Anna Broom, Jordan Burford Demand A $15k Welfare Wedding? Disabled Couple Deny Being ‘Money-Grabbers’

Anna Broom and Jordan Burford have become infamous as the couple who demanded a $15,000 welfare wedding, which would presumably include a fairy-tale-like castle, a designer dress, champagne for the 50 guests, horse and carriage, and a honeymoon in Mexico. Since some British reports implied they wanted taxpayers to foot the entire $15k bill, even strangers on the street have accused the couple of being “money-grabbers,” but they claim these articles have twisted their words.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, reports claimed that Anna Broom said she believed a “dream wedding” was a basic human right, and she is also quoted as saying she could become capable of working again if she was motivated by her $15k welfare wedding.

“I deserve a fairy-tale church wedding and a party in a castle – but there’s no way I could afford it on benefits and I can’t work because I’m overweight. I’m stuck in a rut at the moment and can’t find the motivation to lose weight, but if I was getting married I know I’d slim down because all eyes would be on me.”

Anna Broom is said to be disabled since she’s overweight, and Jordan Burford has epilepsy, so he is not working, either. Broom’s brother has even been featured on a TV show called Can’t Work, Won’t Work, and her mother has cancer.

The bride-to-be admits she has not worked since the age of 18 when she went on a depression-fueled binge eating spree that shot her weight up to the point of being obese on the BMI scale. Broom also admits she has received $150,000 during her 14 years as a government welfare recipient, but she also denies saying marriage is a “basic human right.” Instead, she says, “My words were: I believe it is every woman’s right to marry.”

Broom says she only agreed to the interview with Closer magazine because the couple was offered 200 pounds, which will go toward their marriage fund.

“No one came to interview me, it was all over the phone and they were lovely, encouraging me to talk about my health and hopes, but they have simply used it as ammunition against me,” Anna said, according to Kent Online. “It makes me out to be a horrible person and those who know me know that I’m not. I can’t wait to be Mrs Burford, I believe in marriage, we both do, but on benefits we have little savings.”

Despite the couple’s current protest, a spokesperson for Closer magazine claims they did not complain when they first heard the final version of the article

“Anna-Marie Broom willingly told us her story, her interview was recorded and when the finished article was read back to her prior to publication, she did not raise any concerns with the content.”

Anna Broom says she did not suggest that the UK welfare system pay for the entire $15,000 wedding she dreams about, but she does admit she suggested the British government could help with five to six hundred pounds, which would be paid back over time. Jordan Burford also says he would be happy with being married in a government office, and the couple now plans a modest wedding ceremony within the next 12 months.

[Image via Daily Mail]