When Chantel Billie revealed online that she and her partner sleep in separate beds, she didn't expect to face harsh criticism.
BillyLynn, 27, from Melbourne, has been with her partner for three and a half years.
He revealed his sleeping habits and nighttime routine in a TikTok post.
“My partner and I don't stay in the same room. Every night at 7.30pm we meet in his room, he makes us a cup of tea and we watch an episode of our television show,” she said.
“Then we separate and both sleep soundly. I love us both.”
This simple clip has racked up over two million views and the concept of a couple sleeping in separate bedrooms really pissed some people off.
Of course, there were those online who agreed with Billie's sleep confession, with some pointing out that their partners have sleep disorders that make sleeping together impossible, and others describing sleeping separately as perfectly “healthy.”
Again, some people took this as a sign that Billie is not in a happy, healthy, and romantic relationship.
One wrote, “May I never find love like this.”
“They are roommates,” said another.
“This is wild,” another wrote.
Billy told news.com.au the couple sleep in separate bedrooms because it allows them both to sleep better.
“He's a deep sleeper, snores and likes to be cool all the time. I'm a light sleeper who sleeps with two doonas and a hot water bottle,” she explained.
“We spent 3 years sacrificing our comfort and regular sleep. Eventually, we decided to try separate beds and bedrooms, and it ended up being the best thing for our relationship.”
Billie said having her own bedroom was also an absolute joy and allowed her to have her own space in the house.
“Having my own bedroom for the first time since childhood has been a huge fuel for my creativity and I feel like I can fully embrace my own aesthetic without thinking about my partner. I think it's very healthy to have your own space,” she said.
The 27-year-old believes there is so much backlash because people get uncomfortable with relationship norms being challenged.
“There are very strong beliefs in society about what equates to love in a relationship and what does not,” he said.
Billie stressed that this was also just a TikTok and that her look at the relationship lasted only seven seconds.
“I was shocked when so many people accused my relationship of lacking love. These people have absolutely no understanding of what my relationship is like,” she explained.
The young Australian said the response has been “really harsh”, and that she knows she needs to have a thick skin when posting online, but the comments and assumptions still hurt.
“I have received nasty comments before, but never anything like this,” he said.
