From Megan Fox to Kourtney Kardashian – 5 reasons why the sexiest stars go for ‘bad boys’ & their outrageous confessions
WE’VE all had a moment with our friends when they get a picture up of their new date and you’re left scratching your head wondering what an earth they see in them.
They cry desperately ‘he looks better in person or ‘he’s so funny’ and it seems us mere mortals aren’t the only ones dealing with this situation as more and more female sex icons opt for the bad boy.
While we’re used to seeing star-studded celebrity couples on the red carpet, now a new wave has taken over – the siren and the bad boy.
Take Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, the unassuming pair met in 2020 and are now expecting their first child together.
But prior to their romance, Megan had always been seen with the straight-cut men such as ex-husband and actor Brian Austin Green and David Gallagher.
And according to relationship expert Jessica Leoni, there’s a very valid reason for it.
Jessica tells Fabulous: “The pairing of glamorous women with unconventional, rebellious partners may seem surprising at first glance, but it’s rooted in deeper emotional and psychological dynamics.
“There’s essentially 5 reasons why these connections work so often.”
Here we look at why these unconventional couples always find their way together and the most outrageous things they’ve said that set their bad boy partners a peg or two above their exes.
Passion and Intensity
The 38-year-old has been considered a sex icon ever since she hit the silver screen in Transformers, but she’s also a mum-of-three and a published poet.
Having three children with her ex-husband Brian Austin Green, the pair eventually split in 2015 and five years on, she found love with rapper and singer Machine Gun Kelly, 34.
But the pair seem to be as in love as ever as they announce Megan’s pregnancy with their first child earlier this month.
And that’s not all, Megan has also confirmed the pair’s bond while making blood sacrifices together.
She told Glamour magazine: “It’s just a few drops but yes, we do consume each other’s blood on occasion for ritual purposes only.”
Soon after, the couple were engaged in 2022 but broke up for a brief period of time in 2023 with Megan deleting all traces of him off her Instagram account.
Since then the couple is seemingly back on track, announcing the pregnancy with a photoshoot of Megan covered in black paint naked and holding her bump.
The relationship expert says it’s no surprise the couple work so well as they both clearly love passion.
“Bad boys are often seen as deeply passionate and emotionally intense, bringing a level of excitement and depth that can contrast with the polished, sometimes superficial nature of the glam world, and it’s that emotional depth which can lead to deeply magnetic and dynamic relationships,” she says.
“Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s relationship became iconic for its raw passion and mutual admiration, despite some very public ups and downs in their relationship and it’s that fiery energy which attracts them to either other.”
Megan Fox and MGK's relationship timeline
Megan and MGK met on the set of the film Midnight in the Switchgrass in March 2020.
July 2020: Megan and MGK make their relationship Instagram official
November 2020: Megan and MGK make their red-carpet debut
May 26, 2021: The couple celebrate their first anniversary
January 11, 2022: MGK proposes to Megan
February 2023: Breakup rumours spark after Megan posts a cryptic message on Instagram
November 2023: Megan reveals she suffered a miscarriage with MGK
March 2024: Megan reveals their engagement was called off. However, the two remain together
April 2024: The duo are spotted celebrating MGK’s 34th birthday together at his home alongside several celebrity guests
November 2024: Megan announces she is pregnant with the couple’s first child
Appeal of Authenticity
When Kim Kardashian hosted her first ever SNL 2021 she was left terrified by the potential reaction of her humorous monologue.
But it seemed to go down well with everyone (minus Kanye West after she joked “I married the best rapper of all time. Not only that, he’s the richest Black man in America,” she said onstage. “A talented, legit genius who gave me four incredible kids. So, when I divorced him, you have to know it came down to just one thing: his personality.”
Despite infuriating her ex, one man was left very impressed by her stand-up routine, Pete Davidson.
The SNL actor and stand-up comedian has been known to date some of the most attractive women in showbiz, from Ariana Grande to Emily Ratajkowski and even Kim after they met on the show.
The pair made their relationship public five months later on Instagram and even went to the Met Gala together in 2022.
Kim revealed that after the show she called producers to get his number after the pair shared a kiss on screen.
