Hold onto your bonnets, Bridgerton fans, because the love lives of the ton have spilled off-screen and into the real world – and not everyone is happy about it. Luke Newton, beloved for his portrayal of the charming Colin Bridgerton, has been spotted with a new love interest, a 23-year-old woman who is decidedly not his on-screen flame, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). Cue the collective gasp of "Polin" shippers worldwide.

Age is Just a Number...Unless You're in the Ton?

While Newton's relationship is certainly his own business, the internet, as we know, has its own rules – especially when it comes to the romantic entanglements of our favorite celebrities. The six-year age gap between Newton and his girlfriend has become a hot topic of conversation, with some fans expressing concern while others defend his right to date whomever he pleases.

"She was just a 23 year old woman you sick fuck," one particularly incensed fan declared on social media, highlighting the sometimes-toxic tendency to scrutinize and judge celebrities' personal lives.

Others pointed out the hypocrisy of the situation, considering the often problematic power dynamics and age gaps portrayed within Bridgerton itself.

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