The 19-year-old at the heart of the controversy in Moja Love’s reality show, ‘Sugar Mamas’. Picture: X Screenshot /@MojaLoveTv
South Africans have been left stunned after a recent episode of “Sugar Mamas” on Moja Love, which featured a 42-year-old woman in a relationship with a 19-year-old man.
The reality TV show, known for diving into unconventional relationships, has sparked heated debate and drawn criticism on social media.
“Sugar Mamas” gives viewers an inside look at the lives of older women who date much younger men, who are referred to as “sugar babies”.
Each episode shows viewers their personal stories, motivations and the unique challenges of these relationships.
The latest episode seems to have hit a nerve with viewers.
A snippet from the show showing the couple with a 23 year age gap has gone viral, and fans didn’t hold back in sharing their opinion.
The reactions on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) varied from disbelief to outright disgust.
One post read: “This is sick. What on earth would a 42-year-old mother of three have in common with a 19-year-old BOY??? Ay Moja Love kodwa.”
This is sick..
— Former Kleva Black🇿🇦 🇿🇦#FreeCongo#FreeSudan (@SneKhumaloSA) January 13, 2025
What on earth would a 42 year old mother of 3 have in common with a 19 year old BOY???I
Ay Moja Love kodwa pic.twitter.com/4h8gFj7DPb
Many have pointed out the apparent double standards in how society views relationships with significant age gaps.
User @SALEM_WORD added: “Now make the ages vice versa and see the outrage. This is why I never attack men because we have double standards.”
This comment highlights the broader societal issue of gender biases in age-gap relationships, where older men dating younger women is often more socially accepted.
Some viewers took aim at Moja Love itself, accusing the channel of exploiting controversial relationships for ratings.
User @MzMabaso wrote: “Moja Love is a crime scene shame, their shows are the worst.”
The sentiment was echoed by @Marytee429, who demanded: “This channel must be cancelled 🚮.”
This channel must be cancelled 🚮
— Unbothered (@Marytee429) January 14, 2025
While the episode has clearly struck a chord with viewers, it also opened up a wider conversation about the complexities of relationships that challenge societal norms.
User @samjamsta added a nuanced perspective: “This is something else, what about 50 years old guys dating or sleeping even having babies with 19 years old girls. Too much going on in this crazy world.
“But the boy is just fulfilling the fantasy of having a MILF. I guess he watch too much PornHub.”
This comment brings about the complicated and often controversial nature of relationships with significant age differences, highlighting that the conversation is far from one-sided.
“Sugar Mamas” might be pushing boundaries but it also reflects pertinent societal issues.
Whether for or against it, the reactions show that these conversations are necessary, even if they make us uncomfortable.
It looks like this couple took Aaliyah's "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number" to heart.