The mother of Love on the Spectrum star Abbey Romeo has broken her silence regarding her daughter's recent separation from David Isaacman, offering insight into the relationship and urging the public not to judge autistic relationships by neurotypical standards.
Christine Romeo addressed the breakup in a YouTube video posted on Sunday, April 19, providing context for the couple's four-and-a-half-year relationship and the personal growth her daughter experienced during that time.
"Abbey and David had a long relationship of four-and-a-half years … Abbey has grown a ton since she started both social media and Love on the Spectrum," Christine explained in the video. "She started to understand her own story [and] see herself as a person with autism in the world, learn how to accept her autism and still try to have a relationship and fit in. None of the growth would have happened without David."
Christine emphasized that Abbey, 27, learned extensively through her relationship with David, 31, before ultimately recognizing fundamental differences in their life approaches. She noted that "David was happy in his way of doing life" while "Abbey's was different."
The protective mother expressed gratitude for the role David played in her daughter's development. "I'm personally grateful to David for being a mirror for her to see and figure out what she wants, who she is, what's [her] love language," Christine stated. "The other part of that is please don't judge autistic relationships as if they were typical. So many people on the spectrum are not going to do what typical people do."
Christine challenged conventional expectations placed on relationships involving individuals on the autism spectrum. She explained that people on the spectrum are "not always in it to get married, get a house, get a new car, have children. … What they had was a great, great thing, that's thanks to the show."
Addressing public reaction to the split, Christine suggested that those upset by the breakup may be "missing the point on Abbey and David." She firmly dismissed media speculation about the circumstances of their separation.
"I think they will have a forever-bond. There was no fight," Christine insisted. "By the way, all the headlines — bulls***. Just so we can be clear over that. There was no fight over engagements and rings being thrown around."
Christine clarified later in the video that Abbey and David had not fully discussed getting engaged before their separation, contradicting some media narratives about the breakup.
On April 10, Abbey, David, and their families released a joint statement to People confirming the Love on the Spectrum couple had recently ended their relationship. The statement indicated they "want different things and have decided to go their separate ways, but they remain friends wishing each other the best."
Abbey and David originally met during filming of Love on the Spectrum season 1 and had their first date at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in July 2021. Their relationship became a focal point of the popular Netflix series, which documents the dating experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum.
The couple's journey resonated with viewers who appreciated the authentic portrayal of their relationship. Christine's recent comments underscore the importance of understanding neurodivergent relationships on their own terms rather than imposing traditional relationship milestones and expectations.