people think I'm a gold digger because of age gap'

Dublin Live

19-05-2025

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A 21-year-old woman has opened up about the criticism she faces due to her relationship with a man 23 years her senior. Ellie revealed that she often encounters online judgement, with people accusing her of being "with Mark for the money," an allegation she vehemently denies.
Ellie shared the story of how they met on the Love Don't Judge YouTube channel, explaining that a friend gave her Mark's number and, after meeting for a meal, their relationship blossomed. Mark is a father to two children - Marcus, 12, and Izabelle, 16, meaning there's only a five-year age difference between Ellie and his eldest child, reports the Mirror.
Despite this, the couple doesn't see it as an issue. Mark praised Ellie for being "quite good" and "energetic" with his children, attributing this to her youth and ability to relate to them.
Izabelle even considers Ellie her "best friend," sharing that they enjoy gossiping together and Ellie helps her with makeup and hair. Ellie reciprocates the sentiment, describing them as "they're good kids" and expressing her enjoyment in spending time with them.
Interestingly, Ellie is the same age as some of Izabelle's friends' older sisters, something Ellie humorously refers to as "cool mum vibes," a description Izabelle agrees with. Ellie first met Mark's children during a trip to Alton Towers, which she admitted was initially "a bit awkward."
However, the theme park experience served as a great ice breaker. Ellie revealed that her family were initially taken aback by her relationship with Mark due to their age difference, but "as time passed," they saw the couple's happiness.
Discussing online trolls, Ellie shared: "90% of the hate we get is because of our age gap". She detailed the insults thrown their way, with Mark being labelled an "old man," and accusations of her being a "gold digger".
"At the end of the day, as long as we're happy, that's all that matters," Ellie said, dismissing the negative comments as signs of something "missing" in the critics' lives. Despite claims that Ellie is "wasting away her younger years" she feels quite the opposite.
"I see it as, I've got my head down, I've got a great life ahead of me, and I'm having a great time," she said. Ellie also reflected on how becoming a step-mum has transformed her.
"Since I've become a step-mum, I've changed as a person," she said. "I've always been mature for my age, but I think I've matured even more."
She feels everything has fallen into place. "To be honest, I feel like it's fallen into place so naturally. Now that I've got step-children, I said to Mark, 'I couldn't have no step-children, I love a loud house'."
Ellie and Mark are now excitedly expecting their own child, with Ellie announcing the pregnancy on her Instagram three weeks ago.
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