Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are facing criticism for their decision to become fathers in their later years, with some labeling their choice as “selfish” and “creepy.”
The news broke recently that Al Pacino’s 29-year-old girlfriend is expecting their child, which will be Pacino’s fourth.
Similarly, Robert De Niro welcomed his seventh child into the world last month, revealing the news during an interview for his latest film.
With Pacino at 83 years old and De Niro at 79, they will be 101 and 97, respectively, when their children reach the milestone age of 18.
Jaci Stephen, a journalist, has taken issue with these esteemed actors becoming fathers at such advanced ages. In an op-ed for the Daily Mail, she criticized them, labeling their actions as “selfish” and “creepy,” and expressed her discomfort with the idea.
She wrote, “In contrast to the gushing celebrations from De Niro’s celeb pals, I found the whole thing rather creepy – and not a little bit sad.”
Stephen went on to mention the limited time these older fathers will have to create lasting memories with their children, emphasizing the disparity in societal reception between older fathers and older mothers.
She also drew attention to a statement made by Al Pacino himself, where he discussed his own father abandoning him at the tender age of two.
In an interview with The New Yorker in 2014, Pacino expressed his desire to be present in his children’s lives, recognizing the impact of his own absent father.
He said, “Having children has helped a lot. I consciously knew that I didn’t want to be like my dad. I wanted to be there.”
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are not the only celebrity fathers who have chosen to have children later in life. Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula 1 boss, surprised many when he announced that he was expecting his fourth child at the age of 89.
Mick Jagger, the frontman of The Rolling Stones, also became a father for the eighth time at the age of 73.
Stephen concludes her piece by reiterating her belief that these older fathers may not have sufficient time to form lasting connections with their children.
She remarks, “The hard reality for geriatric dads like De Niro, and now Pacino, is that they’ll barely live long enough to be remembered by their new babies.”
The decisions of Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and other older celebrity fathers have sparked a debate surrounding the age at which individuals should become parents and the potential impact on their children’s lives.
