- Florence Pugh has declared she will no longer publicly discuss her romantic relationships.
- The decision was prompted by the “insane amount of abuse” and “bullying” directed at her ex-boyfriend, Zach Braff, over their 21-year age gap.
- Pugh recalled her viral 2020 video where she called out the “toxic vibe” from commenters, stating she needed to remind them that she and Braff are “real people.”
- Despite the public pressure and their eventual breakup, Pugh and Braff have remained on friendly terms.
Florence Pugh Draws a Line on Public Romance
Florence Pugh is officially done talking about her love life, and the reason is a damning indictment of online fan culture. In a recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the acclaimed actress revealed that the relentless online “abuse” aimed at her ex-boyfriend, Zach Braff, forced her to shield her relationships from the public eye.
Pugh, who dated the Scrubs star from 2019 to 2022, explained that no matter how she approached the topic, online critics twisted the narrative to fit their own desires.
“With relationships and with romance in this world, it doesn’t matter how much you speak on it or how little you speak on it, people don’t care. They want a story,” Pugh stated. “They sort of want a reality show, and so it doesn’t really matter how much you say you love someone or how much they make you happy, if they don’t like them and it doesn’t fit that image that they want of you, they don’t care.”
The Breaking Point: Defending Zach Braff
The intense scrutiny over the couple’s 21-year age difference came to a head in 2020 when Pugh posted a birthday tribute to Braff on Instagram. The post was immediately flooded with hateful comments, prompting the actress to take a stand.
In a powerful video, she condemned the “bullying” and toxic behavior on her page. “Within about eight minutes of the photo being posted, I had about 70 percent of the comments hurling abuse and being horrid,” she said at the time.
“I Will Always Defend People I Love”
Reflecting on that moment, Pugh told Theroux that she felt a responsibility to intervene. “It got to the point where it was just really horrible to see someone that you are with receiving that, and it was never at me, it was only at him,” she explained. “And I think I just needed to kind of just check everyone, and so I made a video… I do think people online need to be reminded that we’re real.”
She emphasized her unwavering stance on protecting those close to her: “I’ll always defend people that I love, I will always stand up for them.”
An Amicable Split Despite the Storm
Although Pugh and Braff quietly ended their relationship in 2022, they have maintained a supportive and friendly connection. Braff has continued to praise her immense talent, once stating in a Vogue interview, “I quite simply think she’s one of the greatest actors of her generation. She’s just magnetic. You cannot take your eyes off of her.” This enduring respect highlights the private reality that was often overshadowed by public condemnation.