Fans Debate Whether D’Angelo Was ‘Groomed’ By Angie Stone, Singer Says ‘People Need to Express Their Feelings’

The stereotype of older men dating young women is so common amongst celebrities that most of the people doesn’t listen to it.

But when the tables are turned, and the concept of ​​an “older woman” finding love with much younger men is brought up, it’s often criticized—and sometimes with serious accusations of seduction. Such was the case with a recent post concerning the romance between award-winning neo-soul singers D’Angelo and Angie Stone.

When Instagram user @KnowledgeCjanice recently published An old photo of the couple got people talking about it, and Stone immediately jumped in to silence the naysayers.

The former couple dated for 4 years within the ’90s, starting when she was 30 and he was 19. They collaborated on D’Angelo’s 1995 debut, “Brown Sugar,” which the older divorcee co-wrote and co-produced. The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album.

The couple also collaborated on one other enterprise: their 25-year-old son, Michael Archer II, aka Swayvo Twain. The “No More Rain” singer has publicly admitted that co-parenting with D’Angelo has been a challenge “when the whole world is watching.” Now, some are turning their microscopes back on their former relationship.

Comments ranged from “sugar momma” and “their relationship gives me the creeps” to more serious accusations of seduction and being “predatory as hell,” with one critic posting the next:

“A 30-year-old has nothing on a 19-year-old. Anyone who defends that, in my opinion, would date someone that young if they had the chance. A 19-year-old is still a kid, I don’t know how legal they are.”

However, amidst the wave of criticism, fans expressed support for Stone’s relationship with the award-winning “Lady” singer.

“She saw beauty in him and loved him at his worst when he couldn’t see it himself and just tried to get her when he succeeded. She let the industry get in his ear through someone who loved him,” one fan wrote.

Another added: “Angie, I always come on this site to talk about facts, never tea. You loved him, period, and you were the real one in his corner. No problem. You should have told the truth. I’m thrilled about that.”

This prompted Stone to respond with an exasperated, “Thank you for the truth!!!” The “No More Rain” singer also spoke out to clear up a couple of details, stating that she was 30 on the time of the connection, not 31 or 32.

She also slammed the naysayers. “Be careful what you say, it’s sad that you don’t understand how love works, it’s timeless, it’s ageless and colorless, luckily for us, we found each other. We had a beautiful friendship that turned into a relationship… I was not a predator,” Stone wrote.

She also confirmed that D’Angelo was 19 on the time, noting, “He chased me and I followed him shortly after, so I wasn’t a predator.” She added, “I used to be his friend and guess what, I’m still the perfect friend he’s ever met.

As more comments concerning the “original Puma” began to appear, one other fan tried to indicate the double standards.

“You need to stop exaggerating in this post! He was 20 and she was 32 when they started hanging out! Every time an older black woman dates a younger guy who is ALSO black, you always want to infantilize the man like he’s a little kid getting ready! It’s stupid and annoying!”

Stone agreed, writing, “Well said, men do it and there’s no problem, people need to stop thinking about who I’m hanging out with, we loved each other then and we love each other now, people are so fucking jealous they see it’s ugly but the beauty was clearly in the relationship, in the music, in the magic that jealousy was destroying.”

Stone tried to make clear the facts about their relationship last yr in VladTV in an interview, saying that it was D’Angelo who courted her, not the opposite way around.

“I thought he was older than he was because he had an old soul… At the time, we were just best friends. Over time, we fell in love. All I can tell you is that shit happens,” the 61-year-old said on the time.

The two artists have struggled with personal and legal issues over time, but have each moved on — though Stone has taken to social media comments to defend their past relationship, so there is no doubt she still has respect for the person she once called “the love of her life.”