Celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 15:44 03 Aug 2026 GMT
Sarah Paulson has vehemently defended her relationship with long-term partner Holland Taylor, now 83, against people who criticize the couple's significant age difference.
The 51-year-old Emmy-winning actress has repeatedly addressed the public fascination with their romance, insisting that love should never be judged by age.
Paulson and Taylor have been together since 2015, becoming one of Hollywood's most enduring couples.
Over the years, their relationship has attracted a huge amount of public attention because of the more than 30-year age gap between them.
Speaking to Harper's Bazaar, Paulson made it clear that she has little patience for people who speak negatively about their relationship. She passionately defended Taylor, saying she becomes fiercely protective whenever anyone makes cruel remarks about her 11-year relationship.
The actress believes much of the criticism stems from society's discomfort around aging, saying: "Our own ageist thinking and the idea that to be old is to cease to have any desire."
Defending her partner, Paulson added: “Anybody says anything about any person I love in a way that is disrespectful or cruel and I want to cut a b***h."
According to the Goldfinch star, many people struggle with the idea that older adults can still experience romance, passion, and fulfilling relationships.
Despite the occasional negativity, Paulson has said that the overwhelming response to her relationship has been positive. She acknowledged that being in the public eye can make personal relationships feel like public property, but she has remained committed to living life on her own terms rather than according to other people's expectations.
In an interview with The New York Times, the actress explained: “My choices in romantic partners have not been conventional, and therefore the idea that it is 'other' makes it compelling.”
Paulson added: “If my life choices had to be predicated based on what was expected of me from a community on either side, that’s going to make me feel really straitjacketed, and I don’t want to feel that.
“What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and that person happens to be Holland Taylor.”
More than a decade after they first went public, Paulson and Taylor continue to challenge stereotypes surrounding age-gap relationships. Their willingness to speak openly about ageism has resonated with many fans, helping to spark wider conversations about outdated attitudes toward aging and romance.
