In today’s digital age, where pictures and videos can go viral in seconds, it’s important to remember that first impressions can be deceiving. That’s a lesson Amber Wright, a 38-year-old Utah mother, learned the hard way when a video of a tender moment between her and her son became the subject of online scrutiny.
The incident started innocently enough. On August 17, Amber uploaded a video to Instagram of a heartwarming scene from her son’s high school football game. In the video, her son picks her up, her legs crossed over her waist as they share a loving embrace. Little did she know that this seemingly innocent display of affection would soon become the center of a social media firestorm.
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She captioned the photo: “When I went to hug my little boy after his game, he picked me up and just held me.” “I don’t know, it could have been 20 seconds, 30 seconds, or a minute. However, time seemed to stop completely at that exact moment. I honestly have no idea what I did to deserve you, Brix Wright.”
These remarks may have come across as harsh and disrespectful to those who were not aware of the situation.
Oh, you’re one of THOSE mothers, one person said. Another user commented: “Literally thought she was his girlfriend tf,” and a third added: “Come on guys. She’s a great mother, not like a typical mother.”
In an appearance with TODAY last week, the mother opened up about the hug and her defense of the critical remarks.
“I never thought there would be a situation where people would say, ‘You’re s*xually abusing him!’ You’re shaping him! She said, “I’m calling child protective services.”
She further explains that her family is one of the most devoted on the planet. We are like what you witnessed on the football field. She continued: “Brix takes me up and squeezes me and then puts me back down. It’s a really emotional time between my mum and my baby for a very sad and heartbreaking reason.”
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April 4, 2021, Brix Wright (son) lost his father to suicide. This tragic event was now repeated.
He normally wears the number 58, but on April 4, 2021, he decided to switch it to the number 44 in honor of his late father. She had never seen him wear it in a match before.
Brix Wright honors and stands up for her mother
On September 6, Amber Wright, Brix Wright’s mother, posted a screenshot of a message her son sent on Instagram to a member who expressed concern about the situation, asking Brix to clarify.
In the note, he thanked his mother profusely and called her his hero as he outlined the events surrounding his father’s death in 2021.
Mom is my role model. I just hugged her after the game and she didn’t jump on me when I picked her up. He added that his mother was the only support system he had ever known and that his alcoholic father was “amazing when he was sober” but “came and went” as he pleased.
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He went on to note that since he started playing football, his mother has never missed one of his games. “Last year my dad killed himself so this year I changed my number to 44 because it was the day he died. She had never seen me wear one in person before.
There’s always more to a story than meets the eye, even if the hug might have seemed “inappropriately affectionate” to someone on the outside.
The internet is often quick to judge, but the story of Amber and Brix Wright serves as a poignant reminder that there is always more to a moment than meets the eye. In a world where context is easily lost in the rush to comment and share, it’s essential to stop and consider the whole picture before passing judgment.
Amber and Brix’s story is a testament to the power of context, empathy, and the power of family love in the face of adversity. It’s a story that encourages us to look beyond the surface and remember that behind every viral image or video is a human story waiting to be understood and appreciated.