The Red Flags We Can't Ignore In Gigi Hadid And Bradley Cooper's Relationship

Supermodel Gigi Hadid has been linked to actor Bradley Cooper since October 2023, when they were spotted out to dinner in New York City. It's not the first time Cooper has made deadlines for an age-gap relationship. After all, who could forget when he was photographed reading "Lolita" in the park with a 21-year-old Suki Waterhouse? However, a 20-year age gap is just the first of many red flags in this relationship between Hadid and Cooper, which is complicated by ex-partners, children, and conflicting schedules.

This couple has been relatively private, but that hasn't prevented Hadid from getting candid about how smitten she is — in a cover profile for the April 2025 issue of Vogue, she described her relationship as "very romantic and very happy" — Cooper's lips are still sealed. We don't know much about this couple but, private or not, we have some prominent concerns about this A-list romance.

Bradley Cooper is more than 20 years older than Gigi Hadid, which is a big red flag. When it comes to romance, some age gaps are better for a successful relationship than others. "Although every age gap relationship is different, there are several reasons why this type of relationship may not work for some couples," wrote counselor Kristin Davin at Choosing Therapy. "Reasons include maturity differences, societal pressures, an emotional disconnect, different priorities, and being in different life stages." Though Cooper and Hadid might have parenthood and career success in common, they likely have different lifestyles, which may lead to relationship tension — no matter how mature Hadid is for her age.

In particular, Cooper's age means he could end up with more power and influence within their dynamic. Hadid's public statements on the relationship — "I feel that he gives so much to me: encouragement and, just, belief," she told Vogue in April 2025 — suggest an almost mentor-mentee dynamic in the couple that may lead to control and resentment down the line, since a significant other should be more of a teammate than a coach. If Cooper's role in Hadid life is more about instructing her, this is probably not a sustainable, equitable partnership.

Despite being photographed on a date in October 2023, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper did not publicly confirm their romantic relationship until March 2025. While it's not unusual for a couple to soft launch their relationship before officially announcing it, a delay in publicly defining the relationship could also hint at commitment issues.

This is particularly apparent in how Hadid's representatives have spoken about the relationship, emphasizing that their connection is casual. "They are having fun," one source told PEOPLE in October 2023. "She's independent, busy, and her days are filled with responsibilities so I don't see anything serious happening right away if at all." The source also indicated that Hadid has long had a crush on Cooper. The intense backpedaling from any true commitment — or relationship definition — coupled with the revelation that Hadid has long had feelings for the "A Star Is Born" actor has "The lady doth protest too much" energy and begs the question of whether Hadid is fully in the driver's seat when it comes to setting the terms of the relationship, no matter how busy and independent she might be. Especially since phrases like "having fun" can mask a multitude of toxic relationships. Situationships aren't all bad, but if one party has stronger feelings, it can lead to hurt. Though Hadid has gradually begun to refer to Cooper as her boyfriend, that alone won't fix the relationship dynamic if one partner is disproportionately defining the relationship.

Dating can inevitably end up being more complicated for single parents who are negotiating co-parenting with an ex and juggling their responsibilities as a caretaker. For Cooper and Hadid, who both are parents to young children, parenthood could mean less time for their burgeoning romance. Of course, being a parent is never a dealbreaker for dating, but Cooper and Hadid are both managing the demands of caring for young children, creating just one more complication in an already complicated relationship. "It's important that your new partner and your children get along," explains psychologist Ann Gold at Psychology Today. "It's also important that your new partner understands that your children are your highest priority." She recommends that parents wait at least nine months before introducing their children to their new partner, which is likely to only further stall Cooper and Hadid as they get their relationship off the ground.

While adding children into the mix of a new relationship is tricky enough, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper are both navigating tenuous co-parenting relationships with their respective exes. When the romantic rumors first swirled, sources for Hadid's ex, Zayn Malik, and Cooper's ex, Irina Shayk, indicated that both were unhappy about the new union. Such tensions are only going to inflame the co-parenting relationships that Hadid and Cooper have with their exes and increase the pressure on the relationship.

In particular, Hadid's relationship with Malik has been the subject of scrutiny, after the former One Direction got into a physical altercation with her mother — suggesting that Malik may be prone to emotional outbursts, controlling behavior, and even physical aggression, all of which could inhibit Hadid from truly moving forward. With both Cooper and Hadid tethered to past partners who resent their new relationship, they will likely face the additional hurdle of building a new connection while still managing conflicts from the past.

Dating is inevitably busy when two people are juggling busy careers. Both Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid have massively successful careers that require extensive travel and time commitments. Hadid travels for modeling work and Cooper, whether acting or directing, is likely to be tethered to movie sets away from home. The good news is Hadid has selected a boyfriend whose career is similar to hers, so this is less of a factor than the red flag in her sister Bella Hadid's relationship with rodeo star Adan Baneulos. Still, such scheduling conflicts can be a barrier to developing a healthy relationship foundation — especially with both partners also juggling parenthood. "In the rush of modern life, the importance of giving time to nurture trust and attachment with our partner gets lost," explained Kristin Rosenthal, a counselor with Mount Vernon Family Therapy.

Even if Cooper and Hadid have a strong attraction, it will take plenty of quality time to nurture that into a sustainable relationship — time that these busy A-listers may not have. But without it, the sense of connection and closeness may not be sustainable. If they're looking for long-term love, they will need to find creative ways to align their schedules and stay connected.