Anthony Kiedis's girlfriend, Eileen Kelly, has addressed their 33-year age gap in a candid new essay. The 30-year-old writer opened up about her relationship with the 63-year-old Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman, noting he is 'more than twice [her] age.'
A Candid Vogue Essay
In her piece for Vogue, titled 'My Boyfriend Is Double My Age,' published on Tuesday, Kelly revealed that this is her 'first time dating someone significantly older' and jokingly added that she has been 'missing out my whole life.' She also discussed receiving 'unsolicited commentary in public,' including people mistaking him for her dad, which she described as 'incredibly awkward every time.'
How They Met
Kelly disclosed that they met at a mutual friend's birthday party and bonded over their shared love of Hawaii, where Kiedis owns a house. She noted that others may perceive their age difference as 'either alarming or impressive, depending on who you ask.'
'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,' she wrote.
Addressing Criticism
Kelly defended their relationship, stating that there is no power imbalance. 'I have my own money, my own career, and I have my own home. I love my boyfriend, but I'm not at risk of losing everything if we break up,' she wrote. She also slammed the stigma that an older man in an age-gap relationship can be perceived as 'creepy' or 'gross,' while the younger woman 'must have daddy issues' or 'must be a gold digger.'
'Is it really so difficult to imagine that connection can exist across generations, and that two people of different ages can find something real in each other?' she asked.
Kiedis's Past Relationships
Kiedis was previously in a relationship with actress Ione Skye in the late 80s and was rumored to have dated Sinead O'Connor in 1990 and Mel C later that decade. He is father to 18-year-old son Everly Bear Kiedis, whom he welcomed with ex Heather Christie in 2007. The singer also wrote in his 2004 autobiography Scar Tissue that he had sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl when he was 23.
Kelly concluded her essay by saying she and her boyfriend are 'mostly just two people doing the ongoing, unremarkable work of moving through life together.'
