Photo: Dan Swygart/instagram

Shauna Rae with Dan

Shauna Rae’s new interest isn’t holding back!

Dan Swygart defended the pair’s budding relationship — which was featured onseason 2ofI Am Shauna Rae— in two Instagram reels after he received criticism for pursuing the 23-year-old, who has pituitary dwarfism, making herbody appearance more similar to that of an 8-year-old.

“But how dare you take away her right, her human right, to have a connection, a friendship, a relationship with someone else? Who are you to say that she can’t have that?” he added.

“I cannot believe some people who deny her the right to have a friendship or connection with someone else,” he said. “She is a human being, she is a cancer survivor, she’s got disability, she had dwarfism. Who are you to take away her right to have a friendship and connection with someone? How dare you? How dare you?”

In a second Instagram reel, Swygart — who is Welsh and British — detailed how he firstconnected with Shauna Rae.

“I did the show knowing I was going to get some hate but it’s very important to remember that Shauna is an incredible 23-year-old woman who has a disability,” he continued. “So as you’re building a connection with her, it’s important to acknowledge her disability and look past that and build it with who she is as an individual.”

“As soon as you say she can’t have a real world connection with someone else, you dehumanize her, which is absolutely disgusting,” he said. “She is a human being, she deserves to have relationships and connections with whoever she wants.”

“I think some people aren’t emotionally mature enough to understand that you can have a deep connection based on personality rather than just on looks,” he added.

TLC

Shauna Rae’s Love Interest Dan Meets Her Family

Though the pair are not officially dating, Swygart has appeared on Shauna Rae’s Instagram several times in photos taken during their dates. One photo was snapped during theirsushi making class, while another showed the pairpaddleboarding.

In a previousconversation with PEOPLE, Shauna Rae opened up about the difficulties she faces when it comes to dating.

“I’m 22, but I look like I’m 8,” she explained. “My parents have put in my head all the people that could be attracted to me and why they could be attracted to me. I’m always looking for a red flag.”

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Seasons 1 and 2I Am Shauna Raeare now streaming in full on Discovery+.

source: people.com