Demi Lovato and Keke Palmer discuss teenage relationships with adult men on podcast

Demi Lovato and Keke Palmer reflect on past age-gap relationships as teens on 'Baby, This Is Keke Palmer'

Demi Lovato and Keke Palmer have spoken about their experiences of being in relationships with adult men as teenagers during a recent podcast conversation.

Lovato, 33, appeared on the latest episode of the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast, where the two performers reflected on their early years in the entertainment industry. The discussion turned to their teenage relationships while they were working as child performers.

“For me I actually was like, if you're going to I had this like mantra that was like if you're going to work me like an adult, I'm going to party like an adult. And I got into some bad stuff at a young age and that's when I started like self-medicating,” Lovato said. “I wish that, you know, I had stayed more focused.”

She continued: “Obviously, I think the course of my life would have gone in a different direction, meaning like I wouldn't have maybe struggled as much with substances later down the road, but everything happens for a reason. I'm sitting here in this state of mind today, like, grateful for everything that I've been through. It was really challenging. There wasn't a lot of time for play, but when I did, I played pretty hard.”

Palmer, 32, then referenced her own experiences. “I feel like people don't understand that that's what we was dealing with, you know? I found myself dating. I'm 15. Why is my boyfriend 20?”

Lovato replied, “Why was my boyfriend 30? You know what I’m saying?”

Reflecting on hindsight, Lovato said: “But then you look back in hindsight. When I turned 30, I was like, that's not okay.” Palmer added: “Oh, I was being exploited.”

The pair also discussed how such dynamics felt normal at the time. Lovato noted, “Especially if you’re mature for your age.”