A couple who insist they are happily married despite a 42-year age gap have hit back at trolls calling the woman a ‘gold digger’.
David Epstein, 70, of Oakland, California, met his wife Jackie, 28, while visiting the Philippines.
The couple has a joint TikTok account, @dave_jackie2818where they’ve amassed just under 50,000 followers – and are known for sharing lots of loving moments with their fans.
Beloved clippings includes scenes of Jackie sitting on David’s lap and pinching his face, in a video captioned: ‘I am blessed’, as well as videos of the couple dancing.
However, not everyone is supportive and the couple have defended their relationship on numerous occasions.
David Epstein (70) of Oakland, California met his wife Jackie (28) while in the Philippines
TikTok fans were unconvinced by their pairing – with many casting doubt on Jackie’s true intentions, claiming she only married David for a ‘green card’
One fan said: ‘Should have gone to the bingo hall and picked you a nice old lady’, while another speculated that Jackie was ‘all over the green card’.
Jackie told YouTube channel Love Don’t judge: ‘So manyhim as my sugar daddy, say I’m a green card digger, a gold digger.
‘But I’m not really affected because it’s not true. I know myself, I know that I am not a gold digger’.
But luckily for Jackie, her family and friends were keen on the union: ‘My family are very supportive and so are my friends.
‘I will not regret marrying Dave because he is a very nice man. He loves me, he respects me, he is the best’.
David, met Jackie on the dating site Cherry Blossoms, where members are actively looking ‘to meet Filipina and Asian women’ online – while he was in her homeland.
It turned out the two hit it off like a house on fire and David popped the question within just six months.
David said: ‘We met when I was in the Philippines. I used a dating site. One day I saw her profile – I practically jumped out of my chair. I was so impressed by what I saw’.
Loved clips include scenes of Jackie sitting on David’s lap and pinching his face, with the video: ‘I am blessed’, as well as less intimate displays of affection where the duo dance.
Speaking about their wedding, Jackie said: ‘Our wedding was fun. It was the best day of my life. My parents and siblings couldn’t make it here.
After agreeing to meet David, Jackie admitted she ‘didn’t review his profile’ and had ‘no idea what he looked like’. She added: ‘I could see that he was a gentleman and was very nice.
Jackie received her Visa 11 months after David popped the question, with the couple choosing to live in the US.
Jackie now works at a local pharmacy in California, but makes sure to return to the Philippines once a year to visit her family and help support them financially.