Florence Pugh confirms she and Zach Braff have broken up

Black Widow actor Florence Pugh has confirmed she and Zach Braff have broken up.

Rumours about a romance between Pugh, 26, and Braff, 47, began to circulate in early 2019, when they were spotted holding hands in New York City and Pugh started making appearances on the Scrubs star's Instagram page.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic the pair went into isolation together and even appeared to be fostering a dog, but their relationship received criticism from many trolls who called out the 21-year age gap between them.

After three years of dating, Pugh announced in an interview with Harper's Bazaar that she and Braff had quietly split up earlier this year.

She told the publication the pair had been trying to do the separation 'without the world knowing', pointing out it had been a relationship 'that everybody has an opinion on'.

"We just felt something like this would really do us the benefit of not having millions of people telling us how happy they are that we're not together. So we've done that," Pugh said, adding: "I automatically get a lumpy throat when I talk about it."

Pugh defended the age gap between her and Braff on numerous occasions, and she reflected on the attention surrounding her relationship in the interview which forms the cover story for the Harper's Bazaar September ICONS issue.

She explained: "Whenever I feel like that line has been crossed in my life, whether it's paparazzi taking private moments, or moments that aren't even real, or gossip channels that encourage members of the public to share private moments of famous people walking down the street, I think it's incredibly wrong.

"I don't think that people, just because they have this job, that every aspect of their life should be watched and written about. We haven't signed up for a reality TV show."

Pugh has previously described Braff as a 'special fella', saying he has a 'never ending' need to make people laugh and smile and saying his 'constant generosity and love for others is infectious'.

"His creativity and ability to put real and honest words onto the page inspires many and all who’s around him, but above all.. his appreciation for life and excitement for LIVING is something I always take note of," she wrote in a post for Braff's birthday.

After receiving backlash about their age gap, Pugh told her followers she doesn't need people to tell her who she 'should and should not love'.

"It is not your place. And really, it has nothing to do with you," she wrote.

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