Florence Pugh says it is ‘funny’ that trolls think she is too young to decide ‘who to have sex with’

Pugh appeared on Sue Perkins’ podcast and discussed her relationship with Zach Braff, 45

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Florence Pugh has described how she finds it “funny” that people think she is old enough to act and pay taxes, but too young to know who to date.

Appearing on Sue Perkins’ “An hour or so with” podcast, the 24-year-old said: “I’ve always found it funny how I can be good enough for people to watch my work and support my work and pay for tickets. And I’m old enough to be an adult and pay taxes.

“But I’m not old enough to know who I should and should not have sex with.”

Pugh, who was Oscar-nominated for her role in Little Women, was referring to her relationship with fellow actor Zach Braff, 45.

The relationship has come under intense scrutiny from social media trolls because of the 20-year age difference between the pair.

Pugh explained: “Once again it’s making a young woman feel like s**t for no reason.”

Admitting that she did “feel like s**t” for a while, before deciding it was “ridiculous”. “Then I thought, how ridiculous is that? I’m 24 and I can’t choose who I love.”

The British actor said there is “a reason” she is not with someone her own age. “It hasn’t worked, so who are you trying to match me up with,” she explains.

Pugh, who is originally from Oxford, says that she find the intense scrutiny of her private life difficult. “Because I’m in the entertainment industry those lines get very blurred. People just want to have a say on who you go out with, where you go for lunch.

“For me, I’ve always found that part of this life, even when I grew up watching actresses, I’ve always found that weird how people have a say over your private life.”

She says she is “not a reality TV star” and chooses to keep her relationships out of the public eye. “So since when has it been OK for someone to shout at someone for their relationship?”

In April, Pugh released an Instagram video addressing the trolling for the first time after posting a photograph of Braff on his birthday.

She said: ““It is the first time in my entire Instagram life that I’ve had to turn off the comments on my page, I have never been an Instagram page that encourages that, I have never been an Instagram page that likes that toxic vibe,” she continued.

“I’m 24 years old, I have been working since I was 17-years-old, I have been earning money since I was 17-years-old, I became an adult when I was 18-years-old and I started paying taxes when I was 18-years-old, I underline this fact, I am 24-years-old,” she said.

“I do not need you tell me who I should and should not love, and I would never in my life ever tell anyone who they can and cannot love.”