Meet James K. Lowe, Kiwi photographer and Lorde's ex: he's worked with clients like fashion brand Chloé, but everyone's more concerned about the age gap – he was 24 when she was 16
When Lorde's EP single 'Royals' skyrocketed to international fame in 2013, so did the intense scrutiny of her private life – particularly her relationship with James K. Lowe, the man she was dating at the time.
Lorde used to date photographer James K. Lowe. Photo: @lorde/Instagram
During their three-year relationship, Lowe faced online name-calling, with many labelling him as Lorde's 'ugly' Asian boyfriend, according to the Daily Mail.
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Beyond the taunts about Lowe's appearance, their age gap was also a concern: when Lorde and Lowe began dating, she was 16 and he was 24.
Nearly a decade after they broke up in 2015, Lorde still has a thriving music career and may soon release her highly anticipated fourth studio album after the 'Ribs' singer released a 15 second teaser of a new song on TikTok. Just last weekend the two-time Grammy winner joined
Charli XCX on stage at Coachella alongside
Billie Eilish and
Troye Sivan
As for Lowe, he is an internationally recognised photographer, whose work has been featured at festivals like the Paris Photoquai biennale.
Here's a closer look at who he is.
He is of Chinese descent
Like Lorde, James K. Lowe hails from New Zealand. Photo: @jamesklowe/Instagram
Born in 1988 to a Chinese New-Zealander mother and a father born in China, James K. Lowe and his older sister grew up in a household different from many other Kiwi families.
'I think there are probably some cultural things that were different in our house – you weren't encouraged to be really outspoken or argumentative,' his sister Katherine shared with The New Zealand Herald in 2015.
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