The Truth Behind Sydney Sweeney’s Older Men Obsession

Sydney Sweeney’s romantic life has once again captured the spotlight, this time for her rumored relationship with 44-year-old music executive Scooter Braun.

As headlines swirl and social media debates the 16-year age gap, relationship experts are weighing in a bid to uncover what draws the “Euphoria” star to much older men and what it reveals about her emotional world.

At just 28, Sweeney has developed a well-documented pattern of dating older men.

Her seven-year relationship with 42-year-old businessman Jonathan Davino, which began when she was only 20, ended in a public split earlier this year. Together, the former couple co-founded her production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, before parting ways in 2025.

Now, Sweeney is making headlines again after confirming her romance with 44-year-old music mogul Scooter Braun. The pair were spotted sharing a kiss earlier this week, sparking public fascination and renewed scrutiny of the actress’s dating preferences.

Relationship expert and licensed sexologist Sofie Roos told the Daily Mail that Sweeney’s attraction to older partners isn’t unusual.

“There are many explanations, and it’s rarely about the age itself,” Roos explained. “Most people who prefer an older partner are looking for safety, stability, and emotional maturity — things you’re more likely to find in a more experienced dating pool.”

According to Roos, for people with an insecure attachment style, those who worry others may not be reliable, an older, steadier partner can feel grounding.

“An older, wiser person tends to feel like someone who’ll stay and take care of you,” she said.

Still, Roos cautioned that it doesn’t always come from trauma. “Sometimes it’s simply about being more mature for your age or realizing people your age don’t want the same things you do.”

Sweeney has been candid about her difficult childhood, revealing that her family once lived together in a single hotel room after her parents’ divorce. Roos believes such early-life struggles can subtly shape adult relationships.

“If you had to take a lot of responsibility early on, like supporting a parent or taking care of siblings, you might long for a relationship where you don’t have to be the caretaker,” she said.

She added, “An older partner can symbolize someone who takes control, which can feel comforting.”

However, the reverse is also true. “Sometimes, people who were parentified as kids keep seeking relationships where they get to care for someone,” Roos explained. “It feels familiar, and familiarity feels safe.”

Roos was quick to dismantle stereotypes about younger women dating older men for money or power.

“The biggest misunderstanding is that these relationships are always about control,” she said. “Look at Sydney Sweeney — with an estimated net worth of $40 million, she doesn’t need anyone to provide for her.”

Instead, she argued, “Many age-gap relationships are built on mutual respect, communication, and emotional alignment — not on dependency.” Roos also noted that fame or status doesn’t always determine who holds power in such relationships. She noted, “Sometimes, they’re the one with higher status — just as in Sydney’s case.”

The key, she said, lies in emotional balance. “A healthy one feels balanced,” Roos explained. “Both partners communicate openly, share influence, and respect each other’s lifestyle, boundaries, and dreams for the future.”

However, she warned that red flags arise “when the older partner always has the last word, underestimates the younger one, or when dependency becomes the glue holding the relationship together.”

Over the weekend, Sweeney’s personal life again made headlines after a public argument with ex-fiancé Davino was caught on camera.

TMZreported that she shouted, “I don’t believe you. Please leave — leave me alone.”

Relationship coach Andreea Tanase urged caution before judging the outburst.

“Due to immaturity being a stereotype of a typical younger partner, it makes sense that her emotional reaction is being looked at through that lens,” she said. Tanase continued, “As outsiders to this dynamic, we bring our preconceived notions of their roles within the relationship and what is expected of each partner.”

She added that, because of confirmation bias, people often see only what they expect to see.

Yet the truth is, no one knows what led to Sweeney’s reaction or whether her partner was also being “immature” in the argument, since every relationship has its conflicts, and each age-gap dynamic is unique.

Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, relationship expert at Hily Dating App, addressed common assumptions about large age gaps.

“It is a common assumption that age gap relationships are exploitative and transactional,” she said. “If these relationships were so transactional and black-and-white, they wouldn’t be able to sustain and exist in such depth.”

Romanoff emphasized that people often underestimate how much agency is involved when partners deliberately choose each other, as well as the mutual interest and potential for growth they bring to the relationship.

Roos echoed that sentiment, acknowledging that emotions can run high in such relationships. “It’s actually not uncommon at all that the feelings boil over a little bit extra in relationships with a big age gap,” she said.

Roos added that younger partners often react more strongly and impulsively, not out of immaturity, but because they’re in a different stage of life, still discovering their identity, boundaries, and how they want to be treated.

In public, however, such reactions can be misinterpreted.

“It easily comes off as looking like the child in the relationship during conflict, especially with paparazzi all around that can capture moments and serve them to the media without the full context,” Roos said.