Madonna recently turned 65 and celebrated with a family getaway in Lisbon. In attendance were her children, Lourdes, Mercy, David, the twins Stella and Estere, and of course, her eldest son, Rocco. Also present was Madonna’s new 29-year-old boxer boyfriend, Joshua Popper, who met Rocco, who is six years younger than him.
Madonna and Joshua met at his boxing studio in New York City, where he was teaching her son, David, boxing techniques. The pair sparked dating rumors after he shared a snap of the pop star holding his arm and nestling her face into his shoulder.
Joshua was supportive when Madonna fell ill
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Madonna confirmed the news of their relationship in March with a snap of them kissing in ski masks. “Killers who are partying,” she captioned the photo. While recovering from the severe bacterial infection that landed her in the ICU, Madonna found a supportive partner in Joshua.
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Despite the controversial 36-year age gap between them, the pair have remained inseparable. Close associates of Madonna claimed Joshua’s presence helped speed up her recovery and helped her regain her strength. Despite the thoughts and reservations about their relationship, neither duo has commented publicly about it.
She has dated younger men in the past
Before Joshua, Madonna had been married twice and partnered with men younger than her. Her first marriage to Sean Penn lasted four years, after which she married Guy Ritchie from 2000 to 2008. Her most recent relationship with 29-year-old dancer Ahlamalik Williams lasted three years until April 2022.
In a 2012 interview with ABC News, the singer was asked why she opts for men younger than her, and she responded, “I didn’t choose to, you know, I didn’t, like, write down on a piece of paper, ‘I’m now going to have a relationship with a younger man,” she said. “That’s just what happened. You see, that’s the romantic in me. I just met someone that I cared for, and this happened to be his age.”