Charlize Theron made headlines after admitting she once had a one-night stand with a 26-year-old man. The actress, now 49, shared the story during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper on in July of last year.
Theron described the encounter as “really ******* amazing” and joked that she wished she had done more of that in her twenties. She also spoke about women prioritizing their own pleasure. She said, “Women should be the ones saying, ‘**** you, I’m going to have an orgasm.’ ”
Megyn Kelly’s Criticism – Slut Shamed
Not long after the episode aired, former television host Megyn Kelly responded on her SiriusXM program. Kelly called Theron’s comments “vulgar” and “off putting,” adding that she should “act her age” and “have some class.” Kelly also took issue with something else Theron said. During the podcast, Theron noted that her daughters “don’t need a father.” Kelly described that remark as peculiar and used it to further criticize her.
Why The Reaction Stood Out
Theron usually keeps her private life away from the spotlight, which is why her blunt story came as a surprise. Hearing a Hollywood star casually describe a fling with a much younger man challenged what many people expect from women. Especially women approaching 50. The reaction from Kelly seemed to be a familiar pattern. Men are often praised or laughed off for talking about younger partners, while women get labeled inappropriate for the same thing.
A Long History Of Double Standards
Theron is far from the first actress to be treated this way. Elizabeth Taylor was slut shamed in the 1960s for her relationship with Richard Burton, even facing public scolding from the Vatican. Kristen Stewart was heavily criticized in 2012 after her affair with director Rupert Sanders, while his reputation took far less of a hit. More recently, Sydney Sweeney has been the target of online speculation whenever she appears alongside male co-stars, often facing harsher judgment than the men involved.
The Slut Shaming Factor
What happened to Theron fits the pattern of slut shaming, where women are judged for sexual choices that men rarely face criticism for. The focus is often on age, respectability, and motherhood, rather than the fact that the encounter was consensual and personal. For Theron, the extra scrutiny came not only because she spoke openly about sex, but also because she did so as a woman in her late forties.
Holding Her Ground
Despite the negative commentary, Theron did not walk back her words. She described her experience exactly how she wanted to and left little room for misinterpretation. Fans praised her for being unapologetic and for showing that women can talk openly about sex regardless of age. At the end of the day, Theron made it clear she does not feel embarrassed about her choices. She spoke in her own words, on her own terms, and that is what people reacted to most.
Other Stars Who Were Slut Shamed
Madonna has often been at the center of the same kind of outrage. When she dated men much younger than her, tabloids mocked her and critics labeled her desperate, even though male rock stars and actors have long done the same without comment.
Demi Moore also faced headlines when she was in a relationship with Ashton Kutcher, who was 15 years younger. While the couple was together for years, much of the coverage at the time focused on her age, with the word “cougar” used constantly to describe her, rather than acknowledging their relationship as normal.
Read More: How Did Demi Moore Survive Her Toxic Marriage With Ashton Kutcher