Demi Lovato opens up about feeling EXPLOITED in past relationships with older men; asks 'Why was my boyfriend 30?'

Demi Lovato opened up to Keke Palmer like never before. The singer and actress, who joined Keke on her podcast, reflected on her teenage years in the spotlight and how her past relationships with men twice her age now feel troubling.Speaking on Palmer’s podcast, 'Baby, This Is Keke Palmer', the two former child stars discussed how fame shaped their perceptions of romance and maturity. "I’m fifteen, why was my boyfriend 20?" Palmer, asked during the conversation, which prompted Lovato, to share, "Why was my boyfriend 30?" Demi Lovato and Keke Palmer on 'inappropriate' relationshipsThe two went on to describe what they thought was an “inappropriate” relationship. “Girl, damn,” Palmer said and added, "I’m not smiling at that but that is real. We were trying to find outlets, though, and just a way to process this. The moment when you realise and you get to the age of a lot of people that were around you and doing stuff, it’s almost a mental break that can happen because you realise, ‘You were taking advantage. Oh, I was being exploited.’"Both stars, who began working at a young age, shared that their careers gave them a heightened sense of maturity. Palmer added that having an older boyfriend "seemed normal in my mind."Lovato shared her sentiment, adding, "Especially if you’re an older soul, too. Especially if you’re mature for your age."Demi Lovato on using music to 'heal'Lovato previously dated Wilmer Valderrama for six years before they parted ways in 2016. In 2022, she addressed the 12-year age-gap in her song '29'. While Lovato has not publicly confirmed who inspired the track, she encouraged Palmer to listen, saying, "I also wrote a song about that. It’s called ‘29’ and when you listen to it I think you’ll be able to relate to it."Lovato, who married Jordan Lutes in May 2025, added that revisiting past romances through her music has been part of her healing process.