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Star actors who date the hottest women in the world are increasingly appearing in public with their mothers – and this is causing outrage in a section of society. What is behind this phenomenon?
28-year-old actor Jacob Elordi came with his mother to the 2026 Oscars ceremony, which took place in Los Angeles on the night of March 15-16. They posed together for the cameras, and the actor warmly hugged his mother, gently touching her back – obviously to encourage her. Emily Elordi was a little embarrassed in front of the cameras, and his son did everything to make her feel more comfortable.
The public reaction was unexpectedly harsh. Some suggested that actors who go out with their mothers are actually gay, so they appear in public “undercover.” Others posted emojis with red flags (the public probably saw something more in this picture than a close bond between a mother and her child). It is surprising that in Ukraine, where children are very often raised by single mothers, this manifestation of affection and love is suddenly interpreted as something perverse and shameful.
Perhaps what added fuel to the fire was that Emily looked extremely beautiful, well-groomed, and sexy: slim, in a luxurious evening dress, she was not at all associated with a matron. But social media discussed this as if Elordi had violated an unspoken code of male behavior.
The classic formula of the Hollywood red carpet is well known: an actor arrives with a beautiful partner, preferably a model or actress. This magically confirms his status, sexuality and success in the eyes of society. The audience is used to this game. However, when the mother appears next to the actor, the picture suddenly changes. Instead of erotic intrigue, people become witnesses of family closeness, a strong bond, intimacy – a completely different kind: not romantic, but warm, almost childlike.
Jacob, the youngest of four children, has repeatedly mentioned in interviews that he has a close relationship with his mother, “the most loving, beautiful, angelic person on this planet.” His mother, Emily, an Australian by birth, volunteered in the school cafeteria for a while so that she could spend time with him while he ate the lunch she prepared for him. In an interview with GQ magazine, Elordi said that he calls his mother three or four times a day, and at the age of 15 he promised that if he ever found himself at the Oscars, he would take her with him. And when it finally happened, the hero of “Wuthering Heights” received a portion of toxic comments.
Who knows, maybe the audience expected him to appear on the red carpet in a cape and makeup, by candlelight and accompanied by Margot Robbie?
Meanwhile, Elordi was not the only one who chose the most dear person for the main exit of the year. Michael B. Jordan, the winner of the 2026 Oscar (“Best Actor” in the vampire horror “Sinners”) also came to the Oscars accompanied by his mother. Jordan noted in an interview that he lived with his parents for a long time, loves them very much and appreciates the moments together (“We can't live forever and we have a limited amount of time”). He adds that this experience gave him many funny, sweet and pleasant moments.
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This year's Oscars 2026 is not the first time that star mothers have had their moment of glory. It's a significant shift in the way modern sex symbols present themselves to the public. Star actors, who are used to being seen alongside the hottest women in the world, are increasingly appearing not with models or actresses, but with the women who gave them life and a happy childhood. Among those who have stepped out on the red carpet with their mothers are Leonardo DiCaprio with Irmelin Indenbirken and Bradley Cooper with Gloria Campano.
This is where the paradox lies. We live in a rather brutal culture, where men are expected to be reserved, distant, even cold. Public tenderness between an adult son and his mother seems strange for some reason – especially if this son is also a sex symbol. Society easily accepts the image of an actor next to a supermodel in a revealing dress. But as soon as his mother appears next to him – and he allows himself a simple gesture of tenderness – it causes discomfort.
Interestingly, in other contexts, such closeness seems quite natural. Kate Hudson often comes to events with her mother, actress Goldie Hawn, and it is perceived as a warm family tradition.
However, what we are seeing today is a new form of public sincerity. Modern actors are increasingly demonstrating not only strength, charisma or sexuality, but also vulnerability. They allow themselves to show connections that do not fit into the traditional image of the unattainable alpha hero. And having mom or dad next to them on the red carpet is a very easy way to do this. An example is the actor Alexander Skarsgård, who kissed his father in public.
In a sense, it is a gesture of trust to the public. Behind the image of a man adored by millions, there is a person with a family, a history, a childhood. And this man is not shy about showing who was by his side long before fame. It is also a way for an adult man to show his mother that she is valuable, loved and deserves to share a moment of glory with the one in whose upbringing she invested a lot of love and effort.
A mother's love is just a mother's love. And perhaps the most interesting thing about this phenomenon is that the public still doesn't quite know how to react to it.