This Love Island star has hit back at critics calling her a 'sugar baby'
Love Island Australia's Erin Barnett has taken to Instagram to hit back at trolls who have criticised her relationship with her "much older" boyfriend Mick Russell.
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The 24-year-old reality TV star revealed she was relentlessly trolled with "nasty comments" earlier this month, and used her social media platform to defend herself.
In a post to her Instagram stories, Erin hit back at critics who accused her of being 43-year-old Russell's "sugar baby".
“I probably shouldn't even do this, but I feel the ‘need’ to,” Erin began her lengthy post.
“I've just been reading some articles about my relationship with Mick. I really shouldn't have kept scrolling through the articles and comments, but hey, it's the Internet, right? Yes, I am dating an older man. No, he isn't my ‘sugar daddy’.”
“Just a little FYI - [the] definition of a sugar daddy [is]: ‘a rich older man who lavishes gifts on a young woman in return for her company or sexual favours’.”
“I have my own money, I don't need any man, at whatever age, giving me any gifts or their money. I buy myself better gifts than anyone can.”
“I don't have ‘daddy issues’, as I have a fantastic relationship with my dad. He's an amazing man and has always been by my side through everything,” she continued.
She explained that “meeting Mick has been a blessing” after a string of toxic relationships, and added: “I am so lucky to be with a man who treats me with respect and makes me truly happy every single day.”
Erin also revealed that she looked for a man who already had children because she cannot of kids of her own.
“It's also a blessing he has kids – as I cannot have kids, ever, due to my medical issues.”
She added: “When we move forward in our relationship, I'm not taking away a big life moment from him ever wanting kids, because he already has children and has enjoyed that moment in his life.
“It's a tough thing to be a woman dating someone and having to tell them they can never have children [with you]. It can cause such a strain on a relationship, you all have no idea.”
Before meeting Mick, Erin had been in a relationship with Eden Dally, who she met on Love Island last year.
The couple split in September 2018, and Eden moved on with MAFS Cyrell earlier this year.
