Nicely, that is awkward…
If you happen to’ve by no means heard of I Am Shauna Rae, it’s the story of Shauna Rae Lesick, a 23-year-old girl primarily trapped within the physique of an 8-year-old. On her TLC present, Shauna Rae offers with the ramifications of being an grownup handled by the world as a baby as a consequence of her 3′ 10″, 50-lb physique — a results of mind most cancers remedy when she was a child.
Probably the most uncomfortable a part of the present — for the viewers and her mother and father — is Shauna Rae’s courting life. She’s the scale and form of a median third grader, however with the thoughts of a twentysomething girl. She in fact needs thus far males her age, but it surely turns into an actual conundrum — not only for her, but additionally for males she goes out with. And final month a hunky Welshman discovered precisely why.
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Dan Swygart went on a couple of dates with the fact star, all of which was documented on the present in December. They made sushi, went paddle boarding, he met her mother and father — who grilled him on his future plans. It was all very healthful and regular. Besides… you already know.
Viewers couldn’t get previous the age distinction. Positive, Dan is 26, solely three years older — however the *seeming* age distinction put folks off. Feedback went fairly exhausting on clips of the episode on the YouTube web page, claiming:
“I’m sorry, however any man that desires thus far her- there’s positively one thing not proper with him. Sure, she is 23, however she appears and talks like an 8 yr outdated. She additionally doesn’t act like a mature girl. She is childlike! If any man or girl can truthfully say that they will see her as a “sexual girl,” they’re both mendacity or sick. PERIOD.”
“Yeah that is tremendous unusual and the mother and father ought to be careful… Why would he exit of his approach to be with somebody who nonetheless on the most appears 11 years outdated?”
“Man 100% has a fetish. Regardless of how good of a younger girl she could also be, she STILL appears like a baby”
“I don’t find out about this man… I nonetheless assume it’s creepy”
“Oh yeah, he’s a creep who simply wished to be on TV”
How did Dan really feel about being known as “creepy”? Nicely, he really responded on his Instagram after the episode aired — and he had an opportunity to expertise a few of that backlash!
In a video he defended his personal dates with the fact star, in addition to her proper thus far as an grownup girl. He known as out the haters as being “completely disgusting,” explaining:
“As quickly as you say that she will’t have a real-world reference to another person, you dehumanize her, which is completely disgusting. She is a human being. She deserves to have relationships and connections with whoever she needs. And I feel some folks aren’t emotionally mature sufficient to know which you could have a deep connection based mostly on character slightly than simply on appears.”
He additionally stated:
“It’s essential to keep in mind that Shauna is an unbelievable 23-year-old girl who has a incapacity. In order you’re constructing a connection along with her, it’s essential to acknowledge her incapacity and look previous that and construct it with who she is a person. She’s this unbelievable, inspiring 23-year-old girl who simply occurs to be just a little bit brief.”
We actually perceive the sentiment. Everybody deserves to stay a full life, and her incapacity shouldn’t forestall her from experiencing courting.
HOWEVER…
Viewers are clearly simply involved for her understanding there are going to be some creeps on the market who’re interested in Shauna Rae particularly as a result of she appears and seems like just a little woman. Her mother and father even talked about their very own concern about her appears attracting a pedophile on the present. It’s completely unfair for her, however sadly, that’s the world we stay in, and that’s why they’re frightened. So how does she kind this out? It’s not a straightforward query. If it was us, we’d in all probability have to think about issues like… How did they first meet her? Was it in particular person the place they received to know her over time? Possibly in a web based state of affairs the place they couldn’t see each other?
Or was it, say, seeing her on TV or social media first — making a totally superficial connection like that after which taking the following step? In his video, Dan explains that he noticed Shauna on the primary season of her TV present and was “impressed by her emotional power.” He then despatched her flowers out of nowhere, together with the message:
“Go stay your finest life. Wishing you all of the happiness you deserve.”
They began messaging on-line from there, and he flew from Wales to go to her in Lengthy Island.
So he was a complete stranger to her earlier than this, then he noticed her on TV and reached out? Some would name {that a} purple flag even when she was 5′ 9. We imply, folks attain out to actuality stars not likely understanding them on a regular basis, and contemplating his IG feed has aspiring influencer vibes, we wouldn’t be stunned if folks questioned if there was some clout chasing concerned.
However what do YOU assume, Perezcious readers? Are viewers misjudging right here? Does this example set off any alarm bells for you? Tell us within the feedback (under)!
Wishing Shauna numerous enjoyable, real love, and good occasions. She deserves to be blissful similar to everybody else.
[Image via Dan Swygart/Instagram.]
