When Melissa Gibson, an influencer from the US, shared a gorgeous picture of herself and her boyfriend, Jordan, to celebrate entering 2018 together, her touching caption reflected the love she clearly feels for her partner.

Next to a snap of Gibson in a sparkling New Year’s outfit, she writes, “Ours is the kind of love that feels right because we are both present, honest, and excited. The kind of love that flows from two people in love with life.

“2017 brought you into my life, and we face 2018 together.”

By most (we hope) this would be appreciated as a beautiful declaration and evidence of the Masters of Arts Women’s and Gender Studies graduate’s positive mindset for the new year.

But thanks to the derogatory and misogynistic comments of some Instagram trolls, Gibson has been forced to defend her relationship after being subjected to “judgements about him for loving” her. She has also had to make a wider statement about why her happy relationship has become political.

One male follower in particular seemed so bothered by Gibson’s happiness and New Year’s plans, that he commented not only about her body but on her relationship with her boyfriend, suggesting that she would not make a “beautiful wife”.

“Go to the gym and eat better you fat person, like you are DYING. I’d rather be smoking than be your size” wrote the Instagram user in question.

He continued to troll Gibson further, before writing a particularly distasteful comment which reads, “I care that the guy has a beautiful wife to go home to on the inside and outside. No one will look at you and him and go, “Aw man I wish I had that in my life”, like literally no one.”

Many of Gibson’s 215,000 followers came to her defence with one fan asking why the user felt it was “necessary to comment on the body of a woman he doesn’t even know personally” before quite rightly pointing out that “People also don’t owe you their lives. And their bodies are always none of your f******** business.”

Another assured Gibson she looked “gorgeous”, while others heralded “this badass queen and her man” as the “biggest role model ever”.

But it was Gibson who had the ultimate comeback, by posting another picture of her and her boyfriend and addressing the need for relationships like hers to be “accepted without question, and celebrated”. 

Looking particularly happy with her partner, Gibson posted another picture from that night two days later, asking why her relationship “is political. Even though we both know how natural and right it feels.”

Gibson continues to recognise that when “privileged people base their value on attraction and relationships, it results in the plethora of relationships that look like mine being erased and delegitimized.” And calls out the “insecurities and bigotry” that is so often angled at her, which makes her feel that “somehow I don’t deserve him or our love isn’t real.”

Gibson ends her post on a sassy note, writing, “I’m not playing the game you play any longer. I’m not playing by your rules. And it’s honestly sad you still are. 

“2018 is the year for Love that is not defined by weight, age, ability, genitals, gender, sexuality. Not defined by race or ethnicity or religion. We’re having more fun this way anyway.”

The idea that someone could be made to feel that they don’t deserve a happy relationship based on their appearance is never okay, and we salute Gibson for continuing to stand up against this kind of discrimination. 

Images: Instagram / Jared Sluyter