Florence Pugh, 28, explains why she defends her relationship with ex-husband Zach Braff, 49, despite ‘nasty’ backlash
Florence Pugh is reflecting on why it was “necessary” to respond to haters over her and ex-boyfriend Zach Braff’s relationship.
“People would bully me and my partner,” the 28-year-old actress said in an interview with British Vogue published Wednesday, referring to her two-decade age difference with the 49-year-old former “Scrubs” star.
“Mine and Zac’s relationship was very private until it got bad, and I could see how badly it was affecting him, us and our families,” she said. “That’s when I spoke out.”
Pugh added, “I think whoever I’m with, I want to protect them. It’s not nice to know that people are saying the worst things about someone I love. … I needed to talk about it.”
He added that “any relationship that comes under this spotlight will be strained.”
When the former couple dated from 2019 to 2022, the “Don’t Worry Darling” star came to Braff’s defense on multiple occasions.
His first clapback came via Instagram when a troll pointed out the actor’s age — and his then-girlfriend responded, “And yet he still got it.”
The following year, Pugh spoke to Elle UK about a “hurtful” social media comment.
“People have no right to educate me about my private life,” she insisted in the June 2020 cover story. “It’s weird that normal people are allowed to show so much hate and opinion about a part of my life that I’m not sharing with the public.”
Additionally, the “Little Women” star slammed people who were telling her “who she should and shouldn’t love” in an April 2020 video.
She and Braff have remained cordial since calling it quits, with the Emmy nominee calling her ex a “legend” in a January 2023 birthday tribute.
As far as Pugh’s current relationship status goes, she opened up to the magazine on Wednesday about her private new romance.
“We’re figuring out who we really are,” she said enthusiastically. “And I think for the first time, I’m not allowing myself to go on a rollercoaster. I’m allowing myself to take the time to let something evolve and let it be completely real at its core, rather than trying to rush into it.”
“Falling is the most amazing feeling, but unfortunately if that’s the only thing you know in a relationship, that’s the only thing you should chase,” the Oscar nominee continued. “It won’t last long.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Pugh said she’s “always thinking about starting a family” and “trying to figure out when to do it.”
