There comes a time when every parent starts to dole out dating advice — much to the delight or mortification of their child. And for Scarlett Johansson, that time has already come. The Guardians of the Galaxy star revealed on Today with Jenna and Friends that she has been giving candid dating advice to her tween daughter Rose who she shares with ex-husband Romain Dauriac.
“I just had this conversation with my 10-year-old daughter about ghosting because there was this little boy that liked her, and then she wasn’t feeling the same,” Johansson said while guest co-hosting the show. “She just stopped talking to him straight up and he felt terrible.”
ICYMI: “Ghosting” is when one of the people just disappears if they aren’t interested. Instead of calling things off, they — much like a ghost — leave without a trace. It’s a common and convenient strategy for people like Johansson who “hate” confrontation, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to handle things.
“It really makes the other person feel terrible about themselves,” Johansson said, per People. “It kind of sets them on this spiral.”
The actress — who also shares 3-year-old son Cosmo with husband Colin Jost — told Rose (and viewers) that she would prefer an actual breakup (IRL or even on the phone) over being ghosted. At least then you know it’s over (there’s no limbo!) and can say, “‘OK, I get it, I could process this.'” Sure, it might not be fun to hear that the person doesn’t like X,Y, or Z about you, but at least you’re not left imagining a whole alphabet of reasons why you’ve been abandoned.
“Honestly being ghosted is awful because you’re just left with no answers at all and you’re thinking, ‘Oh my god, did I do something?'” Johansson said. “It haunts you for years.”
And no, that’s not just a perfectly-timed play on words. Being ghosted really can be haunting. There’s no way to contact the person (Ouijia boards won’t help!) and there’s no sense of closure.
We don’t know if Johansson has discussed other dating terms with Rose. Have they talked about the “talking stage?” Have they launched into the different kinds of “launches?” Have they dissected the ever-infuriating “situationship?” We don’t know at this point. What we do know is that the Black Widow star is doing her best to raise a daughter who dumps instead of disappears. It’s harder, but, in a way, it’s so much kinder.
These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.
Leave a Comment