A man labeled a ‘creep’ for dating a woman 'trapped in a child’s body' has been defended by his parents.
Dan Swygart, 26, stirred up some controversy when he was romantically linked to 23-year-old Shauna Rae Lesick.
Shauna is three feet and 10 inches tall, and weighs around 50 pounds (22.6kg).
She underwent chemotherapy after being diagnosed with brain cancer as a child and, in turn, suffered damage to her pituitary gland, which affected her growth and caused her to develop pituitary dwarfism.
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She has opened up about her dating struggles due to her appearance on her TLC reality show I Am Shauna Rae.
The series, which debuted last year, recently featured Shauna and Dan going on several dates.
However, Dan has attracted significant backlash online, with many deeming him a ‘creep’ for dating someone with a child-like appearance.
But his parents have hit back at criticism, insisting that he and Shauna aren't dating at all and are just ‘friends’.
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His mother Helen told Daily Mail: “Daniel rang me and told me the story has gone everywhere.”
She added: “They are just friends. There is no relationship.
“They are friends.”
Meanwhile, his father, Steven, said: “He has appeared in their show and that's the extent of it.
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“That's it, it's as simple as that.
“He looks at her and thinks she is a tremendous person despite her disability, she's only small.”
When asked if he thought the two would develop a romantic connection, Steven said it was ‘unlikely’.
In a recent Instagram video, the 26-year-old also defended their relationship.
He said: “The way me and Shauna met is I saw the first season of the show and I was really inspired by her emotional strength, so I sent her some flowers and a card that said, ‘Go live your best life, wishing you all the happiness you deserve.’”
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The Welshman added that he knew he would receive hate by going on the show.
He continued: “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.”
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In response to his video, one person wrote: “Well said Dan. I appreciate your coming into our lives.”
While another commented: “Dan is nothing but a gentleman. I’m proud to call him a friend.”
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