The marriage between a 37-year-old former Home and Away actor and his much younger bride has sparked online backlash.
Jackson Heywood and his new wife, Miss Universe Australia finalist Anneliese Zanchetta, 25, were attacked by keyboard warriors after sharing a wedding day post on Monday.
One troll questioned the couple’s large age gap and mocked the many celebrity friends who posted congratulations on the pair’s Instagram, including Home and Away’s Sophie Dillman.
Posting to a page on Facebook, the user uploaded a black-and-white photo of the couple on their wedding day and commented that they had ‘the tea’ on the pair.
After identifying Heywood’s past in Summer Bay and Anneliese’s role as a beauty queen, they said:Â ‘I’ve worked out that she is around 25 or 26 and he is 37.
‘Usually I stay way out of what’s not my business, but I can’t help finding it distasteful, and watching all these celebs congratulate them is kinda gross.’Â
Jackson Heywood, 37, and his new wife, Miss Universe Australia finalist Anneliese Zanchetta, 25, were attacked by keyboard warriors after sharing a wedding day post on Monday. Both pictured
One troll called into question the couple’s large age gap. Pictured: Anneliese was a first runner-up in Miss Universe Australia in 2022
Another user weighed in on the age gap of the pair, who hard-launched their relationship back in 2020, commenting: ‘Depends when they got together tbh.’
‘If they met recently, they’re two consenting adults.’
A third female user also criticised the couple’s 12-year age gap.
‘Yup, me too lol,’ they began.Â
‘I don’t care what anyone says, I couldn’t imagine being 37 and wanting to be with someone in their mid-20s, no matter how “mature” they are and I’m always gonna look at a dude doing this funny because of how dudes are.’
Not everyone on the same thread agreed.
‘Age gaps can always be turned around to make it “creepy”,’ said one user.
‘If they’re both consenting adults, I don’t see the issue.’
Another agreed, and replied to the original post: ‘They’re both consenting adults… Definitely overreacting lol.’
The happy couple showed off their wedding certificateÂ
A third person said: ‘Can we not make a problem where there isn’t one? He wasn’t with her when she was in primary school.’
Another woman messaged: ‘Lmfao. My husband is 54 and I’m 37… mind ya business.’Â
Anneliese shared the news of her nuptials by posting several stunning wedding photos.
The dark-haired bride chose a classic white sleeveless dress with a long veil for her big day, while Jackson walked up the aisle in a dark wedding tux.
Several photos featured Jackson looking blissful as he held close his new bride.
Among the followers sending their congratulations was Aussie actor Nicholas Burton, who said: ‘The best.’
Thor actress Heidi May messaged: ‘We LOVE.’
Meanwhile, Home and Away’s Sophie Dillman gushed. ‘Heavenly couple, heavenly wedding.’
Jackson announced his romance with Anneliese online back in July 2022, when he was 32.
The Bloom star shared a black-and-white photo of himself and his then 21-year-old sweetheart looking cosy as they sat alongside each other in a restaurant.
Before dating Anneliese, the actor was in a long-term relationship with the late Robin Williams’s daughter Zelda Williams.
