Jon Hamm calls modern dating ‘dark’ and transactional, praises marriage instead

Jon Hamm opened up about his perspective on modern dating, calling today’s app-driven culture “dark” and “transactional.”

The 55-year-old actor told Elle that the rise of dating apps has reduced meaningful connections to superficial judgments. 

“It’s pretty bleak. It’s just another indictment of social media. It feels transactional. It feels like it highlights the wrong part of dating and meeting people,” Hamm said.

Hamm admitted he never fully engaged with dating apps, even while single, and appreciates being married now. 

“I’m looking at a fucking picture and deciding whether they’re worthwhile? It just feels a little dark. I was never really good at dating anyway, so I’m glad to not be out in the world, as it were,” he explained.

Reflecting on his personal growth, Hamm said marriage has taught him the value of communication, compromise, and self-improvement. 

“Compromise and communication and all the things that you have to relearn, or reteach yourself, it doesn’t come overnight. It’s a practice that you have to get better at,” he said, describing marriage as a “new set of skills.”

Acknowledging that growth involves mistakes, Hamm emphasized the importance of self-awareness and therapy. 

“It’s based on love and a willingness to say, ‘I’ve gotta be able to do better than this, so I need to figure out how I’ve been less-than and work on it,’” he said. 

“And that’s going to therapy and couples therapy, asking, ‘Is it me, is it them, or is it us?’ And it gets better.”

Hamm married Anna Osceola, 37, in a ceremony at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California, on June 24, 2023, just months after their engagement.