Bye, holiday haters! British mom Emma Tapping, who was recently shamed by the Internet for posting a viral photo of a massive pile of presents covering her Christmas tree, spoke out about the backlash on Good Morning America on Friday, December 18.
Tapping was dubbed “materialistic” by critics after she posted the snap of a megamound of 300 wrapped gifts that were reserved for her three kids plus other family members. Days after she shared the snap on Instagram in early December (she had just 258 followers at the time), Tapping was tagged in a Facebook post that included the caption: “It’s nearly time for all the materialistic parents to compete and broadcast how many presents their kids have. Just remember, there are a lot of children who won’t get much.”
The photo went viral with more than 100,000 shares, and much criticism, naturally, ensued.
Speaking live on GMA on Friday, Tapping reacted to becoming a viral phenom and replied to her critics. “I put the tree up on Facebook, which is closed to my Facebook friends, and up on Instagram for it to be shared all over the world,” Tapping told the GMA hosts. “The way I see it is thousands of pictures go up on Instagram every single day. Do we have the right to judge people just because they have a better car?”
Despite the backlash, Tapping said she would “absolutely” post it again and had no regrets about her decision. “I would do it again,” she shared. “Nobody’s going to tell me how I spend my Christmas.”
Tapping shared that the comments about the kids were most hurtful, and she’s advised them not to read anything on social media. “Everybody that know my kids know that they’re lovely, lovely kids,” she said. “I’m hoping that I can share with the public, especially America, how I save money all year round. And how I save up to get my Christmases this way.”
Americans, in fact, have been supportive, she noted. “Since it’s come out, America has kind of been protective over me and jumped social media and said, ‘She’s just a mom. She pays for them herself. They’re her own children. Let her do what she wants,'” Tapping shared.
According to the mum, her kids are anything but spoiled. Out of the 300 gifts that equate to $2,300, 85 gifts are for her two girls, and 30 are reserved for her son. “A lot of things are things that they need because I don’t spoil them throughout the year,” she divulged. “So they get their clothes for the year. Their smellies, bubble baths, their perfumes, makeup for the older one for the year. If they want anything else, they have to save up for themselves.”
In conclusion, she remarked: “It’s another British way. I haggle. I will haggle. I love to haggle. I think it’s important for people to know how to fight the major stores.”
