Celebrity trainer Jono Castano has accused social media trolls of 'bullying' his model girlfriend Simone Holtznagel following her dramatic slim-down.
Simone, 29, sparked backlash on Monday after sharing before and after photos on Instagram highlighting her weight loss, which she achieved under the tutelage of Jono and UFC coach Tony Saad.
But some of her followers, including those in recovery from eating disorders, said her transformation photos were 'triggering' to people who used to starve themselves to stay thin.
Jono, a high-profile PT whose clients include Rita Ora, Rebel Wilson, Michael Clarke and Candice Warner, helped his new girlfriend get into shape.
Defending his methods and Simone's transformation, Jono posted a video on Instagram on Friday insisting the Australia's Next Top Model star had achieved her results through training and healthy eating - not by starving herself.
'Simone has done it in a healthy way,' he said. 'She's found the love of food, she's found the consistency and balance for training.
'You can't bully someone and say awful things about their journey. You are doing exactly what people in 2022 don't want, right?'
Jono added: 'We don't live in that world where people write whatever.
'People have feelings, Simone's got feelings as well, and so does everybody else doing their [weight loss] journey.
'My clients have read it, who are on the weight loss program. It's effective. It's a toxic world we are living in, so if you are writing comments, think what you are writing because I've worked with people with eating disorders before, I've helped them out.'
Simone has copped a backlash since unveiling her body transformation, but said on Tuesday she has been ignoring what her critics have to say.
'People have commented saying it's "triggering", and "before and after" don't belong in 2022…' she told The Daily Telegraph.
'I thought what we weren't doing in 2022 was commenting on other peoples bodies.
'I thought I looked great on the left [before photo]. I think I look great on the right [after photo].
'One thing I'll take away from that post is you can't please everyone. I have been bigger and I've been smaller but I was happy in both stages of my life.'
Jono and Simone first met several years ago when she was one of the trainer's highest profile clients.
They initially kept their romance under wraps before going public in May when they were seen passionately kissing at Mimi's restaurant in Coogee.
The genetically blessed stars moved in after just three months of dating.
Jono believes nobody has the right to criticise Simone's healthy lifestyle.
'Simone's journey was her own journey, in a healthy and balanced way, there is nothing wrong with that,' he said.
'Read in between the lines of the caption, don't attack anyone.'
