Tracee Ellis Ross Clarifies Comments About Dating Younger Men: ‘I Didn’t Say ‘Men Were Toxic”

July 30, 2025 by C.J. in TV with 0 Comments

Tracee Ellis Ross Clarifies Comments About Dating Younger Men: ‘I Didn’t Say ‘Men Were Toxic”

Tracee Ellis Ross is clearing the air on previous comments she made about her dating life while on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s IMO podcast.

While on IMO in April, the Black-ish star said she typically dates younger men because “a lot of men my age are steeped in a toxic masculinity and have been raised in a culture where there is a particular way that a relationship looks.”

She also referenced a previous conversation where Barack Obama asked her why she dates younger men. She said she told the former POTUS:

“Well, maybe because I can.”

Now she’s clearing the air.

In an interview with SELF magazine published Tuesday, July 29, the Girlfriends alum said of her previous comments:

“The dialogue was fascinating. I didn’t say ‘men were toxic.’ I said they were steeped in toxic masculinity because so am I. The same way that we are steeped in a culture of white supremacy. I know the generosity of how I express things. I also know that if I do things wrong, I’m happy to admit it.”

She added that she’s not interested in serving as the face of “singledom,” “because I am looking for a partner.”

She continued:

“What I don’t mind is being a poster child for living your life on your own terms, for not waiting for partnership to find joy and happiness, for curating and cultivating one’s own sense of self.”