“There are so many grandpas dating Barbie dolls”: Sandra Bullock Was ‘Incensed’ With Criticisms of Her Dating Ryan Gosling When He Was Just 21

Sandra Bullock calls out a double standard when it comes to men and women dating.

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Gosling

SUMMARY

  • Sandra Bullock and Ryan Gosling dated for a very long time after they starred in Murder by Numbers together.
  • This relationship was heavily condemned due to the sixteen-year age gap between the two.
  • Bullock actually spoke on the criticism, calling out a double standard when it comes to older women and men.
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Sandra Bullock is one of the most respected and well-known celebrities in Hollywood. With a lengthy career in various genres and mediums, she has created a reputation as a successful and talented actress. When it comes to celebrities as high-profile as her, it is only natural that every aspect of their lives, public or private, will be carefully dissected by the world. This is especially true when it comes to their romantic lives.

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Sandra Bullock in Ocean's Eight (2018)
Sandra Bullock in Ocean’s Eight (2018)

Long before his rise to fame, Ryan Gosling was involved with Bullock. The pair dated for two years, until they ultimately split up. What many might not know is that their relationship was seriously condemned by many because of the age gap between the two stars. The actress was thirty-seven at the time, and Gosling was just twenty-one.

Interestingly enough, Bullock actually spoke up about their age gap, as well as the criticism she was getting.

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Sandra Bullock and Her Relationship With Ryan Gosling

In 2003, Sandra Bullock gave an interview with Glamor, where she talked about her relationship with Ryan Gosling. This is quite a rare occurrence, as celebrities very rarely comment on their personal lives during interviews; especially who they are dating. It is safe to assume that something drastic pushed her to comment on a matter so private.

Sandra Bullock in Crash
Sandra Bullock in Crash

There were quite a lot of rumors that she was in a relationship with Ryan Gosling, who was only known as her co-star at the time. The pair were working on Murder By Numbers together, and while Bullock was quite successful by then, the actor was still relatively unknown. This dynamic created quite an outrage, with many wondering if an age gap of 16 years was too much.

“I met Ryan on the set of a thriller we were filming together last year, Murder By Numbers, and we have been quietly dating ever since,” 

Bullock seemed to have had enough and finally spoke about the nature of their relationship, confessing that she was, in fact, in a relationship with Gosling.

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Sandra Bullock Had Enough

Many celebrities have spoken up about the double standard the media has when it comes to women and men, specifically when romantic relationships are involved. Many female celebrities have placed emphasis on how male celebrities are not held to the same standard that they are, and one of the biggest examples is that of age and dating.

ryan gosling the fall guy
Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy

While many men can get away with dating women who are concerningly younger than them, if a woman engages in something even remotely close, they are ostracized. Sandra Bullock spoke to a similar double standard during the interview, mentioning how the public was treating her age gap with Ryan Gosling.

“People are having a go at us because of the age difference and that really incenses me. There are so many grandpas dating Barbie dolls in Hollywood. Why is it seen as unacceptable the other way round?”

She talked about how many older men are dating women far too young for them, and the world does not bat an eye. However, if she does the very same thing, she is called horrendous things. She added that if those men are allowed to date whoever they want to date, why does she get criticized when she does the same?

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Written by Ananya Godboley

Articles Published: 1123

A poet and art enthusiast, Ananya Godboley is a striving academic who is pursuing a career in Criminal Psychology, currently doing an undergrad degree in Psychology. Passionate about History, Philosophy and Literature, she loves to learn about new and interesting subjects. A writer for FandomWire with over 1000 published articles, she adores all things superhero and Taylor Swift.