Dan Swygart, who is dating 23-year-old Shauna Rae trapped in the body of an eight-year-old girl, has hit back at critics who called him a "creep".
The 26-year-old from Wales has slammed criticism that he's attracted to her "because she looks like a kid". Instead, Dan has made it clear that he's dating Shauna for her 'personality' and not her childlike looks.
Shauna Rae Lesick, who stars in TLC's 'I Am Shauna Rae' measures just three-feet and 10-inches tall and weighs only 50 pounds - the same as an average eight year old.
Her stunted growth is a side effect of treatment she received as a child for brain cancer, and the petite star has found it difficult to find love and relationships as a result.
Viewers of Shauna's TLC show have watched as the couple's relationship unfolded, as well as Shauna's parents voicing their concerns.
Shauna's mother and stepfather, her mother and step-father, Patty and Mark Schrankel, previously expressed their fears that Shauna would attract paedophiles because of her child-like appearance.
However, Dan has defended his relationship with 23-year-old Shauna.
In a video on social media, he explained: "It's very important to remember that Shauna is an incredible 23-year-old woman who has a disability.
"So as you are building a connection with her, it's important to acknowledge her disability and look past that and build it with who she is an individual.
"She's this incredible, inspiring 23-year-old woman who just happens to be a little bit short."
He added: "As soon as you say that she can't have a real-world connection with someone else, you dehumanise her, which is absolutely disgusting.
"She is a human being. She deserves to have relationships and connections with whoever she wants.
"And I think some people aren't emotionally mature enough to understand that you can have a deep connection based on personality rather than just on looks."
Dan's defence of his relationship with Shauna comes after comments flooded in after the episode showing their first dates aired. Viewers rushed to social media to share their thoughts.
One viewer wrote: "Dan almost seems especially attracted to her BECAUSE she is tiny which is concerning. I am sorry."
Another added: "Yes, she is 23, but she looks and talks like an eight-year-old. She also does not act like a mature woman. She is childlike."
"If any man or woman can honestly say that they can see her as a "sexual woman," they are either lying or sick. PERIOD," said a third.
"I don’t know about this guy… I still think it’s creepy," added another.
After Dan come round to Shauna's house and was interrogated by her parents, stepdad Mark gave the seal of approval for Dan.
He said: "I think Dan would be a really good match for Shauna because he's very smart [and] adventurous. Shauna's smart but not very adventurous. I think he could pull her out of [her] comfort zone but still make her safe."
However, a blossoming romance might not be on the cards as Shauna admitted that she's not sure she wants a long-distance relationship and, with Dan living in the UK, it could prove difficult to continue.
She confessed: "I haven't actually really thought about if Dan and I were in a relationship and how that would look. I assume that we would probably try long distance, but I've been in a long-distance relationship. It's not my cup of tea."
