Demi Lovato has opened up about why, looking back, she believes dating Wilmer Valderrama when she was 18 was “not okay”.
Although she’s only 33, Lovato has spent much of her life in the spotlight and has released nine studio albums so far.
Her personal life has also drawn attention over the years, including her relationship with actor Valderrama, who was 29 when they began dating.
The pair were together for around six years before ending things in 2016. At the time, they confirmed the split in a joint statement, saying: “This was an incredibly difficult decision for both of us, but we have realized more than anything that we are better as friends. We will always be supportive of one another. Thank you to everyone who has offered us kindness and support over the years.”
Lovato recently spoke about past relationships while appearing on the This Is Keke Palmer podcast.
During the discussion, Palmer reflected on her own experiences with age-gap relationships, saying: “I feel like people don’t understand that that’s what we were dealing with, you know? I found myself dating. I’m 15. Why is my boyfriend 20?”
Lovato responded by comparing it to what she went through, adding: “Why was my boyfriend 30? You know what I’m saying? But then you look back in hindsight. When I turned 30, I was like, that’s not OK.”
Palmer described the realization as a kind of turning point, calling it a “mental break” and adding: “That can happen because you realise you were taken advantage of.”
She continued by explaining how it can feel normal at the time, especially when you’re working in adult environments at a young age: “That was very difficult for me ‘cause at 15 I’m thinking my boyfriend’s older because I’m doing an older job, and I’m doing a bunch of things, and this is the way that it is, and it seemed normal in my mind.”
Lovato agreed, suggesting that personality and perceived maturity can add to that feeling: “Especially if you’re an older soul, too. Especially if you’re mature for your age,”
In more recent years, Valderrama has been in a relationship with Amanda Pacheco. The couple got engaged in 2020 and have since welcomed two children together.
Lovato has previously indicated there’s no bad blood, even if they’re no longer part of each other’s day-to-day lives. In a 2020 interview, she said she was glad to see her ex doing well.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, Lovato said: “I’m really happy for him and I wish him nothing but the best, but we’re not in each other’s lives [and] haven’t spoken in a long time. But I think I needed that, because I needed to learn to be okay on my own.”
She also reflected on how starting such a serious relationship so young affected her sense of self: “When you get into a relationship with somebody at that young of an age and then you spend six years with somebody, you don’t really get to learn about yourself.”
Valderrama’s representatives have been contacted for comment.