Australian singer Cody Simpson will appear on the American sitcom Cougar Town.
The teen singer confirmed the news with a photo on social media, with the caption, “on set, sparked a little acting flame.”
At the young age of 17, is it really a good idea for him to be on such a controversial show? He’s not even an adult yet. He can’t drink yet but he’s old enough for Courteney Cox. Are we sending the right message to our kids?
Shows like Cougar Town and movies such as The Rebound are making it acceptable within society to date someone with a huge age-gap.
Stacie Lee from the Sydney band Sleeping Babys had previously never heard of the five-year-old TV show starring Courtney Cox, but she doesn’t think it is cool.
“It’s a race for more & more shock value and controversy with all forms of entertainment. I would be keeping young children away from it if it was an option.”
Johnnie Baker* from Bronte thinks shows like this are using humour as a way of avoiding the real problem.
“I believe they are planting ideas into people’s heads about that type of behaviour being acceptable by making humour a major focus,” Baker said.
Another example of this type of behaviour is Playboy’s Hugh Hefner. The ladies man has been a questionable example for about 50 years.
Stella Moore*, mother of a 20-year-old daughter, thinks it is disgusting.
“I would hate it, even if it was George Clooney. I would think he was just a dirty old man filling her head with lies so he could have a pretty young thing on his arm…We need to date people around our own age, otherwise our life experiences are different.”
However, 40 year-old Jason Jackson thinks a big age gap can work.
“It depends on whether that person loves their partner enough to make changes in their life, for example going out clubbing…It really depends on the person. When I was dating my ex [20 years younger], people would say it will never work…But love is blind…It does work sometimes.”
This begs the question…do the older people in relationships change their mind about age gaps once they have their own children?
“I must admit, I would find that hard. I think my opinion would change about the whole thing once I have kids. My ex’s parents accepted me at my age and I appreciate that, but I can imagine what my ex’s dad went through,” Jason Jackson said.
It seems all these controversial circumstances are just a way to get people talking.
What do you think? Comment below or email me at lauren@news.raveituptv.com
*Interviewee didn’t want to be named. Name has been replaced.
