EXCLUSIVE: Cougar Hunter! ‘A Different World’ Breakout Cornell Young IV Loves Older Women … And We Found Out His Ex Was Nearly TWO DECADES Older!
Clear out the group chat, because the internet’s newest heartthrob just dropped a bomb about his dating preferences that has women everywhere doing double-takes!
If you’ve been watching the Netflix hit reboot of A Different World, you already know Cornell Young IV as the charismatic all-star quarterback Shaquille Johnson. But while his on-screen character is busy tackling college life at Hillman, the 26-year-old actor is keeping things strictly grown and sexy off-camera!
“I Always Grew Up Around Older People”
In a recent candid interview, the handsome St. Louis native didn’t hold back when asked about his ideal partner. Cornell confessed that women his own age just aren’t cutting it for him anymore.
“It’s hard for me to date women my age, because of the disconnect,” Cornell revealed. “I always grew up around older people … all the women that I’ve ever dated have always been older than me.”
When pressed on why he bypasses the Gen-Z dating pool, the actor made it crystal clear: “It’s the level of maturity that I rock with.”
Nearly A 20-Year Age Gap!
So, just how much older are we talking about?
While a 26-year-old guy dating someone in their early 30s might raise a few eyebrows, Media Take Out did some digging into the hunk’s relationship history—and the numbers will leave you shook!
Media Take Out learned that Cornell’s last girlfriend was a stunning 45-year-old woman! That’s right—the breakout star was rocking with a woman nearly 19 years his senior before the two quietly split earlier this year.
That means while Cornell was still in elementary school, his ex was already well into her adult life! Talk about a true cougar lover!
Background On The Breakout Star
To understand how this young star became Hollywood’s newest sensation, here is a quick look at the main player:
- Cornell Young IV: The 26-year-old former college football player turned rising actor from Missouri.After making television appearances on Beyond the Gates and Netflix’s Forever, he landed his massive breakout role in the 2026 A Different World sequel series playing the son of iconic original character Ron Johnson.
Ladies, Update Your Birth Certificates!
With Cornell officially back on the market after his breakup earlier this year, mature women everywhere are lining up. If you’re a woman under 35 hoping to catch his eye, you might want to step aside and let the aunties take the lead on this one!
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