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Mom posted classy response as video of her hugging son after football game raised eyebrows
A Utah mom who faced intense backlash for the way she hugged her 16-year-old son after his football game has posted a pretty classy response to the haters.
Amber Wright, a single mother from Utah, posted what she thought was an innocent video of herself celebrating her son Brixton’s football victory. Instead, the clip sparked a wave of criticism.
In the short video, Amber rushes to embrace her son on the field after his team’s home game win. The two share a long, emotional hug, a moment Amber said was filled with pride and love. But many online commenters took issue with the display.
Online backlash and misunderstanding
Instead of support, Amber found herself at the center of a storm of negative comments questioning her relationship with her teenage son.
“It would’ve been cute if it was his girlfriend, but not a mother,” one commenter wrote.
Another said: “I wonder how many of his friends are allowed to stay over. My son wouldn’t be allowed for sleepovers at their house.”
Others called the hug “inappropriate,” with one critic writing: “I’m a single mom and very close to my sons. I hug them in public without hesitation but straddling them in high heels would cross a line neither of us would be comfortable with.”
Amber quickly defended herself, saying the moment was nothing more than a mother showing pride and affection for her child. Brixton also spoke up to defend his mom in the comments, writing:
“She’s never abused me, done anything sexual with me or my friends, or groomed me.”
Son’s emotional message reveals family tragedy
Earlier this month, Amber shared a text message Brixton had sent privately, offering heartbreaking context to the viral moment.
In the message, Brixton explained that his father, who struggled with alcoholism, had taken his own life the previous year.
“My mom is my hero,” he wrote. “I was just giving her a hug after the game and I did pick her up. She didn’t jump on me. My mom’s been the only person there for me my whole life.”
He continued: “I grew up with an alcoholic dad who would just come and go when he wanted. He never really showed up to any of my games. My mom’s been to every single one since I started playing.”
Brixton also revealed that he now wears the number 44 on his jersey to honor his late father, who died on April 4, 2021.
“It was her first time seeing me wear it in person,” he said. “Obviously, she was very emotional and so was I. All it was, was a big hug from me to her.”
“You failed miserably”
Amber shared her own emotional response to her son’s message, writing in her caption: “I will take all the negativity in the world thrown my way and I will continue to hold my head high and raise this incredible young man to overcome any and all adversity.”
Now, a year later, Amber reposted the same clip with a message for her critics. “BTW… y’all who tried to break us you FAILED. Miserably actually [...],” she wrote.
She added: “If you don’t like me but you’re still here watching me a year later, you’re a fan, and I appreciate your ongoing support.”
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