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A 21-year-old British influencer—navigating through adulthood—has strongly defended her relationship with her boyfriend—who is still navigating the hallways of a high school.
After immense backlash for their five-year age gap, Natasha Newcombe insisted that her 16-year-old teenage sweetheart Marko Vituk is the prince to her social media princess.
Highlights
- Natasha Newcombe, 21, defended her relationship with 16-year-old Marko Vituk amid backlash over their age gap.
- The relationship caused Natasha to lose her best friend of 11 years, who couldn't accept their relationship.
- Despite criticism, Natasha describes Marko as the most mature and loving person she's been with.
- “It’s my life. I’m going to live my life how I want to live my life,” asserted the British influencer.
The young couple from the UK, where the legal age of consent is 16, appeared on The Blue Tick Show hosted by Mikey Melin.
The relationship has been a strong point of contention that even her best friend of 11 years cut ties with her over.
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Natasha Newcombe fiercely defended her relationship with 16-year-old Marko Vituk amid backlash over their five-year age gap
Image credits: Marko Vituk / Instagram
Image credits: Marko Vituk / Instagram
“I completely lost my best friend for being with Marko,” she said on the podcast. “She said, ‘I just can’t be associated with you,’ and I told her I didn’t care.”
The content curator recalled how they first connected online and later decided to meet in person.
“I’d told Marko I’d go out for food with him. I didn’t see it as a date or anything,” she explained. “I was also unsure of meeting him because I’ve actually never dated someone younger than me in my life.”
The couple appeared on The Blue Tick Show hosted by Mikey Melin, where the 21-year-old British influencer addressed the controversy and defended her relationship
View this post on Instagram
Image credits: Marko Vituk / Instagram
“I didn’t know what kind of challenges that was gonna bring forward for me, but regardless, I’m in a relationship with him now,” she added.
She is now resolute in her decision to nurture her romantic relationship with the high schooler, declaring: “It’s my life.”
“I’m going to live my life how I want to live my life,” she continued. “If I decide I want to be in a relationship with him, I can because it is legal. Whether you think it’s morally right or not, it is legal.”
The internet-famous girlfriend revealed that even her best friend of 11 years cut ties with her because of their relationship
@thebrocastpodcastt Marko & Tasha joined the Bro’Cast Podcast sofa to speak on their relationship thats being spoken about over social media. Its a conversation that needed to be had due to the uproar on TikTok recently. Full Episode lands very soon. Thank you to @markovituk and @Tasha Newcombe for being open with us on the sofa. #marko #tashanewcombe #podcast #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #boysspeakup #couplestiktok #socialmedia #relationships ♬ original sound – TheBroCastPodcastt
Since they became an official item, the youngsters have faced a tidal wave of backlash as critics were quick to call their five-year age gap “insane.”
“I’m confused, he looks like a child. How would you not know he’s a child?” one social media user asked, while another quipped, “You look like his mom.”
“Dude he looks like a BABY,” another said.
“Leave that little boy alone,” said one without mincing words.
“I just have to say that this boy is genuinely the most mature, kind, loving person I’ve ever been in a relationship with,” Natasha said about her teenage beau
@tashanewcombe Spend a day with us @markovituk 🫶🏼 special thanks to @JayjayPRuk & @Ayllu for our gorgeous meal 🍱 #fyp #foryou #viralvideo #relationship #couple ♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER sped up – Dear.angel.lacy14
“Is he allowed to drive yet?” asked another.
Natasha, meanwhile, has chosen to turn her ear away from all the naysayers.
“I am in a relationship with someone who’s five years younger than me, and I know a lot of people are gonna have their opinions on that and quite rightly so, you’re allowed to have your opinions. That’s your free will,” she told host Mikey.
In response to allegations of her grooming the boy, she asserted that he was the one who pursued her.
“F— that! I’m not being groomed,” Marko also said on the podcast.
Both the youngsters refuted grooming allegations and asserted that Marko had pursued her, not the other way around
@tashanewcombe truly am his number 1 fan 🥹🥹@markovituk #fyp #foryou #viralvideo #relationship ♬ redrum – Joss 🦇
The internet-famous girlfriend defended her teenage sweetheart, calling him the most “mature” person she’s been in a relationship with. She also said she won’t tolerate anyone targeting her loved ones.
