Florence Pugh Defends Her 21-Year Age Gap With Zach Braff, After Receiving Backlash On Social Media

Gettyimages | Charley Gallay

‘Little Women’ star Florence Pugh is receiving backlash (again) for her relationship with actor Zach Braff. On Monday, the Oscar-nominated actress posted a photo of Braff to honor his birthday.

She wrote, ‘Today we shall smile wider than the clouds are grey. April 6th and we’re celebrating hard! Happy Birthday wishes, boogies, and cheers for this special person. Raise those bubbles and jiggle!’

Almost immediately after posting the picture, the couple received backlash online that Pugh called “abuse” and “bullying.’

Florence Pugh/Instagram

On Wednesday, Pugh posted a video to her Instagram addressing the negativity surrounding her relationship with Braff and the couple’s 21-year age gap.

She captioned the video: 'My relationship with Instagram. In true Flo fashion, wearing spot stickers and all. To those of you that this video applies to- please listen. Please learn. Being hateful is not trendy.’

The British actress went on to address her trolls saying, 'It makes me upset. It makes me sad that during this time when we really all need to be together, we need to be supporting one another, we need to be loving one another—the world is aching, the world is dying—a few of you decided to bully for no reason.'

Zach Braff/Instagram

She continued, 'I'm 24-years-old. I have been working since I was 17-years-old. I have been earning money since I was 17-years-old. I became an adult when I was 18-years-old and I started paying taxes when I was 18-years-old.'

'I do not need you to tell me who I should and should not love, and I would never in my life ever, ever tell someone who they can and cannot love. It is not your place. It has nothing to do with you,’ she added.

Her video received positive comments. Ariana Grande responded by writing, ‘Being hateful is not trendy: a new tattoo for my chest.’

Florench Pugh/Instagram

Pugh and Braff have been linked since August 2018, after Braff cast the actress in his 2019 short film 'In The Time It Takes to Get There.'

In April 2019, the pair were seen holding hands while walking in New York City. And In June 2019, Braff posted a picture of himself hanging out with Pugh’s brother, Toby Sebastian, who starred in 'Game of Thrones.'

A few months later, Braff shared a group picture where Pugh could be seen grinning, with the caption: ‘People I love.’

Zach Braff/Instagram

In December, Pugh finally confirmed their romance. She posted a photo of herself standing in front of Greenblatt’s Deli. Braff commented on the photo with the princess emoji. A troll quickly came for Braff saying, ‘You're 44 years old.’ Pugh responded, ‘and yet he got it.’

The couple is reportedly self-isolating together. They’ve been seen several times at the grocery store wearing gloves.

A few days ago, both Braff and Pugh posted a picture of the puppy they're fostering named Billie.