A woman who claimed her husband in an online contest has spoken out in defense of their relationship, which has faced criticism from both family members and strangers.
In today’s world, where numerous dating apps are available, promising to help you find true love, it’s common to hear about couples meeting through the internet.
However, Gunnar and Danielle from Pennsylvania have a unique story. They didn’t meet by chance on a dating app; instead, it was an unusual competition that brought them together.
During an interview for Truly’s ‘Love Don’t Judge’ series, Danielle shared how she ‘won’ Gunnar in a contest after he uploaded a video stating he wanted to ‘marry someone from TikTok.’
Gunnar’s video may have seemed like a bold proposal, but it garnered a lot of attention. Among the responses was a compelling one from Danielle.
Danielle’s reply included a video expressing that she ‘knew’ she had to be the one for this ‘crazy adventure’ because she had always wanted to marry in a ‘crazy, stupid way.’
Her response intrigued Gunnar, sparking conversations between them online. When they eventually met in person, Gunnar proposed almost immediately.
As news of their relationship spread online, they received support, including from a chapel willing to marry them and a baker who provided their wedding cake.
Yet, not everyone was on board with their swift romance. The couple faced significant online criticism.
Some people even cautioned Gunnar, suggesting Danielle might have ulterior motives, especially after she proposed a road trip in her converted ambulance. Others warned about the dangers of meeting strangers online.
“I’m sorry but I would never get married to a random guy for fame,” a skeptical commenter remarked.
Gunnar revealed that even his parents were skeptical, fearing Danielle might ‘steal all [his] stuff.’ Meanwhile, Danielle recalled how her father greeted Gunnar with a shotgun when they first met.
Initially, Danielle and Gunnar planned to divorce shortly after their marriage. However, they reconsidered after realizing the financial and logistical challenges of divorce.
As they spent more time together and enjoyed each other’s company, they decided against going through with the divorce and have since defended the unconventional start of their relationship.
“We never thought that we would fall in love,” Danielle admitted.
She further explained, “I think that this relationship worked for a couple of reasons. We expected to get divorced after a week […] having no pressure to make it work, helped make it work.”