“Although my relationship is very new, I just have to say that this boy is genuinely the most mature, kind, loving person I’ve ever been in a relationship with,” she said. “I will not stand for hate directed at me, my friends, or family.”
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What do you think ?
arthbach 4 months ago
The author used the phrase 'both youngsters' - this is inaccurate. One of the pair is legally a child, and the other is legally an adult. The use of 'youngsters' is disingenuous. When a adult is dating a child, there will always be questions to answer, and rightly so. . . . If one of them were 21, and the other 26, I would have absolutely no problems, but at 16, the age gap is not good. There's such a power imbalance.
Loch Ness Monster 4 months ago
My partner is 5 years older than me, but we met when I was 22. We almost met when I was 16 as we were at the same event at the same time. I remember seeing him but he didn't notice me because it was obvious I was still in school and therefore far too young and he wouldn't have given me second look!
Load More Replies... Tabitha 4 months ago (edited)
Sure she's only 21, and not like 35 or something? Because she's a very old looking 21. At 21, I looked like I was still in high school. On my 21st birthday I went to buy alcohol for the first time, and they thought I was using a fake ID, even though it was my real drivers license! Regardless, I agree that there's a much wider gap between 16 and 21 than there is between 26 and 31, or 21 and 26. The next 5 years are going to be really important growth years for him, especially regarding maturity and critical thinking. Hell, between 18 and 22, I even grew 2 inches in height, not to mention got a full time job, and started living on my own and paying my own bills. I grew up really fast between 18 and 22, and definitely wanted way different things at 22 than at 18. This young man may very well have the same experience. Right now at 16, it's an ego trip for him to have a girlfriend who's 5 years older. At 18 or 22, it might be different. Since I highly doubt this is genuine true soulmate love we're talking about, and is more likely just physical attraction and ego tripping, I don't see this lasting very long. Also where TF are his parents in all this?
Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Same! I stopped getting carded to buy liquor when I was 40!
Load More Replies...
the_avenging_knight (her/she) 4 months ago
Just imagine what everyone would be saying if he was a 16 year old girl... this is pretty f*****g creepy if it happens to be sexual, if it's just the two of them holding hands and kissing, still creepy but not nearly as so. Also, you'd think his parents might care about this?! TF are they doing!?
arthbach 4 months ago
The author used the phrase 'both youngsters' - this is inaccurate. One of the pair is legally a child, and the other is legally an adult. The use of 'youngsters' is disingenuous. When a adult is dating a child, there will always be questions to answer, and rightly so. . . . If one of them were 21, and the other 26, I would have absolutely no problems, but at 16, the age gap is not good. There's such a power imbalance.
Loch Ness Monster 4 months ago
My partner is 5 years older than me, but we met when I was 22. We almost met when I was 16 as we were at the same event at the same time. I remember seeing him but he didn't notice me because it was obvious I was still in school and therefore far too young and he wouldn't have given me second look!
Load More Replies... Tabitha 4 months ago (edited)
Sure she's only 21, and not like 35 or something? Because she's a very old looking 21. At 21, I looked like I was still in high school. On my 21st birthday I went to buy alcohol for the first time, and they thought I was using a fake ID, even though it was my real drivers license! Regardless, I agree that there's a much wider gap between 16 and 21 than there is between 26 and 31, or 21 and 26. The next 5 years are going to be really important growth years for him, especially regarding maturity and critical thinking. Hell, between 18 and 22, I even grew 2 inches in height, not to mention got a full time job, and started living on my own and paying my own bills. I grew up really fast between 18 and 22, and definitely wanted way different things at 22 than at 18. This young man may very well have the same experience. Right now at 16, it's an ego trip for him to have a girlfriend who's 5 years older. At 18 or 22, it might be different. Since I highly doubt this is genuine true soulmate love we're talking about, and is more likely just physical attraction and ego tripping, I don't see this lasting very long. Also where TF are his parents in all this?
Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Same! I stopped getting carded to buy liquor when I was 40!
Load More Replies... the_avenging_knight (her/she) 4 months ago
Just imagine what everyone would be saying if he was a 16 year old girl... this is pretty f*****g creepy if it happens to be sexual, if it's just the two of them holding hands and kissing, still creepy but not nearly as so. Also, you'd think his parents might care about this?! TF are they doing!?
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