Jennette McCurdy reflects on her difficult relationships in her youth
8 january 2026 в 22:13
Jennette McCurdy opened up about her personal life over the past few years. After taking a break from public life, the former star of «iCarly» and author of the book «I'm Glad My Mom Died» shared her difficult childhood in her 2022 memoir. Now, four years later, the Nickelodeon alum reflects on past relationships with a man older than herself ahead of the release of her 2026 novel «Half His Age». The unnamed ex-boyfriend met her when she was 18 years old.
Currently, however, Jennette seems to be in a healthy relationship with a new boyfriend, whom she briefly mentioned in an interview in January 2026 on Alex Cooper’s podcast «Call Her Daddy».
Below, you can find everything Jennette has publicly said about her past relationships.
Jennette did not reveal the identity of her current boyfriend. She prefers to keep her personal life away from the public eye. However, she mentioned him during her appearance on the «Call Her Daddy» podcast in January 2026 while discussing her thoughts on children.
«I know that I don’t want kids at this stage of my life», - she noted. «I'm also open to the idea of kids in the future… [My boyfriend and I] have talked about it, and neither of us actually wants kids [sic], but we’re also open to changing our minds and going through that process together».
It is unclear how long Jennette has been in her current relationship.
Jennette did not mention the name of the man she dated at 18 when he was in his 30s. Her novel «Half His Age» unfolds a fictional story about a 17-year-old girl who seeks a relationship with her married writing teacher. Since Jennette was in a sexual relationship with an older man, the book offers a meta-retelling of what she experienced in real life.
Jennette recalled her toxic relationship during her appearance on «Call Her Daddy» in 2026.
«I was probably 18», - she said, adding that she met this unknown man while filming «iCarly». «He would show me movies that he thought I would like. For example, 'Sunshine' which I didn’t like, but I pretended to like it. He played me music that I didn’t like, but I pretended to like it».
At that time, the man was in his 30s and was in a relationship with another woman. Additionally, Jennette had just moved out from her late mother, Debra McCurdy. The former actress said that the relationship was «exhausting».
«I remember him coming to my apartment drunk one night. At that time, I had just moved out from my mom’s, I was very new to it — and those were red flags», - Jennette explained. «I had lived away from my mom for only two months, and I thought, 'Great, a relationship. This will be awesome.'… He came over, and he had beer stains on his shirt, he was slurring. At that point in my life, I had never tried alcohol, so I didn’t understand how drunk he was. He was very drunk, but I didn’t know. You drink one drink, and how drunk are you? How drunk is ten drinks? I had no point of reference. He came over very drunk, and we started kissing, and there was a lot of dry humping. And that went on for months».
At some point, Jennette noted, the relationship became sexual when this unknown man talked about his «needs» when he wanted oral sex from her.
«I didn’t know what 'to finish' meant», - she explained. «Now it’s funny, but at the time it was hard to understand, 'What was that?'… I didn’t know what it was because I grew up in a Mormon family and was homeschooled. I didn’t know. He explained it to me, and I thought, 'Well, that sounds a little strange, I’m scared to do that.' He said, 'I'll guide you through it, I’ll guide you through it.'»
Eventually, the man broke up with his girlfriend. As mentioned, Jennette grew up in a Mormon family and did not intend to have sex before marriage, but he wanted more from her
Currently, however, Jennette seems to be in a healthy relationship with a new boyfriend, whom she briefly mentioned in an interview in January 2026 on Alex Cooper’s podcast «Call Her Daddy».
Below, you can find everything Jennette has publicly said about her past relationships.
Jennette did not reveal the identity of her current boyfriend. She prefers to keep her personal life away from the public eye. However, she mentioned him during her appearance on the «Call Her Daddy» podcast in January 2026 while discussing her thoughts on children.
«I know that I don’t want kids at this stage of my life», - she noted. «I'm also open to the idea of kids in the future… [My boyfriend and I] have talked about it, and neither of us actually wants kids [sic], but we’re also open to changing our minds and going through that process together».
It is unclear how long Jennette has been in her current relationship.
Jennette did not mention the name of the man she dated at 18 when he was in his 30s. Her novel «Half His Age» unfolds a fictional story about a 17-year-old girl who seeks a relationship with her married writing teacher. Since Jennette was in a sexual relationship with an older man, the book offers a meta-retelling of what she experienced in real life.
Jennette recalled her toxic relationship during her appearance on «Call Her Daddy» in 2026.
«I was probably 18», - she said, adding that she met this unknown man while filming «iCarly». «He would show me movies that he thought I would like. For example, 'Sunshine' which I didn’t like, but I pretended to like it. He played me music that I didn’t like, but I pretended to like it».
At that time, the man was in his 30s and was in a relationship with another woman. Additionally, Jennette had just moved out from her late mother, Debra McCurdy. The former actress said that the relationship was «exhausting».
«I remember him coming to my apartment drunk one night. At that time, I had just moved out from my mom’s, I was very new to it — and those were red flags», - Jennette explained. «I had lived away from my mom for only two months, and I thought, 'Great, a relationship. This will be awesome.'… He came over, and he had beer stains on his shirt, he was slurring. At that point in my life, I had never tried alcohol, so I didn’t understand how drunk he was. He was very drunk, but I didn’t know. You drink one drink, and how drunk are you? How drunk is ten drinks? I had no point of reference. He came over very drunk, and we started kissing, and there was a lot of dry humping. And that went on for months».
At some point, Jennette noted, the relationship became sexual when this unknown man talked about his «needs» when he wanted oral sex from her.
«I didn’t know what 'to finish' meant», - she explained. «Now it’s funny, but at the time it was hard to understand, 'What was that?'… I didn’t know what it was because I grew up in a Mormon family and was homeschooled. I didn’t know. He explained it to me, and I thought, 'Well, that sounds a little strange, I’m scared to do that.' He said, 'I'll guide you through it, I’ll guide you through it.'»
Eventually, the man broke up with his girlfriend. As mentioned, Jennette grew up in a Mormon family and did not intend to have sex before marriage, but he wanted more from her
© Smirnova Olga
