Did Taylor Momsen Just Casually Admit to Being Statutory Raped?

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As alluded to in today's Buzz Break, a candid new Teen Vogue interview with Taylor Momsen notes that the Gossip Girl star and tween-rock sensation isn't really down with her age cohort. At least not socially or (it seems) romantically: "I would eat a boy my age alive." Fair enough! But let's take a step back and look at the other implications here, all of which seem to imply that her plus-age paramours might consider laying low for at least a little while -- especially if it can save them four years in prison.

For the record, I'm not dumb enough to believe that an attractive, flamboyant 16-year-old star -- particularly one who appears on the soapy softcore bacchanal that is Gossip Girl -- isn't sexually active. Teenagers fuck, I know this. Yet even if the CW regularly mates Jenny Humphrey et. al. with other foxy, legal high-society youths, there's something a bit untoward about a certain exchange Momsen had with her interviewer -- a quality she seemed to anticipate from its first syllable:

TM: People misinterpret what I say all the time: They think I'm being offensive, when really, I'm only being opinionated. Most of my friends are older, too. I live a very adult life: I have two different careers; I'm on tour. What am I going to do, hang out with the high school kids? I just can't relate to what they talk about -- it seems so petty.

TV: Are your parents comfortable with your maturity?

TM: They have to be; it's not going anywhere. But I'm responsible. I'm not one of those crazy teens. They trust me.

TV: Do they trust you with older boyfriends?

TM: I'm not dating anyone right now, but I've had lots of relationships. My parents know that I'm not going to date someone who's sixteen. Boys are so much less mature than girls as it is; there's just no way-- I would eat a boy my age alive.

Again, fair enough. But hush a second, Taylor. Are you listening? You can't go selling your older boyfriends out like that. We allllll know what you mean by, "I've had lots of relationships," and no one's saying you're not entitled. I know you're opinionated, I know you're independent, I know you appeared on the cover of New York Magazine in your undies by the time you were 14, and I know that maybe your parents can't stop this, that, or the other 20-something hipster from fucking the blonde out of your hair night after night on tour.

But there are laws, Doll! Like New York state statute 130.25, which defines third-degree rape as anyone over age 21 having sexual intercourse with someone under age 17. That carries a prison sentence of up to four years. You are very beautiful and sassy and talented, don't get me wrong, but your precocious vagina is not worth four years in prison to any man. I guarantee it. And that's not even counting the consequences for you: the whole career backlash, the added supervision, court dates, and worse. You might even have to go on The View. I mean, really unpleasant stuff.

So do we agree that nobody wins here? That loose lips sink ships? Wait. That came out wrong, but you know what I mean. Try a little modesty.

· Iron Maiden [Teen Vogue via People]



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