They say age is just a number, but someone needed to remind Florence Pugh’s fanbase of that recently after she posted
a birthday tribute to her boyfriend Zach Braff (of
Scrubs fame) and people jumped into the comments with negative remarks about their age difference. As it turns out, that someone is Pugh herself. The
Little Women star decided to speak up for her man in a new post, hopefully putting an end to the “bullying” once and for all.“On Monday I posted a photo in honour of Zach’s birthday and I wrote a birthday message underneath. Within about eight minutes of the photo being posted, I had about 70 per cent of the comments hurling abuse and being horrid — basically bullying someone on my page,” Pugh said in the video. “It is the first time in my entire Instagram life that I’ve had to turn off the comments on my page. I’ve never been an Instagram page that encourages that. I’ve never been an Instagram page that likes that toxic vibe.”
Braff turned 45-years-old on April 6, which makes him 21 years older than the Oscar nominee. The pair met when they were filming the short film
In the Time it Takes to Get There, and have been low-key dating ever since. They’ve come out with their coupledom in recent months as they self-quarantine together (Pugh has been super active on Instagram stories, sharing her cooking exploits with fans), and Pugh isn’t having anyone criticize her life choices.“I will not allow that behaviour on my page. I’m not about that. It makes me upset. It makes me upset that during this time when we need to be together, the world is aching and the world is dying, and a few of you decided to bully for no reason,” Pugh continued. “I’m 24 years old. I have been working since I was 17. I have been earning money since I was 17. I became an adult when I was 18. I am 24 years old. I do not need you to tell me who I should and should not love and I would never in my life tell anyone who they can and cannot love. It is not your place.”Anyone have a problem with that? If they do, Pugh says they can unfollow her and problem solved. In the meantime she’s getting plenty of support from her fans and celebrity friends alike, including Olivia Wilde who wrote, “So well said” in the comments, and Maisie Williams, who added, “Get ittttt.”“Gorgeously said. Cheers to that and to you beautiful lady (inside and out!). I’m such an admirer how you use your page and your voice. Thank you for being you,” wrote
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel herself, Rachel Brosnahan.And as for Braff? Well he’s just continuing to live his best pup-filled life online, giving his fans what they really want: new episodes of
Fake Doctors, Real Friends with real life bestie Donald Faison.“Here’s to you guys, and I hope that we can keep on being positive,” Pugh wrapped in her address. “And to those who do not agree with any of the things that I just said, I kindly ask that you unfollow me because that is not my page. Be safe, try and be positive during all of this, and I’ll see you soon.”[video_embed id='1936894']Before you go: Kelly Ripa gets tearful over the stress of physical distancing[/video_embed]