When photographs or videos go viral on social media, it can be helpful to have all the facts before passing judgment.
For Amber Wright, a Utah mother of 38, this was not the case when her son’s high school football game video went viral.
On August 17, he posted a video to Instagram in which his mother is seen being picked up by her son while her legs are crossed over his waist. Of course, it went viral on social media, and several commenters criticized it for being “inappropriately affectionate.”
“When I walked up to hug my baby boy after his game, he immediately picked me up and just held me,” she wrote in the caption. “It may have been 20 seconds, 30 seconds, a minute, I have no idea. But in this moment, time stood completely still. I honestly don’t know what I did to deserve you [Brix Wright].”
Those who didn’t know the context might have found the comments harsh and offensive.
One user remarked, “oh you’re one of THOSE moms..” “Literally thought this was his girlfriend tf,” said another, while a third user wrote, “Come on guys. She’s not like a regular mom she’s a cool mom.”
The mother spoke up about the hug and her defense against the harsh comments in an interview with TODAY last week.
“I never expected it to turn into something where people are like, ‘You’re sexually abusing him! You’re grooming him! I’m calling child protective services,’” she said.
She continues by saying her family is one of the most loving in the world. “What you saw on the football field is just how we are. Brix will pick me up and squeeze me and then put me back down,” she continued, adding that it was a very emotional moment between her mother and son for a very sad and devastating reason.
Brix Wright (the son) lost his father to suicide on April 4, 2021, making it two years since the tragedy.
Even though he usually plays football with the number 58, he opted to change it to 44 in memory of his late father (4/4/2021). She had never before seen him sport it at a game.
Brix Wright Praises and Defends His Mother
On September 6, Brix Wright’s mother, Amber Wright, shared a screenshot of a message her son had sent to an Instagram user who had shown concern about the issue and asked Brix to elaborate.
He explained what happened with his father and his suicide in 2021 and sent deep thanks to his mother, whom he called his hero in the note.
“My mom is my hero. I was just giving her a hug after the game and I did pick her up she did not jump on me. My moms been the only person there for me my whole life,” he said of his mother, adding that he grew up with an alcoholic father who was ‘great when he was sober,’ but would ‘come and go’ as he pleased.
He continued by saying that his mother had never missed one of his football games since he first started playing. “My dad ended up committing suicide last year and this year I changed my number to 44 bc it was his death date. It was her first time seeing me wear it in person.”
The hug might have seemed “inappropriately affectionate” to an outsider, but there’s always more to the story than meets the eye.
The internet was too quick to criticize this mother and son’s touching moment and fail to see it for what it really was.
