Who Is Lady Gaga's Fiance?
Wedding bells are in the future for Lady Gaga, and they'll probably sound like a robot ringtone fused with eighties pop, plus a tinge of folk ballad, perhaps overlayed with some powerful vocals. The groundbreaking pop star broke off her engagement to actor Taylor Kinney (from Chicago Fire and The Vampire Diaries) in 2016 after five years together.
At the time, she said on Instagram that though she had always believed the two were "soulmates," they were taking a break. She explained, "We are both ambitious artists, hoping to work through long-distance and complicated schedules to continue the simple love we have always shared." Then, in the 2017 Netflix documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two, she was shown mourning their relationship and admitting through tears, "This is the third time I've had my heart broken like this."
However, at the time of the documentary release, the singer-songwriter's romantic struggles were already old news. In November 2017, Us Weekly revealed that Gaga had been secretly engaged since the previous summer to a new partner, Christian Carino. So who is this guy?
He's HOW much older than her?!
Christian Carino is 48 years old. Lady Gaga, one of the most famous millennial stars, is 31. That's a 17-year age difference, which isn't exactly nothing. While the two may come from slightly different generations, their bond appears strong. Carino frequently posts adoring photos of his fiancé all over his Instagram with romantic quotes about how she is the only one for him.
In October 2017, he shared a photo of himself holding Gaga in his arms and wrote, "YATLOML," (presumably, "you are the love of my life"). In January 2018, he posted a photo of the pair kissing and wrote, "home." And Gaga has reciprocated the social media affection, referring to him in a caption as a "very special someone." So it seems like they found each other at just the right time in each of their lives. (Gaga's last relationship was with Taylor Kinney, who is five years older than her.)
He has a tattoo tribute to Gaga that's not exactly subtle (Spoiler: It's her face)
How do you know if someone really loves you? First step: Check if they have a giant tattoo of your face. Lady Gaga's fiance has a huge rendering of, well, her, right across his upper arm. The tattoo can be seen on Carino's Instagram if you look closely, though it's not called out in the caption.
A Lady Gaga fan account called attention to the tat with a viral tweet pointing out the image and showing the original photograph that it's based on. In the tattoo, Gaga's actually sporting jet black, super high pigtails. That tweet lead Us Weekly to officially confirm that the ink is very real, and seemingly, so is their love. But hopefully Lady Gaga won't follow Carino's lead, because an enormous tattoo of a talent agent doesn't exactly go with her image (pre- or post-Joanne).
This isn't Carino's first celebrity relationship
Carino has publicly dated a celebrity before, and she was also one of his CAA clients. The talent agent is rumored to have had a romantic relationship with actress Lauren Cohan from The Walking Dead. The two were photographed together holding hands at a New York Rangers hockey game at Madison Square Garden in 2016.
Of course, Gaga has had her share of celebrity relationships, too. Prior to her romance with Carino, she had a five-year relationship with Chicago Fire actor Taylor Kinney. Before that, she dated and Matthew Williams, a collaborator who helped develop the star's style. She also she a troubled six-year relationship with Luc Carl, the manager of a rock bar on the Lower East Side. She even acknowledges all three men in her documentary, explaining that every time she's had a major career achievement, she has lost a partner. She said, "I sold 10 million [records] and lost Matt. I sold 30 million and lost Luke [sic]. I did a movie and lose Taylor. It's like a turnover."
His style complements her, ahem, unique aesthetic
Gaga is known for bold, controversial fashion choices, from meat dresses to sequin bodysuits. It's kind of her thing. Even with her album Joanne, which introduced a more pared down music and visual style, Gaga rocks an amazing pastel pink cowboy hat on the cover. So does her new life partner match her unique aesthetic? Actually, he complements it.
From casual paparazzi snaps to red carpet looks, we've seem that he tends toward monochromatic looks with dark colors, especially black and grey. He wore black on their romantic beach date. He wore black by her side at the Super Bowl. He wore black and grey while they goofed off at a grocery store in Malibu. He even wore black when the two were chilling together outside in the sunny Hamptons. He's not trying to steal the style spotlight from his iconic fiance, and honestly, the dude looks pretty good in those basic workout outfits.
You won't believe who he's helped make famous
Carino is a talent agent at CAA (Creative Artists Agency) who works with huge celebrities. He specializes in commercials and endorsements, and according to IMDb Pro, his clients include Margot Robbie, Johnny Depp, Emilia Clarke, Zac Efron, Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, One Direction, and Justin Bieber. Ever heard of any of them? He also represents Lady Gaga herself, which is likely how the two met.
The pair was first spotted together in January 2017. Soon after, in February, Gaga hosted the Super Bowl, and Carino was right there by her side. He probably would have been there anyway, because he's her agent, but they were giving serious couple vibes by kissing (big giveaway!) and taking cute selfies together on the field. If you're being open about your relationship right in front of cameras broadcasting to many millions of people, you're probably ready to go public. In the same month, People confirmed that the two were officially an item.
His approach to proposing was very traditional
Lady Gaga is not traditional in any sense (though she does say she comes from a traditional Italian family). But the star's eccentricity didn't stop her fiance from crafting a pretty classy marriage proposal. First, according to Us Weekly, Carino spoke to Joe Germanotta, the pop star's pop, to ask his permission before proposing. The other old school element with a contemporary flair is the (rumored) engagement ring that Gaga has been wearing on her ring finger.
It's a diamond ring, but... more. It includes a large pale pink-colored diamond in the center surrounded by a circle of small white diamonds, creating sort of a floral effect. When she wore it on the red carpet at the Grammys, fans and fashion lovers took notice. So will the wedding be traditional as well? Imagine if she opts for a simple virginal white gown and a DJ playing Bruno Mars songs! That would be even more shocking than the outrageous outfits we've come to expect of Gaga.
He is supportive of Gaga's health issues
Lady Gaga suffers from fibromyalgia, a disorder that causes chronic pain, and Carino is by her side all the way. She had opened up about her chronic pain in the past, but Gaga confirmed her diagnosis in a September 2017 tweet.
When the couple's engagement was revealed, Us Weekly reported that they wouldn't marry right away so Gaga could focus on her health. A source said in March 2018, "Christian has been amazingly supportive of her and her health issue. They are spending a lot of time together. She is still in pain and having to cancel more events, but he has been nothing but supportive." She canceled the last leg of her European tour because of said severe pain.
Gaga has also praised Carino for looking out for her physical health. Page Six reported that Gaga gushed about her love during a rainy Citi Field performance, revealing that her boyfriend checked on her safety. She explained, "When I went backstage, Christian was by the stairs making sure I was OK. The best part about being in love with someone is having them there to catch you if you fall."