Nationwide — 52-year-old actress Tracee Ellis Ross recently shared her dating preferences in a conversation on Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast. The Black-ish star said she often dates younger men, not just for attraction, but because they tend to be more emotionally open and less stuck in traditional relationship roles.Ross shared that many men her age still hold onto toxic ideas of masculinity. She recalled past relationships where she felt controlled or treated like an object. “I did enough of it where I was controlled and felt like I was a possession or a prize,” she said, according to E! News. “I just have no interest in it and will not do it again.”
Ross, who is the daughter of Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein, emphasized that her choices aren’t based solely on age. She’s dated older and younger men but noticed younger men are usually more flexible and accepting, especially around gender identity and social issues.
She also said she’s not interested in being someone’s teacher or guide. After spending years learning what works for her, she now focuses on emotional safety and only builds connections that truly add value to her life. She prefers to meet people organically rather than through apps.
Ross also spoke about how her dating choices come with moments of grief. She admitted feeling sadness over not having the marriage or children she once imagined. “I grieve the things that I thought would be and that are not,” she said. Still, she believes that it’s better to wait for the right partner than settle for the wrong one.
