A MAN who fell in love with a woman 40 years his junior says she's not a "gold digger" and blasted trolls who accused him of "kidnapping" her.

Claudio Spilatro, 63, met his partner, Semie Atadja, 25, on a dating app in 2017 when she was just 18 years old and insists they are "mad about each other".

Keen to find an "active" woman after divorcing his ex-wife of 18 years, Claudio bumped into Semie on Seeking – an app designed to connect affluent singletons.

Semie says she had been after an older, "wiser" man after becoming tired of dating "losers" her own age.

Claudio took Semie out to lunch where he discovered her "bubbly" personality and the pair immediately hit it off – despite her being younger than his 34-year-old daughter.

The couple have since travelled the world together – flying first class, staying in five-star resorts and hiring private chefs – and find themselves on holiday at least once a month.

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However, the pair – who have 39 years between them – are regularly targeted by trolls who claim that Claudio "kidnapped" Semie or that she is "using him for his money".

Despite the comments initially bothering Semie, they now don't let it affect them and say they "enjoy" each other's company.

Claudio, owner of Pelican Ski and Snowboard shop, from New Jersey, US, said: "I searched the whole world for a girl like Semie – she's beautiful.

"People say she's using me for my money, and she doesn't love me.

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"But relationships have to be mutually beneficial.

"I bring the ability for Semie to be able to travel and have connections and the benefit to me is a very beautiful, young, active partner – which is exactly what I was looking for."

Semie, an estate agent and content creator, from New Jersey, US, said: "I was just tired of dating losers.

"It was loser after loser.

"I recognised on Seeking there are older guys there and with older age would come with more wisdom.

"I love how happy he is, he's a very genuine man and a problem solver.

"He allows me to be myself.

"A lot of guys aren't confident enough to do that.

"And also, he's got a lot of money, so that's a plus."

When they're not in their New Jersey home, Claudio and Semie travel the world together, flying in first class and staying in five-star resorts.

Claudio said: "I was happily married for 18 years, and there came a time in my life, around 40, when I asked my wife to travel, and she never wanted to, so we got a divorce.

"Semie and I are now only ever in one place for around a week.

"And then the other time we travel."

Semie said: "Our very first trip was Brazil – Claudio is an avid kiteboarder.

"Then we went on a work trip to Shanghai – where they thought I was a famous rapper from New York.

"We've been whale watching in Hawaii, skiing in the Alps, visited our second home in the Dominican Republic and so much more.

"I love it – it's euphoric.

"I get to travel the world and make awesome amazing memories – I keep thinking ‘is this real?’"

The nature of their relationship hasn't come without questions from friends and family.

Claudio said: "When they first met Semie, they really liked her.

"She's younger than my daughter – so that was a shock to them, but they accepted it.

"But when Semie started making TikTok content they weren't too keen on that when she portrayed herself as a gold digger and it took them a while to understand that it was just comedy.”

Semie added: "My sisters were at first worried about me but then I feel like the more I brought them around they saw that I was genuinely happy.

"They just see it as I have a boyfriend – nothing more."

They've also faced negative comments and abuse online, and Semie said she has had therapy to cope with it.

She said: "I took the negative comments and made a joke out of it but at first it really hurt me.

"I wanted to prove to them that this is love but I found myself getting lost and ended up thinking 'who cares?'

"Now I'm strong enough to say whatever I want, and it gives me content to make for the next TikTok.

"I think we get a lot of snobby looks and whispers. I've had women ask if I'm OK.

"If this is what kidnapping is – first class, five-star hotels, private chefs – then don't take me back.

"I like men that like to take care of me."

Claudio added: "I enjoy dating Semie more than a younger white woman because people might think she's my daughter.

"When we do TikTok lives we get all kinds of negative comments though."

The couple aren't sure what the future holds but say that marriage isn't off the cards.

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Semie said: "He's saying he likes it, but I don't see a ring yet."

Claudio added: "I could see marriage in the future but at the moment it's perfect the way it is."

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