“I’m Not a Prize, I’m a Person”—Tracee Ellis Ross Keeps It Real
Tracee Ellis Ross ain’t sugarcoating a thing. While chatting on The Light Podcast with Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson, she got a littler person and explained why she’s not subscribing to outdated relationship dynamics.
Right out the gate, she addressed why she often finds herself vibing with younger men—and it’s deeper than people think.
“A lot of men my age are steeped in a toxic masculinity and have been raised in a culture where there is a particular way that a relationship looks,” Ross said. “Anything that starts to smell of that, for me… I did enough of it where I was controlled and felt like I was a possession—or a prize. And I have no interest in it. I will not do it again. I’m sorry. No.”
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Grief, Growth, and Owning Her Timeline
Society loves putting pressure on women to follow a specific script: love, marriage, babies. But Ross broke free from that playbook a long time ago, even though she admits the grief still lingers.
“I grieve the things that I thought would be and that are not,” she said. “I’m not married. I don’t have children… and I think I grieve that at times.”
Now, don’t get it twisted. Just because she’s grieved it doesn’t mean she’s desperate for a man to fill that space.
“As much grief does surface for me around not having children and not having a partner… I still wouldn’t want the [wrong] partner. I am not interested in that, you have to make my life better it can’t just be I’m in a relationship just to be in a relationship,” Ross explained.
Dating in Her 50s: The “Fascinating Adventure”
Tracee Ellis Ross ain’t out here bitter…she’s living. When Michelle asked her about dating, she made it clear that she’s not waiting around to be rescued.
“I do date and it’s a fascinating adventure out there,” the actress reflected.
And she’s aware of how unique she is.
“Mostly though, I think there’s really good men out there. I think to a certain extent, I’m a very unique sort of unicorn of a woman and so it’s gonna take a unique person and in the meantime I’ve really learned how to live my life and enjoy it and not sit around waiting.”
That’s the energy we love.
“I do have to say I’m moving up on what it is that I’m looking for as a match.”
Translation: If he can’t match her peace and power, he can’t sit at the table.
