A YOUNG woman has clapped back at haters who criticised her 27-year age gap relationship.
Abi McMahon, 26, has been dating Jonny Mitchell, 53, for the past four years.
The brunette admitted that keyboard warriors have labelled her relationship as “wrong” and “weird,” but she won’t let the “bizarre” trolls get her down, as she took to social media to set the record straight.
Jonny, an ex head teacher who recently opened up on being branded a “dirty old man” and “paedo teacher” was previously slammed for falling in love with Abi, who is almost 30 years his junior.
And now, Abi, who is only slightly older than Jonny’s three children, has attempted to silence haters as she shared her thoughts on her age gap relationship.
She said: “I’m in a 27-year age gap relationship – my boyfriend is 53 and I’m 26.”
Abi recognised that she met Jonny at the end of 2021 in a bar.
She acknowledged that the pair were both on nights out at the time and once they got chatting, things quickly took off.
The influencer continued: “Obviously I know people are going to have opinions, saying it’s ‘wrong’, ‘it’s weird’ or whatever – ok, that’s fine.”
Abi, a social media manager from Nottingham who fell in love with Jonny, who earned himself heartthrob status on TV show Educating Yorkshire, then revealed what confuses her most.
She added: “But what baffles me is the people in the comments saying negative things are keyboard warriors, because in public you wouldn’t go up to a stranger and just randomly say that to their face, so I do find that very, very bizarre, but anyway, it is what it is.
“Another thing that makes me laugh, people say, ‘you were his student’ – no, I went to school in Nottingham – it’s like people have to believe their own narrative which does make me laugh.”
The content creator, who shares a rented stone cottage in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with Jonny, then discussed her relationship in further detail.
She recognised that Jonny, who was once head of Dewsbury’s Thornhill Community Academy, West Yorkshire when he starred on TV, is strikingly similar to her, despite their large age gap.
It’s not ‘a phase’ or whatever people say
Abi McMahon
As well as this, she also shared the reality after being in a relationship with Jonny for the past four years.
Abi explained: “Me and Jonny have loads in common, we get along so well and I’m sure as you can do the maths, we met at the end of 2021, it is now 2025, so yeah, it’s not ‘a phase’ or whatever people say.”
Big divide
Abi’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @abs_mxo, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 171,200 views.
But social media users were left totally divided by Abi and Jonny’s relationship, as many flocked to the comments to share their thoughts.
A-list age gap relationships that have stood the test of time
- Kris Jenner & Corey Gamble – 25 years
The Kardashian matriarch, 69, met her younger man, 44, at a mutual friend’s 40th birthday party in Ibiza. They’ve been together since August 2014. - Sam & Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 23 years
The director, 57, and actor, 34, reportedly met at a film audition in 2009, and were married by 2012. The pair share two daughters and Sam has two children from a previous marriage. - Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham – 20 years
The model, 37, started dating actor Jason, 57, in 2010. They were wed in 2016 and have since welcomed a son and a daughter together. - Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas – 25 years
Catherine, 55, was introduced to Michael, 80, a film festival in 1996 and engaged three years later. Shortly after their engagement, the couple welcomed a son and married in 2000.
One person said: “You were in Year 8 when he was on Educating [Yorkshire].”
In response, Abi defiantly responded and questioned: “And your point is?”
A second added: “So wrong.”
Honestly don’t listen to the haters. 18 year age gap with me and my partner. Been together 20 years
TikTok user
A third commented: “Must be rich.”
Meanwhile, someone else chimed in: “Looks like dad and daughter…..”
But at the same time, others told Abi to ignore the trolls, as one user wrote: “Both consenting adults so enjoy your life!”
Another agreed: “Honestly don’t listen to the haters. 18 year age gap with me and my partner. Been together 20 years.”
Whilst one user simply penned: “Good for you.”
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club
