'Mother and Son': Sam Taylor-Johnson, 58, Congratulates Her Husband, 35, on His Birthday, Igniting Heated Debates

Over a decade since they tied the knot, the Taylor-Johnsons still capture attention for their age gap. Last week, a birthday post sparked a fresh wave of reactions online.

On Friday, June 13, 2025, filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson celebrated her husband Aaron Taylor-Johnson's 35th birthday with a simple post on Instagram.

The photo showed Aaron seated across a table, playing cards in what appeared to be multiple cozy moments between the couple. Alongside the pictures, Sam wrote, "Happy Birthday Mon Amour ❤️ Je t'aime ❤️."

The post quickly attracted attention, not just for the affectionate message, but for the conversation it reignited about their 23-year age gap. Several people took to social media to share their thoughts, some of which were sharply critical.

One Facebook commenter wrote, "Mother and son?" Another added, "Is that his mom?" On Instagram, someone remarked, "Still see a mom with a kid. 😟," while another called it a "Disturbing love story."

One person compared their relationship to a well-known couple with a similar dynamic, saying, "It will be like Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte 🤷🏻‍♀️" Yet not everyone shared that view. Some defended the couple's relationship and dismissed the age-related criticism.

A fan commented, "They look good together." Another stated, "If they are happy then that's all the matters. I don't know why people fiendishly insist that he shouldn't be with someone he loves."

A supporter echoed this sentiment on Facebook, writing, "If any man can do it so can a woman. Love is love it doesn't have an age or move according to social judgemental standards [sic]."

Sam and Aaron's relationship has never been far from public conversation. They met in 2008 on the set of "Nowhere Boy," Sam's directorial debut, where Aaron portrayed a young John Lennon. At the time, Sam was forty-two and Aaron was eighteen. They married in 2012, each taking the other's last name.

Together, they have raised four daughters, two from Sam's previous marriage to art dealer Jay Jopling, and two teenage daughters together. They now live a relatively quiet life on a farm in Somerset, England.

Despite the scrutiny, Sam has consistently addressed the commentary with clarity. "There are times where it's uncomfortable," she said in a past interview. "Most of the time we zone it out and stay pretty private. Kids and school runs keep you pretty grounded."

In a separate conversation, she reflected on the judgment they receive, saying, "If I gave a second thought to other people, I would be the unhappiest person, probably still in a miserable marriage. People like to talk about it. I'm like, 'Yeah, but it works better than my last marriage.' It's lasted longer than a lot of my friends' marriages."

Aaron, meanwhile, has expressed unwavering admiration and support for his wife, both personally and professionally. "There's a protectiveness that I feel," he said of their working relationship. "If something didn't work, I'm the one that's responsible."

He also praised her filmmaking skills. "Sam is actually a great filmmaker and a wonderful storyteller. People will think there's sort of a bias to me saying it, but I think when they see 'Back to Black,' everyone's going to realize how fantastic a filmmaker she is," he stated.

Sam's journey to filmmaking was shaped by personal trials. After graduating from Goldsmiths College in 1990, she became part of the vibrant Young British Artists movement alongside figures like Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. She married Jay in 1997 and had two daughters, but around the same time, she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Three years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "The first time didn't change my perspective," she once said. "The second time, I changed everything. I went through all the treatments. I did chemotherapy. I lost hair. I did the mastectomy. And then I changed my diet, my world, my art."

Her career pivot followed. She directed "Nowhere Boy" in 2008, marking the start of her work in film and her relationship with Aaron. She went on to direct "Fifty Shades of Grey," "A Million Little Pieces," and the Amy Winehouse biopic, "Back to Black."

Aaron's own career has continued to gain momentum. He starred opposite Ryan Gosling in "The Fall Guy" and is regularly mentioned among potential James Bond candidates.

Even as public debate about their relationship continues, the Taylor-Johnsons appear to remain grounded in their shared life, raising their daughters and supporting each other's work, regardless of what the internet might say.