Hidden Detail In Family’s Holiday Card Sparks Outrage
A detail in a family’s holiday card has sparked an online debate, leaving many parents divided over its humor.
Amanda Cooper, a travel and fashion influencer with over 14,000 Instagram followers, likely didn’t anticipate the backlash when she shared the unconventional photo on social media.
In a TikTok video posted on December 6, Cooper showcased a close-up of the family photo, which revealed a subtle prank she had orchestrated.
Despite King’s dedication to creating flawless holiday cards, she took the joke in stride.
“I thought it was absolutely hilarious,” she said.
However, the internet was far more critical of the prank.
The TikTok video quickly went viral, amassing over 2.4 million views and generating hundreds of comments.
Some viewers deemed the prank ‘disrespectful’ and ‘sad,’ with one commenter writing: “This would make me so sad.”
A few photographers also chimed in, lamenting the additional editing work required to remove the gestures.
On Instagram, others criticized the joke’s originality, with one user stating: “You came off like a bunch of jerks on the internet! Congratulations.”
Another commenter expressed personal pain, noting, “I’ve never had a family portrait taken in my life. This hurts as someone who doesn’t have a ‘family.’”
Still, many fans praised Cooper’s humor and creativity.
One supporter commented, ‘This is so funny and justified,’ while another envisioned the tradition continuing in the future, saying: “I cannot wait for when the kids are older and get in on this tradition too!”
In the image, her siblings discreetly pointed their middle fingers at the camera, posing alongside their children.
The prank was a departure from their usual tradition of perfectly coordinated family photo shoots, organized annually by their mother, Melynda King.
According to Cooper, the idea for the prank came from her desire to ‘shake things up’ and surprise her mom.
Speaking with Today, she explained how she texted her siblings in a group chat, proposing the idea and using the word ‘hippopotamus’ as a code to cue the prank just before the photo was taken.
“So right before the middle finger picture, I called out, ‘Everyone say, I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!’” Cooper shared.
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As the holiday season approaches, relationships face unique challenges, and December 11 has emerged as an unofficial global ‘Breakup Day.’
This date, originally identified by the team at Information Is Beautiful, was based on an analysis of Facebook status updates from 2008.
Their findings showed a significant spike in breakups during this period, a trend that continues even as platforms like Facebook become less central to people’s relationship narratives.
Experts and recent data affirm that the weeks leading up to Christmas often bring relationship stress to a boiling point.
Dating expert Yue Xu, host of The Dateable Podcast, explained to The New York Post: “The holidays can bring up a lot of emotions and challenges for new couples.”
This phenomenon is further supported by survey data from the dating app Flirtini, which revealed that 75% of online daters have experienced a breakup during the holiday season.
There are multiple reasons why the holiday season becomes a breaking point for many relationships.
Chantelle Otten, resident sexologist for Bumble, highlighted the reflective nature of this time of year to Pedestrian.tv.
“We tend to use Christmas and the promise of a fresh start in the new year as a time to reflect, so it is not surprising that there is a spike in breakups around this time.”
She added: “For anyone not 100% happy in their relationship, it can force them to address feelings of discontent and make a decision on whether they want to stay and work on it, or officially split up.”
The Flirtini survey from 2022 pinpointed three primary stressors contributing to holiday breakups: the pressure to include partners in family gatherings (50.6%), feeling rushed to make a commitment (45.9%), and anxiety over gift-giving (40.4%).
Interestingly, 33% of respondents admitted they stayed in relationships through the holidays solely to avoid being alone.
Navigating these challenges requires open communication and mutual understanding.
New Zealand Herald columnist Jana Hocking suggests a proactive approach: “Give your partner space, be accepting of each other, and do something new to get out of stagnant routines.”
Dating coach Rikki Dymond echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of conversations about financial expectations and family plans.
“My best advice is to talk about financial expectations/limitations and come up with a reasonable budget together,” Dymond advised to the New York Post.
“Also provide each other with ideas of gifts or things you would love as gifts. This not only helps make sure you’re on the same page with spending but gives you an idea of what to get each other, which takes a lot of pressure off.”
Dymond also highlighted the need for discussions around family time: “Whose family will you visit and for how long, what’s reasonable and what’s a fair compromise?”
Addressing these questions early can help couples avoid unnecessary tension during an already stressful season.
For those seeking to strengthen their relationships rather than part ways, Xu advises honest communication about holiday-related emotions.
“Be honest with the person you’re seeing – have real conversations about what this time of the year brings up for you and how it may impact your relationship. This kind of real talk will only bring you closer!”
The holiday season may amplify relationship challenges, but it also offers an opportunity for growth and deeper understanding between partners.
Whether couples decide to stay together or part ways, clear communication, and thoughtful planning are crucial during this emotionally charged time.
