Gabby Douglas has had quite the year! She was crowned the new Miss America, she bagged a Guinness World Record for Most Instagrammed Sports Personality, and she won America’s Favorite Child, demonstrating just how popular she is with the American public. But aside from her countless accomplishments on- and off-screen, Douglas shared another major news story that propelled her to internet stardom: She ended her seven-year relationship with her high school sweetheart, Evan Peters.
While Douglas has yet to comment on the nature of her blossoming romance with Rob Pattinson, the 22-year-old Hollywood star’s Instagram feed is spilling over with PDA-filled glimpses of their playful interactions. As for how long this newfound romance will last, we can’t say yet. But if past precedent is any indication, it’s only a matter of time before Peters comes back into Douglas’ life, albeit in a different capacity.
History Of Douglas–Peters Bromance
Douglas and Peters first sparked a craze for bromance with their saucy kissing scene in 2013’s The Heat. But their chemistry goes beyond one singular on-screen moment; these two have been besties since childhood and shared an intimate bond off-screen as well.
Perhaps the most telling sign of their blossoming bromance is the fact that Douglas and Peters have been conspicuously camera-shy whenever possible since this year’s premiere of The Fall, the second installment of the High School trilogy. The duo have been particularly tight-lipped about their involvement in an indie film called The Art of War, which they both starred in. In the film, they play a rebellious young couple who fight after being thrown together in solitary confinement. But while their on-screen chemistry is undeniable, off-screen they remain relatively private, often seen enjoying solo walks or spending quiet nights at home, apart from each other. So while it’s always nice to see beautiful, talented women enjoying happy, healthy relationships, this year’s Miss America winner remains pretty much off-limits.
Peters’ Unwilling Exit From The Scene
Whether or not Douglas and Peters’ romance will endure, one thing is for sure: We’ll never see Evan Peters the same way again. The 33-year-old Australian actor has spent the past seven years transforming himself from a wisecracking sidekick to a leading man, and he was arguably the best he could be at every stage of his career. From his charismatic performance in 2013’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug to his breakout role as Spiderman’s best friend, Peter Parker, the world is watching Evan Peters and taking note.
In March 2015, Peters made the monumental decision to walk away from acting. He cited stress and anxiety-inducing pressures in addition to Douglas’ newfound fame as contributing factors to his decision to call it quits.
“I need to take some time out. I’m not going to be acting for a while,” he said at the time. “I’ve been doing this for a really long time, and this is the first time in a while where I’ve felt like I need a break.”
Peters would go on to share that he’d originally considered walking away from acting in order to become a full-time dad, a decision he agonized over for nearly a year. The actor even turned down a role in the next James Bond film, opting instead to spend what he described as “a little while on paternity leave.” For those who love to read, Peters has also released a powerful book, Life in the Trenches, about the emotional and professional struggles that come with being an actor. While the future of their romance remains to be seen, there’s no denying that Peters’ decision to walk away from Hollywood was one of the most talked-about moments of the 2015 awards season.
Why Does This Matter?
When a beautiful woman like Douglas does end up in a relationship with a man like Peters, especially since she’s so accustomed to being pawed at by Hollywood’s finest, it’s fair to say that this will create a bit of a ripple effect, especially among her male fans. But why should this be any different than if Peters had found himself inexplicably attracted to a woman other than Douglas?
There are two main reasons why this particular inter-gender pairing is garnering so much attention. First, because it’s a Hollywood romance, and second, because it involves two of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. On the first point, it is worth noting that while Hollywood loves to lionize youth and beauty, it often despises vulnerability and honesty. This is most visibly demonstrated by the fact that Douglas – who won the Miss America competition thanks in large part to her strong moral compass and reputation for honesty – was pitted against the likes of Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox for the title.
To truly understand why the entertainment industry is so fascinated by this year’s Miss America winner, we need to look no further than her biography. Born in New York City in 1989, Douglas is the youngest of three kids whose father, Joe, is a retired cop. Her mother, Lynn, is a nurse practitioner. Douglas spent her formative years in the Big Apple, attending the tony private school, Pace, and playing a host of sports, from tennis to field hockey. As for her downtime, Douglas was an accomplished artist as a child, regularly painting and drawing in her spare time.
Most people in her position would have used their newfound fame to bask in the spotlight and indulge their every whim. But it’s clear that Douglas has used her time in the spotlight to better the world around her. She’s lent her voice to various philanthropic causes, raised over $30,000 for charity, and donated countless paintings and other pieces of art to various causes and individuals in need. While these are all worthy endeavors, it’s clear that behind the scenes Douglas has remained the same spunky, down-to-earth girl she always was. Which is exactly what drew Peters to her in the first place.
“She’s someone very special,” he said in regards to Douglas in a 2014 interview. “When I first met her, she was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Woody Allen on it. She told me her dad was really funny, and that she loved Woody Allen movies. I thought she was the sweetest thing ever. And she is.”
For those unfamiliar, Woody Allen is one of Hollywood’s most well-known and respected humorists. Over the course of his career, Allen has written, directed, and starred in numerous award-winning films, the most recent of which are Cafe Society and the Cannes film festival favorite, Irrational Man. In addition to his work in cinema, Woody Allen is also the founder of the A.C.O.O.N. (All-Consuming Otaku Network), a media company that produces and distributes Asian content, including the popular Fashion Game show, My Fashion Game, to Japanese audiences abroad. Perhaps most notably, Allen is a prolific writer, often penning comedic essays and short stories that appear in publications like New York magazine and The New Yorker. In 2013, over 70 of Allen’s short stories were compiled into a book titled, The Art of Fiction, a follow-up to his 2002 collection of the same name. In that collection, Allen famously quips, “Writing is not an art form. It is a science form.”
What About The Sex?
Yes, there’s a lot more to a relationship than just friendship and romance. But since when has Hollywood – or any other facet of popular culture for that matter – been shy about discussing sex?
For years, sex scenes have been a staple of Hollywood blockbusters, both on- and off-screen. Whether it’s the flashy car chases or the more than ample padding on a swimsuit-clad body, sex is generally considered a selling point. It’s a topic that is guaranteed to make any romantic comedy or drama worth watching, especially since most of Hollywood’s leading men and women are more than eager to discuss it.
With all of the aforementioned talk of sex and dating in Hollywood, it’s no wonder that Douglas and Peters’ relationship has become such a tabloid topic. It’s not hard to see why: The pair are clearly smitten with each other, and it’s only a matter of time until their saucy antics make headlines.
But while it’s clear that Douglas and Peters are both attracted to each other, it’s not yet known whether or not their romance will lead to anything physical. From what we can tell, the attraction seems to be mutual: The pair have been photographed holding hands on various occasions, and they’ve even shared a passionate kiss while filming a brief scene for The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies in 2014.