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'I legit thought that was your grandpa': Couple who met when he was 51 and she was 18 shut down trolls

Nicole Downs was 18 when she took to Tinder and matched with 51-year-old Michael back in 2018

MICHIGAN: A Michigan couple was trolled for their 33-year age difference. In 2018, Nicole Downs, then 18 found Michael, then 51 on Tinder. The two have been together ever since, and Downs, now 22, had decided to post something good on TikTok about her now 55-year-old beau. She captioned the post, which featured photos of the couple, "I couldn't imagine my life if we'd never met." "We started dating in 2018, living together for 3.5 years, best friends. We're happy together despite what other people might think," Downs explained in the video, which has been viewed more than 365K times so far.

They also created a small fur family by bringing home a cat. She revealed, "We have one cat, Grizzy, together. Happier and closer than we've ever been." However, TikTok users disagreed with Downs and Michael's view and poked fun at their strange relationship in the comments section. One user wrote, "I legit thought that was your grandpa." "No. Just wrong," added another. However, many defended the unusual love story. One person wrote, "Don't let anyone stop you guys." "I can't believe the negative comments here. As long as you are happy, age doesn't matter. Love you guys," added another user.

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This is not the first video that Downs has made as a tribute to her partner. The Gen Z TikToker released another video about her Gen X lover, who was born in the 1960s, back in April. One commenter under that video said, “I don’t think the age gap is the issue, it’s more of the fact that you were freshly 18.” Others, though, thought the couple was adorable and that, after four years of dating, they were obviously in love. One person wrote, “After you’re 18 it shouldn’t matter as long as you find yourself happy.” “No one’s place to tell you who to love after you’re an adult,” another user added. 

A similar occurrence occurred in 2019 when a different couple, who was targeted by internet trolls due to their 33-year age difference, celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary by jointly purchasing a home. When Mark Nichols, 56, of Michigan began dating Kayleb Alexande he was called a pedophile because the 23-year-old was 17 at the time.

The charges continued despite the fact that 16 was the minimum age for consent in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where they first met. According to Mirror UK, Mark told at the time, “Online it’s very harsh, everything from he’s a pedophile to this is sick. People shouldn’t judge age gap relationships in general, especially if the two are of legal age.” 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.