipe for someone better.”
Eileen Kelly, writer and podcaster
Kelly acknowledged that power dynamics can be hazardous when a younger partner relies entirely on an older companion for financial or emotional stability. However, she differentiated her own position by noting that she maintains her own career, finances, and home. She also emphasized a distinction in maturity levels, writing that if she were 18 or 21, the scales would have been weighted far differently.
Wider Celebrity Precedents and Ongoing Cultural Scrutiny
Age gaps in entertainment remain a frequent subject of public fascination and critique. During their podcast discussion, the hosts noted that Kiedis is far from alone in maintaining high-profile relationships crossing generational lines.
Other prominent examples across the entertainment industry include Cher, 80, and her partner Alexandar, 39; Holland Taylor, 82, and Sarah Paulson, 50; Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, and Sam Taylor-Johnson, 58; as well as Jeff Goldblum, 73, and Emilie Livingstone, 42.
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