Harry Styles is at the centre of a big discussion about double standards in dating

Certified heartthrob Harry Styles has managed to find himself at the centre of a big discussion around double standards in dating. 

Over the weekend, photos emerged of Styles holding hands with actor and director Olivia Wilde, whose new movie he is set to star in.

As seemingly innocuous as the act of holding hands may be, the rumour mill has been set alight with whispers that the pair have recently begun dating.

A source told PEOPLE that Styles and Wilde attended a wedding together and that they “looked very happy” while being “affectionate around their friends”.

Already, many of the headlines surrounding the potential new couple seem to focus on their 10-year age gap.

Given that Wilde was ten years younger than her previous partner Jason Sudeikis, several fans are questioning whether there is a gendered element to the discussion around their ages.

“People can stop calling Olivia Wilde a cougar now… the age difference between her and Harry Styles is the same as the gap between her and Jason Sudeikis,” one Twitter user wrote.

“So it’s ok for Zack Braff to date Florence Pugh who is young enough to be his daughter but y’all are freaking out and are disgusted by Olivia Wilde possibly dating Harry Styles? Lol we love double standards,” another added.

It seems the discourse around a woman dating a younger man isn’t the only double standard to have already emerged from this news, however.

Indeed, fans of Lizzo have also pointed out that the media did not assume she was dating Styles when she held hands with him at an awards show last year.

“When Harry held hands with Lizzo they were just friends. When Harry holds hands with someone who is apparently “his type” they’re dating. Y’all see the problem??” a twitter user wrote.

Another added: “interesting that the media and articles have automatically assumed that harry styles has dated/been with every single woman he’s friends with EXCEPT Lizzo…wonder why that is.” 

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