Indonesian actor Kriss Hatta recently revealed in an interview that he is in a romantic relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
According to one report, his “sweetheart” is a new actress and – despite the age gap and the fact that she is a minor – their relationship is approved by her parents.
However, according to Kriss, he can’t reveal the identity of his girlfriend … and it’s not for the reason you’d think.
Apparently the girl’s mother wishes for her to gain fame and recognition through her own hard work, rather than through her relationship.
While Kriss may be happy to be in a relationship with someone who is 20 years younger than him, many have commented that this relationship is not at all appropriate.
One opinion was that the 20-year age gap wouldn’t be an issue if the couple was 30 years of age and 50 years old because both would be mature people.
“This relationship is a problem as she is still a child,” an Indonesian media quoted the person.
Since the news came out, netizens are calling Kriss a paedophile and that he is basically grooming the young girl.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Child Protection Commission has also come forth to condemn the relationship, stating that Kriss is setting a bad example by dating a minor, adding that this might encourage other teenagers to follow suit.
According to an Indonesian media, Kriss had also said in the interview that he wants to marry the girl once she’s done with her secondary school, which the authority pointed out might set back on steps taken so far to reduce the child marriage rate in the country.
Since then, the actor has taken to his Instagram story to highlight an online petition to not marry a child, to which he wrote: “Petition???. COME ON…, it’s too much.”