joining the ranks of Cher & Madonna?

We didn’t believe it at first, but it seems Jennifer Lopez is indeed having a rebound romance with 24 year old back up dancer, Casper Smart. Doesn’t this seem like a bit of deja vous, ala Cris Judd circa 2001? JLo is certainly a flawless 40-something, but an almost two decade age different can stymie even the steamiest of love affairs, and something tells us this relationship between Jennifer and Casper is destined to fizzle sooner rather than later.

I know what you’re thinking, “men date much younger women all the time.” But think about it, doesn’t it seem kinda icky when men date much younger women, as in women young enough to be their offspring? So, no double standard here.

After a much publicized dinner date with Sexiest Man Alive, Bradley Cooper, which obviously went nowhere fast, speculation that JLo was seeing one of her much younger back up dancers started to circulate. From outward appearances it seems Jennifer Lopez and dancer Casper Smart are indeed an item, albeit most likely a casual one.

According to US Weekly, after performing on stage together at the American Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart did little to hide their affection for eachother at a celeb packed after party, even though they knew it would get the celebrity weeklies buzzing. Could that be what JLo wanted? Lopez is certainly savvy enough to know how things in tinseltown work by now so we have to assume her open PDA was intentional.

US Weekly reports, “Once inside the bash, [Lopez] made a beeline for Smart, 24, grabbed his hand, and headed into a private booth near the DJ,” and “by 12:45, after hours of dancing, Lopez and Smart left Greystone Manor, hand in hand, with her entourage.” The article also notes that Casper Smart seemed kind of bashful and intimidated by all of the attention focused on him and his superstar new girlfriend.

What do you think? Can a romance between a 42 year old woman and a 24 year old man work for the long haul, or is this strictly a rebound hookup that will fizzle quickly?