Dan Swygartis opening up about the connection he shared with TLC star,Shauna Rae.
On the latest episode ofThe Sarah Fraser Showpodcast, Swygart revealed he and theI Am Shauna Raelead nevertook their relationship to the next level.
“We got very, very close on an emotional level,” he admitted. “I mean, it never really got physical, we kissed once. Of course, I wasn’t there for long periods of time … So it never really progressed into a relationship.”
Swygart, who is from Europe, revealed that he and Shauna — a 23-year-old who has smaller stature than an average adult due to pituitary dwarfism — were judged, both in real life and on the internet, after their connection was documented on season 2 of TLC series.
TLC
“People were taking their phones out, taking videos of her, so I had to go up to them and tell them to leave,” he added. “People came up to me and they were like, ‘Um, is it not past her bedtime?’ This is just one evening and it’s just constant.”
Shauna Rae Instagram
Swygart added that the criticism of the pair’s connection was especially difficult for him as some people assumed he was inappropriately attracted to Shauna because of her 3'11" stature.
“With that just came this big, huge amount of hate, and I felt like the world was crushing me because obviously the media and people, YouTubers as well, they categorized me in the most hated group of people on the planet,” he explained. “Obviously, because of Shauna’s condition … they put me in that category. I just felt like that world was crushing me.”
However, he wasgrateful for the support he receivedafter sharing Instagram videos denouncing those whofind Shauna undeserving of lovebecause of her physical appearance.
“I basically lost my faith in humanity, did these videos, and then a huge amount of love and support came and I’m so thankful to the world,” he said. “Because that’s the lowest I’ve ever been in my life, with the world sort of crushing me like that, the world sort of saved [me], I had a huge amount of support.”
Recently, Shauna has been candid about the challenges she faces on a daily basis, sharing posts on social media about thetreatment she often receives at restaurantsand why the catchphrase about her being a woman “stuck in an 8-year-old body” is incorrect.
In one post, Shauna Rae explained the importance of raising awareness for pituitary dwarfism.
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“Everyone deserves to be treated the same no matter their difference ❤️” she shared.
source: people.com
