We’re sure Florence Pugh would rather become a household name for her brilliant acting work in acclaimed indies like Little Women and Midsommar, or even for her action-packed (but sadly delayed) entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Black Widow.
But unfortunately the controversy rising around the pint-sized starlet is all about her current relationship with another celeb: Zach Braff.
Florence has been dating the Scrubs star since at least December, when he walked the red carpet at the Little Women premiere, though separately from his girlfriend — and she’s been fighting off haters from minute one.
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Fans picked up on the relationship when he posted a comment on her Instagram, just a little princess emoji, and was immediately pounced upon due to the age difference (he was 44 years old, she was 23 at the time). Commenters wrote things like “You’re 44 years old” and “He looks like your grandfather” to which she shot back:
“And yet he got it 👌”
Speaking to Elle UK (in an interview conducted before the lockdown), she explained the quip was “necessary” to try to nip the vitriol in the bud.
“Because people need to realise that it’s hurtful. I have the right to hang out and be with and go out with anyone I want to.”
Preach, gurl!
As part of the cover story, she got deeper about the friction between being a movie star and being a more private person:
“I’ve always found this part of what people do really bizarre. I’m an actor because I like acting and I don’t mind people watching my stuff, but people have no right to educate me on my private life.”
Specifically her issue is with being told what to do by strangers:
“I know that part of being in the spotlight is that people might invade your privacy and have opinions on it, but it’s bizarre that normal folk are allowed to display such hate and opinions on a part of my life that I’m not putting out there. It’s a strange side of fame that you’re allowed to be torn apart by thousands of people even though you didn’t put that piece of you out there. I don’t want to talk about it because it’s not something I want to highlight, but my point to all this is that isn’t it odd that a stranger can totally tear apart someone’s relationship and it’s allowed?”
Between the interview and the publishing, Florence actually felt the need to film a video specifically slamming some of these strangers and their “abuse” after she posted a photo of her man for his birthday.
What do YOU think of Florence and Zach’s age gap? Does it bother you? Or is it no one’s business but hers??
For more from the rising star, watch her Elle AMA (below):
[Image via WENN/Instar/Avalon.]
The post Florence Pugh Defends Her ‘Right’ To Date Zach Braff — Who Is Nearly Twice Her Age! appeared first on Perez Hilton.