Keanu Reeves’ Love Faces Harsh Scrutiny: Alexandra Grant Speaks Out Against Ageism and Sexism in Hollywood

Actor Keanu Reeves, 59, is known to be one of Hollywood’s nicest guys. On top of being a movie star, in recent years he’s also developed a reputation as “the internet’s boyfriend” due to how much netizens love him. There are many reasons that fans love Reeves — from the fact that he’s a bonafide action star whose filmography includes “The Matrix” and “John Wick” franchises, among other notable movies, to becoming the star of many popular memes. Reeves is simply one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors and an icon of the internet.

But there are plenty of other examples out there that show just why Reeves is considered such a stand-up guy. There’s the time that he gave up his seat on the subway for a stranger as well as the various moments he’s shared with homeless people on the streets, listening to their stories. Or there are the many donations he’s given to charities or shared his wealth with the film crews that helped make his movies.

But while Reeves is known for being one of Hollywood’s most beloved, friendly, and down-to-earth actors, he also has a dark past that is full of heartbreak. This included the loss of a daughter, who was stillborn, with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Syme, before she herself passed away unexpectedly during a car accident, all within the space of about two years.

After he took time for himself, it appeared the actor was single and open to love. Then, finally, in Nov. 2019, he went public with his relationship with American visual artist Alexandra Grant, 48. Overnight, the world became interested in the woman who stole Reeves’ heart. But alongside joy for the couple, the artist has been dealt an unfair amount of criticism too. Let’s take a look at why it’s important that the public address its biases toward Grant.

Alexandra Grant, Keanu Reeves (2016), (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)Born to a mother of British descent and a father of British, Chinese, Portuguese and Native Hawaiian descent, Reeves has his mixed heritage to thank for his good genes. The actor is known for looking pretty much as hunky as he did when he first entered the big screens in the ’80s, and many people have pointed that out right now, especially with his much shorter hair these days.

But on top of his never-changing good looks, another aspect of Reeves’ appearance that has remained the same ever since he landed in Hollywood is his clothing. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on designer duds, Reeves has become known for keeping a rather utilitarian uniform that usually consists of blue jeans, a simple jacket and large beat-up boots. It might seem like an insignificant detail but Reeves’ outfit choices could be seen as a physical manifestation of how he sees himself — just like every other normal person. He doesn’t need flashy clothes, cars or even luxury mansions because he knows material possessions aren’t the key to a happy life.

Perhaps that reveals why he has become so well known for his generosity to others. A generous gift-giver, Reeves has a history of gifting the people he works on films with. After filming wrapped on “John Wick: Chapter 4” in Paris, the actor gifted the four members of his stunt team a Rolex 2020 Submariner watch each, with a personalized message engraved on the back. He also got one for himself that matched the others, making the item more than just a gift but a shared relic from their time spent together on the film set. Another way Reeves sets himself apart from other high-profile Hollywood celebrities is his choice of partner.

Ever since Reeves and Grant went public with their relationship, much has been written about how happy the actor is in their relationship. As one anonymous source told Life & Style:

“(Reeves) was in such a dark place for so long, but Alexandra’s positive outlook and support have played a huge part in helping him turn his life around. Some say she’s not only stolen his heart but she’s also saved him.”

But while interest in Grant, who is an artist and philanthropist based in Los Angeles, grew quickly, there were also some less than positive things said about her too. As per the publication Stylist, people online began to target Grant with vile comments about her gray hair and age. They compared her to Reeves’ mother, who also has white hair. Since it’s not common for women in the public eye to sport their natural gray hair, Grant’s bold decision to do so meant that she’s been subjected to all kinds of ageist comments. However, she’s not bothered by it. She told Vogue:

“I’m a 6ft 1in woman with white hair … You know, the idea of fitting in… If I wanted to look like Kim Kardashian, I would have to have surgery removing about a foot off my legs.”

Meanwhile, another comment directed at her was regarding her age and whether she’d still be able to have children. Someone wrote:

“I hope he finds someone younger so he can have children.”

This raised another issue about the expectation of women to have children, as well as drawing an inaccurate link between age and motherhood. To begin with, it’s not the public’s business whether Grant and Reeves wish to have children together. And if they do so desire, there are still countless options including IVF, surrogacy, fostering and adoption. It’s even possible for women in their mid-40s to have natural births in some cases.

Keanu Reeves (2022), (James Devaney/GC Images/Getty Images)

Another unfair criticism directed toward the couple came in the form of a backhanded compliment that Reeves was dating someone age-appropriate. Although she’s nearly 10 years younger than the movie star, it opened up the discussion about how common it is for men in Hollywood to date much younger women.

While society deems older men who date younger women socially acceptable, it’s unfortunately not the case the other way around. When an older woman dates a younger man, she is labeled a cougar and it comes with often less-than-favorable connotations. This highlights the se.xism that is prevalent in society today. Comedian Whitney Cummings commented on the unfair bias toward Grant when she wrote:

“In hollywood, if you’re not 24, you might as well be 70.”

Grant’s relationship with Reeves has brought up a lot of the unfair bias toward women in the public eye, and despite being subjected to unwarranted criticism, she’s taking it in her stride and even using her platform to help shift outdated ideas. When asked how she defined beauty, Grant said:

“I was thinking about this idea of, ‘What is beauty to me?’ … Ultimately, I think it’s love. And it’s truly loving yourself. It’s loving the people in your community. And it’s learning how to love people who are truly different than who you are.”

Even after being unfairly discriminated against, Grant has proven that she’s not letting nasty comments bring her down. But the entire topic surrounding her relationship with Reeves is an important one to consider. While celebrities are in the public eye, this doesn’t mean that their private lives are open for dissection. Furthermore, it’s worth remembering that they are also real people with real feelings.