Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly struck up a new romance with model Eden Polani – but people can’t quite get over their age gap.
The Oscar-winning actor and environmentalist is 48, while Israeli model Eden is 19 years old.
She has now appeared to confirm their new relationship on Instagram, saying ‘we all have the right to fall in love’.
Leo’s dating history has been well-publicised, with the ages of his former love interests a hot topic of discussion for years.
His penchant for only dating women aged 25 or younger has become a meme, with one widely-circulated graph showing that his girlfriends stay the same age even as he grows older.
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The oldest woman Leo has ever been romantically linked to was Gigi Hadid – who was 27 at the time – but it’s understood they never actually dated.
His previous romances have included Blake Lively, Erin Heatherton, Kelly Rohrbach, and various other actors and models.
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Leo broke up with long-term girlfriend Camila Morrone just months after her 25th birthday. The same thing happened with his model ex, Bar Refaeli. Which could be a coincidence, but a pattern is definitely beginning to emerge.
Leonardo DiCaprio refuses to date a woman over 25. #dataviz
Leo’s latest rumoured girlfriend, the Israeli model Eden Polani, has pushed the age gap to a new extreme – she is just 19 years old.
Pictures of the pair at a party together sparked the new rumour (which she has now addressed), and Twitter has reacted in a big way.
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Several people have pointed out that the young beauty wasn’t even born yet when Leo had his big break on Titanic, which came out in 1998 (she was born in 2003).
Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic. Credit: Paramount Pictures
Others have questioned whether this latest rumoured romance is verging on ‘predatory’.
One person said: “Leonardo DiCaprio is nearly 50 and dating teenage girls. I’m sorry, but a 50 year old man that dates teenagers is a predator. Being a celebrity doesn’t exempt him from being a creep.”
Another said: “Stop making jokes about Leonardo DiCaprio being a almost 50 dating literal teenagers and start calling him what he is – a predator.”
Those jokes include tweets like this: “Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend is so young her high school experience was interrupted by COVID 19.”
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Another was the below:
Dane Cook: I'm dating a 23 year old
Leonardo DiCaprio: hold my beer
Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend: I can't
— Mohanad – Union Hall NY 3/12 (@MohanadElshieky) February 7, 2023
Several others have pointed out that the age gap between Leonardo DiCaprio and Eden Polani is the same as Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who are starring alongside one another in The Last Of Us.
It’s also the same as the difference between Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) and David Harbour (Jim Hopper) in Stranger Things – who literally play adopted father and daughter.
Addressing the rumours that are swirling, Eden posted on her own Instagram stories overnight.
She shared a photo of herself clutching an enormous bunch of pink roses, taken on a balcony in Paris.
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She wrote: “I am not obliged to air my private life. We all have the right to fall in love. Exercise the right of love – Polani.”
Featured image: Instagram @edenpolaniii / Wikimedia Commons
TV & Showbiz
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
One of the most iconic literary and film sagas of the 21st century is celebrating 20 years since the first book was published next year.
And to celebrate this milestone moment, you’ll be able to watch the first film live in dozens of cities across the UK surrounded by the beauty of more than a thousand candles while a live orchestra plays the soundtrack to accompany.
That’s right, Twilight in Concert is coming to Manchester.
Undeniably one of the most successful young adult film franchises of all time, with five films (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2) to its name, The Twilight Saga has impressively grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office.
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester / Credit: Supplied
The films were adapted from author Stephenie Meyer’s acclaimed literary series that won multiple awards over its time, sold more than 160 million copies worldwide, and was translated into 49 different languages.
But no matter whether you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob, Twilight In Concert promises to be an unforgettable event for fans of the belovedfranchise, two decades on.
Set in an enchanting candlelit setting, TwilightIn Concert offers fans a unique opportunity to re-live the film that started it all, while musicians take the stage to perform the beloved score in perfect synchronisation with the original movie presented in its entirety on a cinema-size screen.
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians / Credit: Supplied
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians to transport you on a journey deep into the heart of Forks.
Twilight in Concert will be stopping off at 12 other major UK cities on its tour, including other northern hubs such as Sheffield, York, and Liverpool, as well as arriving at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Friday 6 February 2026.
Tickets are now on sale, and you can find out more and get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
TV & Showbiz
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Daisy Jackson -
8th February 2023 
