Influencer, 21, defends her romance with 16-year-old amateur boxer after she was branded 'insane' over the age gap - as she insists their relationship is 'legal' despite furious backlash

A social media influencer has defended her decision to pursue a romantic relationship with a 16-year-old boy after people branded her 'insane'.

Tasha Newcombe, 21, from Kent, recently became romantically involved with 16-year-old Marko Vituk, from Maidstone, with the new couple each sharing the news on their social media accounts.

However, since the pair made their relationship official, they have received a stream of backlash from viewers who think their relationship is 'insane' due to the five year age gap between them.

In response to the ongoing controversy, the 21-year-old recently took to TikTok to give further details of the relationship, insisting that she was initially unsure about pursing Mark, who is of GCSE age, but that they had a 'healthy, happy and loving relationship'.

Tasha, who works as a party rep, says has 'done social media for six years', and now boasts 263.3K on TikTok with 10 million likes for her glamorous, party oriented videos.

Pictured: Tasha Newcombe, 21, from Kent, recently started a relationship with 16-year-old Marko Vituk, from Maidstone, with the two having taken to their social media accounts to share the news of the controversial romance

Tasha pictured next to her boyfriend, Marko Vituk (left), and a friend. The couple appeared together on The Bro'Cast Podcast, where Tasha said she had never expected 'the level' of backlash the two have received

She described her relationship of three months with Marko as 'legal' despite the many viewers opposing it. 

Though 16-year-old is still of school age and not currently legally able to drink or drive, he has also made a name for himself as an online influencer.

Alongside his school commitments, Marko also boxes and recently started a YouTube podcast called, Empowerred, which describes itself as 'A Podcast That Is Taking Over The Net'.

Speaking in a five minute long video which now has nearly two million views, Tasha took to the app to explain her side of things, telling her 'haters' that she wouldn't 'stand' for trolling.

She started the video by saying: 'The reason I'm making this video today is obviously to talk about my relationship.

'I am in a relationship with someone who's five years younger than me and I know a lot of people are gonna have their opinions on that and quite rightly so, you're allowed to have your opinions, that's your free will.

'I've seen a lot of comments and videos from bullies saying "you know what you're doing is wrong" and "this is why you said you wouldn't meet him".'

The couple two had initially been 'speaking' to one another online before they decided to meet up. However Tasha revealed she hesitated before meeting Marko in person because she was concerned about sparking 'backlash'.

Tasha pictured next to her 16-year-old boyfriend Marko. She said: 'Although my relationship is very new, I just have to say that this boy is genuinely the most mature, kind, loving person I've ever been in a relationship with'

Tasha is 21-years-old and works as a party rep. She has been in a relationship with her 16-year-old boyfriend for nearly three months

Marko, pictured posing for a social media post. Tasha said she had no idea what 'challenges' their age-gap romance would bring

Tasha and Marko pictured cuddling up to one another. She described her relationship with Marko as 'legal' despite the many viewers opposing the romance

Tasha and Marko pictured posing for a pictures together. She said the romance has 'nothing to do with right or wrong' but was about people's opinions

'The reason I was so unsure about meeting my boyfriend or pursuing anything with him is because of the backlash I was going to face and that is quite frankly, only down to opinion.

'Nothing else, opinion, that is it. Nothing to do with what's right or wrong, just opinion,' she insisted in the video. 

'I was also unsure of meeting him because I've actually never dated someone younger than me in my life.

'I didn't know what kind of challenges that was gonna bring forward for me but regardless, I'm in a relationship with him now. 

'It's my life, I'm going to live my life how I want to live my life. If I decide I want to be in a relationship with him, I can because it is legal. Whether you think it's morally right or not, it is legal.

'Although my relationship is very new, I just have to say that this boy is genuinely the most mature, kind, loving person I've ever been in a relationship with.'

Once again insisting that the backlash is the cause of 'opinion', she pleads with viewers not to 'direct hate at me, my friends, family.'

'That, I will not f**ing stand for.'

The couple have received streams of commenting on their videos, with nearly all of them responding to the five-year age-gap.

One commenter wrote: 'Wait, is this legal?' while another asked in jest, 'are you going to results day?'

Another commenter joked: 'Did you sign his leavers t-shirt then?' while a third said he looked like Tasha's younger brother.

A fifth said: 'It's actually beyond foul, I'm concerned.' 

The couple have received streams of commenting on their videos, with nearly all of them responding to the five-year age-gap

The couple pictured in all white outfits as they hold hands together. She said the pair are in 'a very beautiful, loving, happy and healthy relationship' despite the online accusations 

Marko pictured sitting in a car. At 16-years-old, he is currently not legally allowed to drive or buy alcohol, unlike his girlfriend who is 21

Marko pictured sipping on a glass of water while enjoying a meal out with his 21-year-old girlfriend. Tasha shared a video where she described receiving 'princess treatment' from her young beau

At the end of the video, Tasha made her feelings clear about her critics.

'Quite frankly, I don't give a f*** about the 12-year-olds who are commenting towards me and my family and stuff like that, it's the grown women directing hate towards my family,' she said.

She even said that among the judgmental comments she has received 'threatening' messages encouraging her to cause harm to herself.

'What I can't wrap my head around, is if you don't like something, a creator or relationship, there is a block button,' she said, referring to her trolls as 'key-board warriors'.

'Is it affecting your life? No. Me and my boyfriend are in a very beautiful, loving, happy and healthy relationship and the fact that people are sitting there, worried and throwing such serious accusations at me, is sick and twisted.'

Tasha event said she had had to start filtering comments and deleting comments for her own 'peace of mind'. 

Since the uploading the video, the couple appeared together on The Bro'Cast Podcast, where Tasha said she had never expected 'the level' of backlash the two have received. 

Appearing on the YouTube podcast holding hands, the 21-year-old said the impact of the online controversy was impacting her mental health and but that she was doing her best to distract herself from the comments.

Tasha said she had muted several words on her account meaning that comments containing specific phrases for her 'own sanity'.