Florence Pugh defends relationship with Zach Braff: ‘People have no right to educate me on my private life’

‘I have the right to hang out and be with and go out with anyone I want to’

Florence Pugh says she has the right to date whoever she wants following ongoing criticism of her relationship with fellow actor Zach Braff.

In an interview with ELLE UK the 24-year-old, who appeared in Little Women, said “people have no right to educate me on my private life”.

“I have the right to hang out and be with and go out with anyone I want to. I’ve always found this part of what people do really bizarre.

“I’m an actor because I like acting and I don’t mind people watching my stuff, but people have no right to educate me on my private life.”

Last month Pugh uploaded a photo of her boyfriend to Instagram to celebrate his 45th birthday.

“Today we shall smile wider than the clouds are grey. April 6th and we’re celebrating hard!” Pugh wrote on the Instagram post.

“Happy Birthday wishes, boogies and cheers for this special person. Raise those bubbles and jiggle!”

Within minutes, the Midsommar actor received a barrage of abuse from trolls making comments about the couple’s 21-year age gap.

Pugh, who came to prominence following her lead role in the independent drama Lady Macbeth, said it’s “bizarre” that strangers are allowed to dish out so much hate with no consequences.

“I know that part of being in the spotlight is that people might invade your privacy and have opinions on it,” she said. “But it’s bizarre that normal folk are allowed to display such hate and opinions on a part of my life that I’m not putting out there.

“It’s a strange side of fame that you’re allowed to be torn apart by thousands of people even though you didn’t put that piece of you out there.

“My point to all this is that isn’t it odd that a stranger can totally tear apart someone’s relationship and it’s allowed?”

The BIFA award-winning actress also opened up about life in the film industry, attending the Oscars and her upcoming role in Black Widow, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name.

“When I got the job, I wanted to know what the regime was. I wanted to know whether it was them or me calling the shots,” she said.

“That was a big deal for me. I didn’t want to be part of something where I was constantly checked on. And people making sure I was in the ‘right’ shape. That’s not me at all.”

The June issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 7 May 2020.