Four Warning Signs in Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff’s Marriage

Though a big age gap isn’t necessarily a red flag, it has the potential to be one. Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff were born 11 years apart, which is eight years more than science suggests is the best age gap for a successful relationship. Qualley was 28 when she tied the knot with the musician, who was 39.

Often, people are in different life stages in their late 20s than their late 30s. As relationship expert Susan Winter, author of “Older Women, Younger Men: New Options for Love and Romance,” told us while confirming if a 10-year age gap is bad, the significantly older person can sometimes unintentionally take on a guardian role in their relationship. “While certainly the senior partner has had more life experience, this impulse can feel like control or manipulation to the younger partner,” Winter explained. But there are several other reasons why significant age gaps can cause romances to break down too, from power imbalances to not sharing the same life experiences or interests. 

To ensure they last, Qualley and Antonoff need to prioritize strong communication. “To navigate an age-gap relationship successfully, it’s important for couples to have open communication and be willing to discuss difficult topics rather than avoid them,” Justin Lehmiller, Ph.D., author and sex and psychology research fellow at The Kinsey Institute, told Prevention.

Jack Antonoff seemingly proposed to Margaret Qualley after less than a year of dating. The two publicly confirmed their romance when they were spotted kissing on the streets of the Big Apple in August 2021 and just nine months later, a source confirmed to People they were engaged. Every relationship is unique and only the people in them know when it’s the right time to take the next step, but couples who move too fast may find they end up in Splitsville.

“Whirlwind romances are very exciting — but many times they leave a trail of destruction in their wake as they wind down and fail. When people get too involved, too quickly, they tend not to get to know each other,” relationship and etiquette expert April Masini told Elite Daily. Equally, dating and attraction coach Emily Freeman highlighted the value of couples getting to know each other over time before jumping into a serious commitment. “It’s important to know your partner and experience them in different situations and seasons of their life. The people I see have the most success, commit to continuing to learn about themselves, their relationship and their partner. And they choose partners who do the same,” she told The Knot.

Around the time of Jack Antonoff’s split with Lena Dunham after five years together, rumors swirled on social media suggesting he may have cheated on the “Girls” star with Lorde. “Jack antonoff cheated on his girlfriend with lorde and they had 13 year age gap at the time,” one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, while another even made a viral PowerPoint presentation breaking down the supposed evidence of the affair. Antonoff, however, denied the allegations in a since deleted tweet. “[N]ormally i would never address rumors but i resent having the most important friendships and working relationships in my life reduced to dumb hetero normative gossip. those relationships are deeply important and sacred,” he wrote (via People). “[W]ith that said, i’m not seeing anyone. lol.”

Notably, though, Lorde had some interesting things to say about their relationship during a 2021 interview with The New York Times. “He’s like a partner to me. We’re in a relationship. It’s not a romantic relationship, but we’ve been in it for seven years, and it’s a really unique thing, so I don’t begrudge people maybe not being able to understand it,” she said.

But while neither Dunham, Lorde, nor Antonoff confirmed the cheating speculation, if there was any truth to the rumors, that may cause an issue for Antonoff and Margaret Qualley. Kalley Hartman, LMFT at Ocean Recovery, exclusively gave us advice for trusting someone who has cheated before. Using Hartman’s advice, for them to go the distance, it’s important Antonoff explains the past circumstances to Qualley in his own words, as potential past infidelity may cause insecurity and mistrust. “Make sure that you both agree on boundaries or guidelines for the relationship going forward so that everyone feels secure and respected,” she said.

Though both Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff are stars in the spotlight, their net worths are vastly different. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Taylor Swift’s frequent collaborator has $50 million, while Qualley is worth $3 million. Though many couples have disproportionate earnings and still go the distance, a person with $50 million has the potential to live a widely different lifestyle compared to someone who has $47 million less. If the two decide to pool their money and share it equally, they may not encounter too many problems. However, if they decide to keep their incomes separate, Antonoff may find he has to dial back on some luxuries to live a lifestyle Qualley can afford.

While pinpointing Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ relationship red flags, Nicole Moore, celebrity relationship expert and “Love Works” podcast host, exclusively told us power can often come into play when money is involved, too. “While couples having disparate incomes is not always a problem, in some couples it turns into a power struggle dynamic,” she said. Oftentimes, the breadwinner may feel they deserve more say in their relationship or may be less inclined to contribute to household chores. If that’s the case here, it could be a red flag.