Jenny Mollen is defending herself after a series of photos featuring her 12-year-old son sparked backlash online and prompted Instagram users to leave comments accusing her of deleting the controversial caption.
The writer and actress recently split from her film star «American Pie» Jason Biggs, after 18 years of marriage, shared photos of herself and her son, Sid, lying next to each other on a bed. Some followers perceived the photos as a touching moment between mother and child, while others questioned the appropriateness of their public release.
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The controversy escalated when a user's message appeared alongside the Instagram post. The message claimed Mollen had deleted an earlier caption that read, "Your oldest son will be the most toxic guy you'll ever date." The message also stated that the original wording raised concerns about how Mollen described her relationship with her son. The caption has since been removed.
Photo: Jenny Mollen/Instagram
Mollen later responded to the criticism on Instagram Stories, suggesting the scrutiny could be related to her recent split from Biggs.
«"Because I'm separating from my husband, because the institution of marriage doesn't protect me, I'm suddenly being targeted for criticism in my posts," Molen said. "It's absolutely shocking. A photo of me hugging my 12-year-old is being ridiculed.".
She also defended her relationship with her son, claiming that critics wouldn't understand the bond unless they themselves had experienced similar parent-child relationships. Mollen's sister-in-law publicly supported her, arguing that displays of affection between parents and children are normal and that such moments become less frequent as children get older.
The debate has also attracted the attention of parenting experts. Family physician and parenting expert Dr. Deborah Gilboa told TODAY.com that there's nothing inherently unhealthy about parents hugging, caressing, or showing physical affection to their children.
However, she argued that the more serious issue was the decision to publish these moments for public viewing.
Gilboa noted that a single image is rarely enough to accurately judge a family's relationships, but said parents should consider how children might view such posts years later.
The scandal erupted just weeks after Molen and Biggs announced their separation after nearly two decades together. Despite the split, the couple's representatives stated that they remain on "great terms" and are focused on co-parenting their sons, Sid and Lazlo.
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