A couple with a 25-year age gap revealed the cruel abuse they face over their loving relationship. John and Christopher Avato share their day-to-day lives with a staggering 15k followers on their Instagram and TikTok.
While most of the feedback is positive, the pair have also faced a disturbing torrent of intimidation. Trolls have called John a paedophile with others saying they hope the couple catch AIDS.
But John and Chris, who wed in October 2021 in Las Vegas, refuse to let the haters bring them down and are happier than ever. John, 56, said: "This isn't a dress rehearsal - you get one life, and you should live it as you want."
Chris, 31, said: "People comment, 'Where's the old man? How come you're in the hot tub with your grandfather? Why'd you marry your dad? Or sometimes even say John's a paedophile.
"We've been called every name you could think of. People have wished us dead and said they hope we get AIDS or monkeypox - it's relentless.
"For me I feel like the people that come in and leave nasty comments on our videos, I think those people are so unhappy in their own lives. I try not to let it bother me because I love John, and nothing that they ever say will change that."
Christopher and John met on a dating app in November 2019. Despite the age difference, the pair quickly fell for each other and have been besotted ever since.
John said he knew Christopher was the man he would marry on the first day they met. But it was not all plain sailing.
John was initially concerned as Christopher is the same age as his daughter. "But when I realised it was going somewhere, I called my daughter and explained.
"She just said, 'Dad, as long as you're happy, I'm happy for you.' That took a lot of pressure from me and made me feel really good."
He had also feared Christopher's mum, Lori Ross, 55, wouldn't accept their relationship, as she's two years younger than him. But the pair had nothing to worry about, as Lori now visits the couple once a month from New Brunswick, Canada, and John considers her one of his 'closest friends'.
John, from Portland, Maine, USA, said: "Lori and I have a great relationship, I'm older than she is but it's nice we're the same age and grew up in the same era. When she comes down to visit it's like we've been friends forever, I'd say she's one of my closest friends."
Christopher, originally from New Brunswick, Canada, moved to Portland, Maine, US, in November 2021, after dating John for almost two years. He left his job working for the Canadian postal service, to follow his heart and marry John, a general manager of a family bakery.
While sharing their relationship online, Christopher said their social media accounts have been suspended from TikTok 12 times due to being bullied. And they are also reported "for no reason".
Despite facing some negativity, the couple have generally found their family and friends to be accepting and focus on their own lives and relationship. John said: "The first night I met Chris I thought to myself, 'This is the guy I'm going to marry', and look at us now three years later.
"We got engaged after two months, and people said that it was way too fast, but it's our life not theirs. It wasn't so easy for me, it's very cliché for an older person to be with a younger person - everyone thinks one thing and it's such a stereotype.
"But everything's worked out for the best, everyone loves Chris now. It really baffles me that everybody worries about everyone else rather than themselves."
