A WOMAN who married a man the same age and coincidentally the same name as her dad has told how she doesn’t have “daddy issues.”
Jessica Zirkelbach, who is a boutique owner, tied the knot with Alan 12 years ago, when she was 22 and he was aged 50.
“I think my attraction to Alan grew over time as far as physical attraction goes, but I was attracted to everything else immediately; his success, the way he carried himself, the way he was a host, the way he pursued me immediately,” she said, speaking to the Love Don’t Judge podcast.
But while the pair clicked, Alan admits he “struggled” with the 28-year age gap at first and found himself constantly asking Jessica how she felt about it.
They said ‘She could be your daughter’ and that kind of stuff…that one got under my skin a little bit more
Alan
While cruel keyboard warriors would often leave mean remarks online and tell him that he’s old enough to be her dad, the pair say people would rarely be brave enough to say anything to their faces.
However, Alan recalls one particular occasion where they were enjoying a dance and a kiss together on a cruise when they received the unwanted attention of three ladies on board.
“They said ‘She could be your daughter’ and that kind of stuff,” Alan recalls.
“That one got under my skin a little bit more.”
However, Jessica says if anything, the backlash they receive over their age-gap relationship brings the loved-up couple even closer together and makes them “motivated” to prove the haters wrong.
I think my attraction to Alan grew over time as far as physical attraction goes, but I was attracted to everything else immediately
Jessica Zirkelbach
But while she’s unbothered by the majority of negative remarks, she does care for the opinion of her dad – who shares the same name with her husband.
Recalling the moment he first learned that his daughter was dating a guy with the same name, who was 28 years older, her dad Alan notes: “I said ‘How old is he?’ She said ‘In his fifties,’ and I said ‘You’ve got Daddy Issues!'”
However, after getting to know Jessica’s husband, Alan, her father, admits he’s had a complete change of heart and admits he doesn’t think she has “daddy issues” at all.
It wasn’t long before others took to the comments section to share their opinions, with very mixed reviews.
“I’m 34 my boyfriend of 7 years is 57. As long as you are happy then that’s all that matters,” reassured one.
A second penned: “If they’re happy, good for them. If it was only about the money she would have divorced him years ago and took him for everything.
“So, kudos to them both, I wish them the very best.”
However, a third commented: “Her dad and partner look alike and are The same age same name. That’s crazy idk how she’s into that.”
Meanwhile, another noted: “She’s attracted to his success, which means his money.”
And a further added: “I wasn’t initially attracted to him physically…but success and all otherwise I’m all in” lmao girl…at least she’s honest.”
A-list age gap relationships that have stood the test of time
- Kris Jenner & Corey Gamble – 25 years
The Kardashian matriarch met her younger man at a mutual friend’s 40th birthday party in Ibiza. They’ve been together since August 2014. - Sam & Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 23 years
The director and actor reportedly met at a film audition in 2009, and were married by 2012. The pair share two daughters and Sam has two children from a previous marriage. - Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham – 20 years
The model started dating actor Jason in 2010. They were wed in 2016 and have since welcomed a son and a daughter together. - Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas – 25 years
The pair was introduced at a film festival in 1996 and engaged three years later. Shortly after their engagement, the couple welcomed a son and married in 2000.