Florence Pugh is reflecting on her past relationship with Zach Braff with the benefit of hindsight.

In a new interview with British Vogue , the Black Widow actor touched on the scrutiny she and Braff, who is 21 years her senior, endured over the course of their three-year romance because of their age gap.

I had to be public in the past because people were bullying me and bullying my partner, Pugh said. Mine and Zachs relationship was actually quite private until it was nasty, and I could see the toll that it was taking on him and us and our families. And thats when I spoke out.

She went on to note: I think for anyone Im with, I want to protect them. Its not nice knowing that people are saying the worst things Ive ever read about someone that I love. So that was necessary. I needed to talk about it. I think any relationship in this limelight is going to be stressed.

Pugh didnt list specific instances in the new profile, but she has pushed back on online negativity before. In April 2020, the actor decried the abuse she received online after acknowledging Braffs 45th birthday on social media.

I do not need you to tell me who I should or should not love, and I would never in my life ever, ever tell anyone who they can or cannot love, she said. It is not your place and really, it has nothing to do with you.

Braff, an actor-director best known for Scrubs and his 2004 film Garden State, directed Pugh in 2023s A Good Person , which garnered mixed reviews.