I find this sad and feel that people should butt out and allow people to have friends who they wish young, old, male female etc.
You can have just as much pressure put on by others if you have friends who either much older or younger or out of your normal social I hate to use the word but cannot think of anything else but social class. It can be difficult but if the friendship is real it will survive.
Your point about the outside pressures is very good. I’ve been in that position of not wanting to give the impression that a friendship might be romantic and being concerned that people would make that assumption. I’ve never had a big problem with people bothering me because they thought a friend was outside my social class, but I can see where that pressure could be a problem.