Mother hits back at critics over viral video showing an ‘affectionate’ hug with her 16-year-old son after college football game

A mother has hit back at critics after she appeared in a viral video hugging her son in an ‘affectionate’ manner.

Amber Wright, 38, posted a video onto her Instagram account back in August that showed her celebrating her 16-year-old son’s high school football victory in Utah. 

What was intended as an emotional post of support turned into a viral debate as many questioned the manner in which she embraced the teenager.

In the video, Wright can be seen leaping into the arms of son Brixton, who holds her aloft, before returning to the ground.

For a caption, Wright wrote: ‘This boy will forever and always have my entire heart. Gina captured the end of this moment, and I’m SO grateful. 

Wright was picked up and held by 16-year-old Brixton, in a video that she shared online

‘When I walked up to hug my baby boy after his game, he immediately picked me up and just held me. It may have been 20 seconds, 30 seconds, a minute, I have no idea. But in this moment, time stood completely still’. 

Despite the innocent intentions behind the celebration, many users online were quick to suggest that Wright had acted ‘inappropriately’ with the teenager.

One comment on the post read: ‘Literally thought this was his girlfriend’, while another said: ‘That guys future wife doesn’t stand a chance’.

In response to the comments, Wright explained to Today: ‘I was a proud mom hugging her kid. 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 continued: ‘I come from a very affectionate family. I hug my dad every time I see him. 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.’

In a post on Instagram four weeks ago, Wright shared screenshots that her son had sent which defended his mother’s actions and revealed that it was an emotional match for the family. 

Wright insists she has been her son’s biggest supporter and regularly posts at his games

Wright also shared an emotional message from her son that revealed why the match was so meaningful for the entire family

The message from Brixton read: ‘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. 

‘I grew up with a alcoholic dad who would just come and go when he wanted he was great when he was sober but he wasn’t he was just so dark and different. He Never rlly showed up to any of my games or anything like that my moms been to every single some since I’ve played.

‘My dad ended up committing suicide last year and this year I changed my number to 44 bc it was his death date (4/4/21). It was her first time seeing me wear it in person so obviously she was very emotional and so was I. All it was was a big hug from me to her’. 

The 16-year-old has posted multiple comments defending his mother’s actions in recent weeks, prior to his mother verbally addressing the incident.