Nick Viall Natalie Joy Respond To Criticism Of 18 Year Age Gap And

Emily Johnson

-Mar 12, 2026, 11:07 AM

nick viall natalie joy respond to criticism of 18 year age gap and

Former Bachelor Nick Viall proposed to Natalie Joy last year after 2 1/2 years of dating. Last year, the couple welcomed their first child together, daughter River Rose, then tied the knot in a gorgeous Georgia farm wedding a few months later. Now, the couple is responding to criticisms about age gap relationships on their podcast “The Viall Files” and sharing why their 18-year gap is different. Nick is 44 years old and Natalie is 25, and in response to how they feel about the difference in age, Nick said, “Age gaps are in.” He then shared that the thing that matters to him most when it comes to age gap relationships are looks. The Bachelor alum Nick Viall—who is 18 years older than his wife Natalie Joy—addressed the idea of large age gaps in relationships, explaining that "looks matter."

Age is only a number to Nick Viall—with some exceptions. The Bachelor Nation star, 44, and his wife Natalie Joy, 25, got candid about age gaps after it was announced that the upcoming 10th season of Bachelor in Paradise will feature stars from The... "Age gaps are in," Nick quipped during the March 26 episode of The Viall Files podcast. "I always say, when it comes to age gaps, looks matter." However, his guest co-host Victoria Fuller had a different opinion about seniors and 20-somethings dating, calling it "disgusting." Nick and Natalie’s 18-year age gap colors the hosts’ approach, the show’s premise, and the contestant dynamics in “Age of Attraction.”

Netflix is leaning into a simple question with Age of Attraction: can romance work when age stops being the first filter? The dating series, hosted by Nick Viall and Natalie Joy, asks singles to connect before they know one another’s real ages. The cast spans people from their 20s to their late 50s, which makes age more than a side detail. It is the whole social test. That setup also explains why Viall and Joy are at the center of the series. Their marriage already sits inside the exact debate the show wants to explore.

Multiple entertainment outlets have described their relationship as having an 18-year age gap, and both have spoken publicly about how that shaped their approach to hosting. Reality dating shows often need a hook strong enough to feel fresh. In this case, Netflix is not only selling a format. It is selling the idea that the hosts understand the tension from lived experience. Tudum says the series “throws age out the window” as singles search for soulmates, and it directly frames Viall and Joy as the married couple guiding that experiment. That matters because Age of Attraction is not about small age differences.

According to Netflix and People, contestants range roughly from 22 to 59 or 60. The show is built to create moments where people must confront assumptions fast. A host pair with a widely discussed age-gap marriage makes that premise feel less abstract. Netflix’s buzzy age gap dating show has finally arrived! The first 5 episodes of Age of Attraction hit the streamer today (Wednesday, March 11), and are hosted by none other than former Bachelor star Nick Viall and his wife and Viall Files co-host,... "When we first met, I had a lot of nervousness, and reservations and fears about why we wouldn't work, and I got in my head," Nick told E!

News last year, while chatting about their age difference. "It was just about removing those fears, and not operating from a place of fear, but looking at what was great about our relationship.” He added of Age of Attraction, "This is a show that allows people to just meet people, [by] getting rid of some of those preconceived notions and barriers, and focus on 'Is there chemistry? Is there compatibility?’ That was something that was really exciting for us, because we obviously relate to that." Meanwhile, Natalie said "We obviously have an age gap and it's something that has been talked about, whether good, whether bad. This is something that going into it—it's a bright light on age differences and relationships of age differences."

Age of Attraction’s first five episodes are available to streaming right! now! Meanwhile, Netflix will drop another three episodes on Wednesday, March 18, and the final episode drops Wednesday, March 25! The Bachelor Nick Viall and his wife Natalie Joy have one of the most successful podcasts on air. They talk to multiple reality stars, give relationship advice and even talk about their own life together. In a recent episode of The Viall Files, Nick and Natalie dove into their huge age gap.

What did they have to say about the criticism they receive for it? Keep reading to get all the details. Bachelor Nick Viall and his wife Natalie Joy spoke of their big age difference on a recent episode of The Viall Files. Nick is 44 while Natalie is only 25 years old. The two began dating after she slid into his DMs. After more than two years of dating, he popped the question.

Natalie ended up pregnant before they made it down the aisle, They welcomed their first daughter River Rose early last year. They married a few months later in Georgia with their daughter in tow. Since then, the couple has recently endured two miscarriages. They do hope to expand their family soon. But, what about the big age gap? Nick says that age gaps are in.

He also feels like looks matter when in a relationship with a large age gap. He said, “I always say, when it comes to age gaps, looks matter.” Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise alum Victoria Fuller chimed in and said she’s not comfortable with relationships that have big age gaps. She said, “That’s a grandfather… I’m going to throw up. It’s disgusting.” AceShowbiz - The age gap in relationships has once again taken center stage as Bachelor Nation stars Nick Viall and his wife, Natalie Joy, open up about their thoughts on the subject.

This discussion was sparked by the upcoming 10th season of "Bachelor in Paradise", which will feature contestants from "The Golden Bachelor" and "The Golden Bachelorette". Viall, 44, quipped on the March 26 episode of "The Viall Files" podcast, "Age gaps are in," and added a light-hearted remark, "I always say, when it comes to age gaps, looks matter." His... However, not everyone shared Viall's humorous take. Guest co-host Victoria Fuller voiced a starkly contrasting opinion, especially concerning relationships between seniors and significantly younger partners. She didn't mince words, saying, "that's a grandfather. I'm going to throw up."

Her bluntness elicited laughter from Viall's own much-younger wife, Natalie. Impersonating her friend's disapproval, 25-year-old Natalie joked, "I wasn't comfortable to say it at your wedding, but your age gap is disgusting." Despite the jesting, Fuller clarified her stance, emphasizing that she has no issue with Natalie and Nick's 18-year age gap, stating, "You're not her grandfather." In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies Nick Viall and Natalie Joy’s Netflix dating show, Age of Attraction, is encouraging age-gap romances. Netflix released the first look on Thursday, January 29, which introduced a group of singles ranging from 22 to 59 years old as they navigate their chemistry — without knowing how old everyone else...

“When you tell people your age, they put a stigma to that,” a contestant shared while another added, “The truth is, when love is there and love is real, age won’t matter.” Some participants immediately had some concerns. “I don’t know if these guys are my age, my dad’s age, my grandpa’s age,” a woman said. “I’m getting nervous.”

Nick Viall Natalie Joy Respond To Criticism Of 18 Year Age Gap And

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