Couple defends their 19-year age gap: 'It may seem weird'

A couple has defended the 19-year age gap that has drawn plenty of attention to them online. 

When Emily Stomatuk, 28, married Michael Justin, 47, her family had some reservations, though today they couldn't be happier for her. 

Speaking with Sylvia Jeffreys and David Campbell on Today Extra, the pair opened up about their relationship and the attention it has received. 

Watch the video above.

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"When I first met Michael, I was only 23," Stomatuk said.

"I saw this tanned, white-hair guy walk into my yoga class, and there were definitely some questions on how old he was, but I knew he was probably too old for me."

When Justin asked her out, Stomatuk confided in her family and friends to gauge whether they felt he was too old for her.

She did accept his offer, and they started a relationship. 

Last year, they tied the knot and began sharing more about their relationship online; naturally, viewers had mixed reactions. 

The couple says that aside from negative comments on their social media accounts and the occasional "strange" look in public, the response has been "positive." 

"I think from the beginning, we knew we were going to get some kind of reaction," Stomatuk said. 

"I will say, though, our friends, when they get questions ... they're like, 'OK, it may seem weird, but I promise if you just meet Emily and Michael, it all makes sense.'"

Stomatuk said she enjoys sharing their divisive relationship online and that she has received lots of messages thanking them for making them "feel comfortable, not with just a bigger age gap like ours of 19 years, but even just the five-year age gap or eight-year age gap."

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