It's been almost three years since much-loved musician Cher and boyfriend Alexander 'AE' Edwards struck up a romance, but still, some online critics have serious doubts.
The reason? Their rather hefty age gap.
The big-name couple first met in September 2022 during Paris Fashion Week - a high-profile event often frequented by the 'Believe' hit-maker.
Edwards is also a singer, as well as the VP of A&R at Def Jam Records. Aside from his professional endeavours, he is also known for his past relationship with reality star and model Amber Rose, with whom he shares a son.
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By November of that year, following several weeks of texting, he and Cher were first spotted out and about in public, photographed holding one another's hands as they ventured out in Los Angeles.
Sadly, however, the early days of their high-profile romance were somewhat tainted by criticism over their difference in age - so much so that mother-of-two Cher even felt forced to address it.
For reference, Cher is 79 years of age, while Edwards is 39.
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After confirming their romance with a snap together on Twitter, she hit out: "Love doesn’t know math."
Given the four decades between the couple, their relationship has ceaselessly come under scrutiny over the years.
Taking to the discussion forum Reddit to respond to news of their latest anniversary, one troll hit out: "I’m sorry but he looks like her son."
Another admitted: "40 years are 40 years, I find it weird, no matter the gender. But it’s just my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with thinking differently so it’s nothing against you."
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"I think it’s weird in the sense that I can’t imagine having much in common with someone that much younger than me," someone else wrote. "Like, what do yall even talk about??"
"If the genders were reversed don’t think it would be celebrated," another claimed, while a commenter simply penned: "Creepy and gross."
However, the vast majority of the star's fans seemingly couldn't be happier for her, believing there to be nothing wrong with an age gap nowadays, as long as both parties are happy.
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One gushed of Cher: "She IS a rich man, look at her dating someone 40 years younger #womeninmendominatedfields."
Another noted: "She seems happy."
"She’s happy and enjoying life and I’m sure he’s happy and enjoying life also. Simples," a third agreed.
"Yeah, I agree. Is it predatory? No," another continued. "He is almost 40. He is a whole-ass man. She still seems to have her cognitive faculties. So, whatever."
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Thankfully, while Cher doesn't pretend not to notice the staggering age gap between her and her man, she claims it couldn't bother her less.
She previously told PEOPLE Magazine of their early days: "I had been telling all my friends, 'We’re too old to go out with really younger men, and I will never fall in love on text.'
"So I did what I said not to do!"
The chart-topper also told Extra what it is about Edwards that charmed her.
"We can talk music," Cher claimed. "We can talk about everything. He’s got a great sense of humour, he’s got the cutest son in the world, ever. We just get each other."
That said, however, the star added that she wishes her beau recognised some of her references.
"Sometimes I’m talking to him and he has no idea who I’m talking about…" she told the publication. "The other day, I said: 'Do you know who, I don’t know, Clark Gable, [is]?'. [He] said, 'Yes, of course'.
"But most of my references - He’ll look at me and go, 'I wasn’t born yet'."
Topics: Cher, Celebrity, US News, Sex and Relationships
Rhianna Benson