A British man who drew criticism for going out with a 23-year-old woman who many say looks like an eight-year-old girl has given an update on their relationship status.
Dan Swygart, 26, was accused of being "creepy" after recently dating reality star Shauna Rae - whose growth was stunted due to brain cancer treatment she underwent as a child. But Dan has now claimed the pair are "just friends".
The Star reports how 3ft 10in Shauna's life story featured in the TLC reality series, 'I Am Shauna Rae'. Dan recently shared many pictures with Shauna on Instagram, which was followed by a post explaining why the pair have a special bond.
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Now the travel blogger has updated followers with news that he and Shauna have realised they fit better as friends rather than lovers. According to news.com.au, he said in an Instagram video: "Me and Shauna are just good friends, we’re getting to know each other.
"But I think it’s absolutely disgusting, the attitude of some people. She’s been through so much in life.
"She survived cancer as a child, she’s always felt different and was treated different by society. How dare you take away her right to have a connection, a friendship, a relationship with someone else?
"Who are you to say that she can’t have that? I am absolutely disgusted by some people’s attitudes towards her and my friendship with her."
In a previous post Dan admitted he had got in touch with Shauna after watching the first series of her show. This led to them meeting up in person, and they went onto have a few dates.
He told people they need to remember Shauna is an "incredible" person who has a disability. Dan told people when someone builds a connection with her, it's vital to understand her disability, and be able to "look past it" to learn more about who she is as a person.
"She’s this incredible, inspiring 23-year-old woman who just happens to be a little bit short," he added. "And as soon as you say that she can’t have a real-world connection with someone else, you dehumanise her which is absolutely disgusting.
“She is a human being. She deserves to have relationships and connections with whomever she wants.
"And I think some people aren’t emotionally mature enough to understand that you can have a deep connection based on personality rather than just on looks."
Dan - who is from the UK - appeared in the second series of I Am Shauna Rae as the show documents how the pair connected.
He was later slammed by viewers, as some accused him of being "sick" for thinking he could have a romantic relationship with Shauna.
According to The Mirror, one critic said: "Yes, she is 23, but she looks and talks like an eight-year-old. She also does not act like a mature woman. She is childlike."
Another wrote: "If any man or woman can honestly say that they can see her as a ‘sexual woman’, they are either lying or sick. PERIOD." Meanwhile another person said they thought he was "creepy".
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