"They weren't happy he was dating an older woman, " says Jay Im, another childhood friend of Ko's.

CNN: NIGHTMARE IN NEW YORK

Nearly two years ago, Jiangsu Satellite TV's dating show "If You Are the One" caused ripples around the nation when a female contestant said she would rather be unhappy dating a man with a BMW than be happy with a man who rode only a bicycle.

WSJ: China Broadcasters Winnow Out Some Television Shows

Knox had been a "late bloomer" in terms of dating, so news that she had met Raffaele Sollecito made her sister happy.

CNN: Amanda Knox: Fighting again to clear her name