Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: Real Life, Life, Sex and Relationships
Gabriella Ferlita
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.
But unfortunately for one couple, they have been the target of age-related judgement as strangers often mistake them for grandad and grandson.
Christopher Amato, 31, and husband John, 56, are besotted with each other despite having a 25-year age difference between them.
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In fact, it’s onlookers that seem to have a problem with the pair’s respective ages, as John and Christopher have been the targets of cruel online harassment - some of which have even gone as far as to send death threats to the couple.
Christopher said: "We've had our social media accounts suspended from TikTok 12 times because we end up getting bullied and reported by people for no reason.
"People comment 'where's the old man? How come you're in the hot tub with your grandfather? Why'd you marry your dad?’ Or sometimes, [they] even say John's a ‘paedophile’.
"We've been called every name you could think of - people have wished us dead and said they hope we get AIDS or monkeypox - it's relentless,” he admitted.
However, Christopher said that he tries to not let the comments 'bother him'.
"For me I feel like the people that come in and leave nasty comments on our videos.
"I think those people are so unhappy in their own lives." he said.
The happy couple first met on a dating app in 2019 whilst they were on separate holidays in Cuba.
They got the blessing of John’s daughter - who is the same age as Christopher - and they tied the knot in October 2021 in the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas, US.
John revealed that his daughter had said: “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
He was also worried that his partner’s mum, Lori Ross, wouldn’t be so accepting of their relationship as she is only two years younger than him at 55 years old.
But the couple’s worries were in vain as Lori pays them a visit once a month, while John now considers her one of his ‘closest friends’.
The dad-of-one from Portland, Maine, said: "Lori and I have a great relationship, I'm older than she is but it's nice we're the same age and grew up in the same era.
"When she comes down to visit it's like we've been friends forever, I'd say she's one of my closest friends.
"When we first got together, I was a bit worried about our age gap, only because I have a daughter the same age as Chris, so I was a little reluctant to message him back.
"But when I realised it was going somewhere, I called my daughter and explained. She just said 'dad, as long as you're happy, I'm happy for you.'
"That took a lot of pressure from me and made me feel really good."