Moby Addresses Natalie Portman Dating Dispute
Moby has again addressed the long-running dispute over his alleged late-1990s relationship with actress Natalie Portman, saying he still struggles to reconcile her description of their brief connection. The electronic musician revisited the controversy in a new interview as discussion of his 2019 memoir continues to follow him alongside his current release and touring plans.
In the interview, Moby said it remains difficult for him to process Portman’s public denial and her framing of the interaction, with People noting he told The Times that it’s “hard for me to make sense of it.”
The remarks trace back to claims Moby made in his memoir Then It Fell Apart, where he wrote that he dated Portman in 1999 when he was 33 and she was 18. Portman pushed back on that account in 2019, saying she was surprised he characterised the “very short time” they knew each other as dating and recalling “a much older man being creepy with me.” At the time, Moby responded that he respected the possibility of her regret but maintained it did not change what he called the “actual facts” of their brief romantic history.
The dispute has remained a flashpoint in Moby’s public narrative, separate from his wider history in alternative music and the controversies he has weathered over the years, including moments like his past clash with Billy Corgan that have periodically resurfaced in fan discussion.
Moby previously apologised for including Portman in the book without warning her, saying it was inconsiderate and that he did not fully respect her reaction. He also acknowledged the age gap, saying he should have acted more responsibly and respectfully when they first met. The renewed comments arrive as he continues promoting new music and preparing for upcoming live dates.