In an episode of The Kardashians, she said: “I text him. I wasn’t even thinking like, ‘Oh my God, I’m gonna be in a relationship with him.’ I was just thinking, ‘Heard about this BDE [big d*** energy], need to get out there, I need to jumpstart my …'”
Kardashian added, “I was just basically DTF [down to f***].”
The pair had a nine-month run before calling it quits, but Jessica says it’s no surprise Kim pursued him.
She adds: “Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian’s relationship is the perfect example of this – his unapologetic humour and honesty stood out in Kim’s world where appearances are everything, which could explain his unexpected charm with her.”
Opposites Attract
Camaron Diaz, now 52, was Hollywood‘s girl next door for decades thanks to her bright blue eyes and huge smile, but it took her years to find love.
She’s had her fair share of dating Prince Charmings from Justin Timberlake to former New York Yankees player Alex Rodriguez – but none of them stuck.
That’s until she met rock band Good Charlotte’s guitarist Benji Madden.
The pair met in 2014 and got hitched within seven months of dating – and they’ve been happy ever since.
Earlier this year the couple welcomed their second child into the world and tend to keep out of the public eye.
Cameron has said about her marriage: “I have a husband who is just my partner in life and in everything. [But] talk about two very different people! We are so different from one another, but we share the same values—we’re totally two peas in a pod.
“Glamorous women often embody structure, poise, and perfection, while their bad boy counterparts represent freedom, rebellion, and unpredictability,” says the relationship pro. “This dynamic creates a sense of balance, where each partner brings qualities the other might lack, sparking excitement and intrigue.
“Cameron Diaz, known for her bubbly and composed Hollywood persona, found harmony in Benji Madden’s edgy punk rock energy which is a testament to the idea that opposites attract.”
Breaking the Mould
45-year-old Kourtney Kardashian knew of Travis Barker for years before their romance finally blossomed.
The relationship was public knowledge by early 2021 and the 49-year-old drummer for rock band Blink 182 and Kardashian sister couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
In fact, the pair are now more famous for their first PDA moment than their actual talents.
On Instagram, the pair are often posting photos of them caressing each other while kissing with tongues, leaving Kourtney’s kids begging them to stop in recent episodes of their reality show.
The couple tied the knot a year after dating and have since welcomed a child into the world.
While Kourtney has been in a long-term relationship with Scott Disick in the past, who fathered three of her children she often boasts that Travis is the love of her life.
In a scene on the TV show Kourtney was seen speaking to her mum, saying she needed to have sex before the baby would come.
In the scene, Kris Jenner says that the conversation was “wild” and asks, “So sex is taking a priority to birth?”
“Yeah, because then you can’t have sex for six weeks after,” Kardashian Barker responds.
Always up for making her own path instead of following her sisters, Kourtney’s relationship with Travis is yet another example of her taking control.
Jessica says: “For women whose lives are heavily influenced by public expectations, dating a bad boy can be a bold statement of individuality and defiance. Choosing a partner outside the usual mould allows them to reclaim their personal narrative and embrace something unexpected.
“No stranger to wanting to break from the norm, Kourtney Kardashian’s romance with Travis Barker marked a significant departure from her past relationships, showing her willingness to embrace a love that felt genuine, even if it surprised her fans.”
Shared Vulnerability
Nicole Richie, 43, always lived a sheltered life after getting adopted aged nine to Lionel Richie.
But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t gone out looking for trouble.
Nicole was once on the front page of every magazine as she stumbled out of nightclubs drunk with her best friend Paris Hilton.
She has also had a stint in rehab after battling a heroin addiction and been locked up for drink driving in the past.
But now, it seems the mum-of-two has a much calmer way of life after meeting Joel Madden.
The pair met in 2006 and wed in 2010 despite many being baffled by their love.
Even Joel said: “When I met her, I think we were both on different trains.”
Nicole recently revealed the secret to a happy marriage, saying: “I don’t have a secret. We just let each other be ourselves,” she said. “We have fun.”
Joel has said nicole has helped heal him coming from a broken home while she says being a mum has changed her for the better.
Jessica explains: “Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, both of whom have faced personal challenges in the past, found a connection in their shared journey of growth and self-discovery – it’s that shared understanding that ultimately created the spark between them.”