Viral hug! A mother’s loving embrace with her son post-game causes a stir. Is parental affection misunderstood?
Amber Wright, a 38-year-old mother from Utah, found herself in the spotlight after sharing a video of her sharing a joyful hug with her 16-year-old son, Brixton, post his football game. The video that captured this celebratory moment depicted Amber embracing her son in a manner that sparked debates and received backlash from some viewers who questioned the appropriateness of such a display of affection.
Amber, in the video, is seen with her legs around Brixton in what she describes as a moment of unadulterated joy, sparked by pride in her son's achievements on the football field. She defended the interaction as a sweet and innocent moment between a mother and her son. For Amber, a single mother, this video was just a glimpse into the close and loving relationship she shares with her son.
The video was uploaded to Amber's Instagram account, which at the time had a following of 1,500, but the count rapidly increased to over 38,000 as the clip went viral, accumulating more than 9 million views. The video features Brixton, following a victory in a home game, lifting his mother in a hug. “I was so proud,” Amber expressed. “I was a proud mom hugging her kid.”
The reaction to the shared moment, however, wasn’t all positive. Amber was taken aback by the accusations and negative comments from people, some even accusing her of mistreating her son, calling the hug too intimate and inappropriate. “I don’t think anyone has an issue with your son picking you up, just the fact that it appears you’re straddling your son. You’re also dressed pretty sexy for a high school football game,” one of the comments read.
Others mistook the relationship between Amber and Brixton, with comments like, “What, I thought this was his girlfriend!” and “THAT’S HIS MOTHERRRR?” cropping up. The negative reaction has affected Brixton as well, who defended his mother on Instagram, stating, “She’s my mom, she is my hero, the vid of us hugging was a HUG.”
Brixton also emphasizes the importance of his mother in his life, calling her his hero and pointing out that she has been the only constant in his life. He recounted the moment as just giving his mother a hug after the game, stressing on the fact that it was just a hug and nothing more.
Amber clarifies that physical affection is commonplace in their family. “I come from a very affectionate family. I hug my dad every time I see him,” she stated, emphasizing that what was captured on camera was just a reflection of their normal interactions. She mentioned that Brixton was likely feeling emotional after the game, as it was the first time he was wearing a jersey that bore the death date of his late father, making Amber his emotional anchor.
Despite the negativity, Amber has received a significant amount of support and kindness in private messages and on her Instagram posts. Several people, especially single mothers, have reached out expressing their understanding and sharing their own experiences of close bonds with their children.
One comment read, “I’m a single mom of a boy... My son and I are like best friends. Happy to see a strong mom and son connection!” Another one shared, “I see a mom, a beautiful mom who loves her son, and he is her everything!”
This situation brings to the fore discussions about the perceptions and judgments surrounding displays of parental affection in public and raises questions about the appropriate dynamics between parents and their children. As Amber continues to celebrate her son’s accomplishments, we look forward to exploring different perspectives on parental love and affection in upcoming discussions.