A Utah mother is defending herself against online trolls after a football game video went viral.
Celebratory Video Sparks Backlash
Amber Wright, 38, posted a video of a hug with her 16-year-old son, Brixton. She wrapped her legs around him after his team won a home game. The clip received over 9 million views on Instagram. However, many users accused the mother of inappropriate behavior or abuse.
Mother Defends Emotional Moment
Amber told Today that she was simply a proud mother. She did not expect such a harsh reaction from the public.
“I was so proud. I was a proud mom hugging her kid,” Amber explained.
She noted that people even threatened to call child protective services.
Son Honors Late Father
The game was very emotional for the family. Brixton wore the number 44 for the first time. This number honors his father, who took his own life on April 4, 2021. Amber was seeing the tribute jersey in person for the first time that day.
Brixton Rejects Online Trolls
Brixton also defended his mother against the negative comments. He called her his hero and said she has always been there for him.
“The vid of us hugging was a HUG. Go bother someone else and maybe hug your own kids,” Brixton wrote.
Still, many users continued to express their disapproval of the close embrace.