EXCLUSIVE The parents of a man who “dated” a woman trapped in the body of an 8-year-old boy insist they are friends
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The parents of a man who sparked controversy after dating a young woman trapped in the body of an eight-year-old girl insisted the pair are “just friends.”
Dan Swygart, 26, has been romantically linked to Shauna Rae Lesick, 23, after they appeared on her reality show in the US.
The Brit has been accused of being a “creep” and being attracted to the 3ft 10in tall Shauna “because she looks like a girl”.
But her parents, who live in a small rural town in North Wales, have jumped to her defense, claiming their relationship is not romantic despite dating on her I Am Shauna Rae television show in the United States.
Shauna Rae Lesick, 23, introduced Dan Swygart, 26, to her parents on a recent episode of her TLC reality series ‘I am Shana Rae.’
Dan has since been accused of being a ‘creep’ and being attracted to the 3ft 10in tall Shauna ‘because she looks like a girl’
His mother, Helen, told MailOnline: ‘Daniel called me and told me the story has gone everywhere.’
She added: ‘They’re just friends. There is no relationship.
‘They are friends.’
Packing up his skis after a day in the snowy mountains of Wales, his father Steven, 60, said: “He’s appeared on his show and that’s it.”
‘That’s it, it’s as simple as that.
“He looks at her and thinks she’s a great person despite her disability, she’s just small.”
Shauna was candid about how her parents are concerned that she will attract pedophiles because she is 3 feet 10 inches, the average height for an eight-year-old.
Dan, a traveler from Wales, watched the first season of her reality show and reached out to her on social media before sending her flowers, leading them to talk regularly.
When asked if there was any romance, Dan’s father insisted: “I think that’s extremely unlikely.”
Dan and Shauna met on a recent episode of their TLC reality show.
His stunted growth is a side effect of the brain cancer treatment he received as a baby, and unfortunately his disability has made it difficult for him to find love.
Some people have questioned Dan’s motives, especially after Shauna’s parents expressed fear that her youthful appearance would attract a pedophile.
In a video shared on Instagram, Dan defended his date with the reality star.
Shauna introduced Dan to her mother and stepfather, Patty and Mark Schrankel, who couldn’t resist questioning him.
Dan’s parents have insisted the couple are ‘just friends’
The Welshman explained that he built his relationship with her on “who she is as an individual”, rather than her appearance.
“It’s very important to remember that Shauna is an incredible 23-year-old woman who has a disability,” she said.
“So as you build a connection with her, it’s important to acknowledge her disability and look beyond that and build it to who she is as an individual.
“She’s an amazing and inspiring 23-year-old who just happens to be a bit short.”
In the clip, Dan explained that he contacted Shauna after watching the show’s first season and feeling “inspired by her emotional strength.”
They spent the day in an aquarium and escape room with their 18-year-old half-sister Rylee (pictured).
He then sent her some flowers and a card that read, “Go live your best life. I wish you all the happiness you deserve.”
They began messaging on social media, before he flew to his hometown on Long Island, New York, where they went on a series of dates, all of which were showcased on the show.
During the Instagram video, Dan admitted that he knew he was going to get “some hate” when he agreed to appear on the series, but called it “absolutely disgusting” and “dehumanizing” to Shauna.
The couple spent their first day together in an aquarium and escape room, and were joined by Rylee, her 18-year-old half-sister.
“Rylee and I were so anxious because we didn’t know what she wanted,” Shauna admitted on the show.
Dan said: “She’s an amazing and inspiring 23-year-old who just happens to be a bit short.”
“He was also talking to both of them casually, so we didn’t know who he was on.”
In another part of the show, Dan came over to her house to make sushi rolls.
She introduced him to her mother and stepfather, Patty and Mark Schrankel, who couldn’t resist questioning him.
Patty asked him things like how often they talk, which Dan said was almost every day at the time, and what their intentions were.
Although Dan seemed visibly uncomfortable during questioning, he was open about how he wanted to take his daughter around the world with him on his travels.
“I think Dan would be a good match for Shauna because he’s so smart. [and] adventurous,’ her stepfather said on camera afterward.
‘Shauna is smart but not very adventurous. I think she could get her out of [her] comfort zone, but still make it safe.
But many viewers criticized the relationship as “weird”, “worrying”, “awkward”, “creepy” and “not right”.
“I’m sorry but the fact that he saw her online and contacted her on purpose makes me feel uncomfortable as appearance is often the first and most important impression you get online,” one person wrote.