Red Flags In Sydney Sweeney And Jonathan Davino's Relationship

Sydney Sweeney and Jonathan Davino got engaged in 2022. They were first spotted together in 2018, but the two were evasive with the press and kept their romance to themselves. Sweeney admitted that she was loathe to comment on her private life. Fair enough. In an interview with Glamour UK in 2023, Sweeney said, "Also, I've never really shared that much [about my relationship], so the press loves to create drama in stories." Later in the interview, she explained why she likes to keep quiet about her love life. "Everyone is always so curious about who I'm with and what's that like, but I think it's important to have something for me," she went on. "I'm very open [otherwise]. I talk about so much and sometimes it gets me in trouble, but I do try to keep something for me."

Sweeney certainly kept quiet for much of her relationship with Davino; however, once the pair got engaged, the relationship took on a public persona of its own, which is inevitable after hitting that kind of milestone. While her romance with Davino has become more accessible to her fans, it also means that red flags have emerged. To break those down with us, Women spoke with Janet Bayramyan, LCSW from Road to Wellness to discuss them. We tackled age gaps, financial independence and the complicated role money plays in romance, as well as the phenomenon of privacy that this couple is so keen to inhabit. 

Sydney Sweeney and Jonathan Davino are extraordinarily private about their relationship. Neither has spoken publicly about how they met, and it's unclear when or where exactly this happened. In an era of self-disclosure and publicity, it seems unusual to encounter a couple so deeply confidential. To understand this more fully, Women spoke with Janet Bayramyan to discuss the potential red flags here, or the possibility of green ones. 

"The decision to keep a relationship private isn't inherently a red flag — it often reflects a desire for personal boundaries, especially for public figures like Sydney Sweeney," Bayramyan begins. "Keeping the details of their relationship out of the public eye can help Sweeney and Davino maintain a sense of normalcy and authenticity." Our expert notes that public scrutiny can be very destructive for a relationship, so it makes sense that Sweeney and Davino are committed to staying quiet about their romance. However, there is one way in which excessive privacy can be a red flag. "If the desire for privacy comes predominantly from one partner, it could suggest an imbalance," Bayramyan adds. "For example, is one partner insisting on secrecy to avoid scrutiny or accountability for their behavior? If so, that could be a concern." Bayramyan explains that so long as both partners agree on remaining private, it's not an issue. The problem would arise if there are disparate wishes. However, for Sweeney and Davino, it seems like they're on the same page.

Because Sydney Sweeney and Jonathan Davino have a 13-year age gap, some have wondered if Sweeney is with Davino for financial security. However, Sweeney clapped back at that criticism and said that she's completely financially independent in her relationships and pays for all of her things; There's no financial incentive in her relationship with Davino, and money can be tricky in relationships. After all, your partner's income level can affect their attraction toward you. Plus, it's crucial to champion your independence when you get into a new relationship, and money is a big part of this. 

With money on our minds, we spoke with Janet Bayramyan about this phenomenon between the couple. "Sweeney's insistence on financial independence is not inherently a red flag; in fact, it can be viewed as a positive indicator of her personal values and boundaries in a relationship," she explains. "Sweeney's focus on financial independence reflects a desire to maintain her own agency, which can help create a balanced and equitable partnership." Bayramyan fully supports this decision, but notes one area where it could be hard on Sweeney. "Publicly insisting on independence could stem from feeling overly pressured to prove her worth or deflect judgment about her relationship," Bayramyan adds. Nevertheless, if this arrangement works for both Sweeney and Davino, they should feel empowered to continue a dynamic that works for them.

Let's be honest. Age gaps in relationships tend to get a lot of attention. They can also be roundly criticized based on the assumption that the younger partner has less power. There's even an ideal age gap in a relationship, according to science. Since Sydney Sweeney was 24 and Jonathan Davino was 40 when they got engaged, people had a lot to say on the topic. So we asked Janet Bayramyan whether or not there were any red flags around their ages. She stresses that there's nothing inherently wrong with age gaps in romantic partnerships, but it is worth keeping an eye out for potential problems. 

"While age differences can be healthy and functional, they may sometimes lead to power imbalances, particularly if one partner was quite young when the relationship began," Bayramyan says. "It's worth reflecting on how life experience and maturity levels were aligned when the relationship started." Bayramyan adds that being a celebrity can add stress for a couple. "Public rumors (such as those about Sweeney's working relationships with co-stars) can add strain to any relationship," she said. So a big problem would be if Davino started expressing jealousy or distrust around tabloid gossip. Sweeney and Davino have very different lives. He's a businessman while she's a global superstar. We can only hope that the difference in age, life experience, and career paths adds enrichment to their relationship, rather than stress and jealousy.