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 is.
“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.”
Contestants Theresa Demaria and John Merrill, meanwhile, developed a connection, but their potential age difference created an issue.
“In a regular situation, I would probably want to set you up with my daughter,” Theresa told John, who she thought was “in his 30s.”
John wasn’t as sure that Theresa knew how old he was, adding, “Everyone thinks I’m significantly older than I am. I think I’m gonna shock her. Get your seatbelt on.”
Age of Attraction, which premieres on March 11, is hosted by Nick, 45, and Natalie, 26, who have an 18-year age gap. According to the official synopsis, Age of Attraction shows how “age is thrown out the window when singles search for their soulmates, but will the years come between them?”
Before hosting his own dating show, Nick appeared as a contestant on ABC’s The Bachelorette in 2014. After ending Andi Dorfman’s season as the runner-up, Nick returned one year later to compete for Kaitlyn Bristowe‘s heart — but once again left the final rose ceremony without a fiancée.
Nick had a Bachelor in Paradise stint before finally becoming the Bachelor lead in 2016. He proposed to contestant Vanessa Grimaldi in the season finale, but their relationship fizzled out before they made it down the aisle.
The reality star later found love with Natalie, whom he started dating in 2021.
“We started messaging [online], and I carded her. I wanted to make sure she was a real person,” Viall said about their age difference on a March 2023 episode of “The Squeeze” podcast. “The age at the time, I was very self-conscious about. I was very guarded.”
Natalie recalled realizing that Nick was The One after their first meeting, adding, “I knew after that weekend, I was like, ‘I’m going to spend the rest of my life with this man.’ And I knew it and he didn’t. So I was like, ‘I’m just going to hang on because he’ll come around.’ So I asked him several times to date me.”
The couple got married in 2024 and welcomed their daughter, River, that same year.
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