Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey are Instagram officials. After months of dating rumors, the pair posted matching portraits on Sunday night.
“Favorites!” Gabrielle Union wrote in response to the couple’s passionate photos. “I love it! Congratulations!” D-Nice added. “BEAUTIFUL”, commented Malika Haqq.
But other reactions were not so kind. In fact, many – especially those on Twitter – focused on Harvey’s dating story, ridiculing the 24-year-old for “going over” celebrities.
It is true that Harvey, a model (and, yes, stepdaughter of television personality Steve Harvey), had previous relationships. She was linked to rapper Future, Trey Songz, Justin Combs (and later her father, Sean “Diddy” Combs); she was also engaged to the Dutch football player Memphis Depay in 2017. It is not the number of men she has been with that makes her unique. The number, in fact, makes it incredibly normal. What makes Harvey stand out is the celebrity aspect of it all.
If we normalized “dating,” it wouldn’t be an argument about how many men Lori Harvey dated.
– Laycee💕 (@layyccee) January 11, 2021
So, they do what they always do. They shame and taint liberated women in the hope that we will return to the line and simply accept being “married” by a man with nothing but the minimum and no personality, goals or ambition to offer. Make no mistake, they are afraid.
– Ambrosia ™ Freelance Hottie® (@ambrosia_omG) January 11, 2021
Lori Harvey is no pioneer, have you not dated before? She didn’t discover lmao dating
– Queen D. (@radricadavis_) January 11, 2021
Lori Harvey has not yet dated many people. It’s just that all the men she went out with were prominent. People need to relax
– Ann Marie Lastrassi stan (@naledimashishi) January 11, 2021
While the judgment is generally unjustified, the negative attention directly focused on Harvey brings up another point: why was his male counterpart protected from punishment? Jordan, 33, has also been linked to other women, including musician Snoh Aalegra, Lupita Nyong’o and KiKi Layne.
La’Toya Hart, founder of the Heartbreak Clinic, a resource that aims to help women heal from heartbreak through courses and other tools, attributes the unilateral reaction to society’s double standards.
“Historically, men are celebrated for having an extensive dating history,” Hart told Yahoo Life. “This is evident in the shared opinions about Michael and Lori’s dating story. Although both have a history, many have recognized only Lori’s past. Having an extensive dating history has subjected many women to ridicule and judgment; the traditional view is that women’s history should be limited or not have one. The reality is that dating allows men and women to explore; It takes time, experience and maturity to learn what you want from a partner. “
Hart notes that one of the most important things a woman can do is decide what she wants in a partner and what she is willing to give up, something she praises Harvey for doing.
“Lori Harvey’s dating story over the years shows that she is a woman who knows her worth and the value she brings to a relationship, and she is committed to being with someone who meets those expectations,” explains Hart. “The perception may be that she is an opportunist or someone who ‘walks around’ due to the double standards of society, now, it is time for all women to challenge this narrative. Women must feel empowered to challenge the status quo and pursue the things they desire. “
Although dating has changed over the years, Hart says that many people’s views still need to catch up.
“The natural solution to this problem is to challenge traditional views and ensure that social gatherings are adjusted to ensure that they are more inclusive,” she notes. “When a woman finds the courage to let go, the most important thing we can do is offer love, support and encouragement without judgment.”
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