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 criticism after appearing in a viral video hugging her son in an “affectionate” manner.

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

What was meant as an emotional boost turned into a viral debate as many questioned the way she hugged the teen.

The video shows Wright jumping into the arms of son Brixton, who holds her up, before returning to the ground.

In the caption, Wright wrote, “This boy will forever and ever have my whole heart. Gina captured the end of this moment and I am SO grateful.

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

‘When I walked over to my son after his match to hug him, he immediately picked me up and just held me. It could 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 teen.

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

In response to the comments, Wright explained Today: ‘I was a proud mother hugging her child. I never expected it to become something where people say, “You’re sexually abusing him!” You take care of him! I’m calling child protective services.’

She continued, “I come from a very affectionate family. Every time I see him, I hug my father. What you saw on the football field is exactly who we are. Brix will pick me up and squeeze me and then put me back down.”

Four weeks ago, Wright shared screenshots her son had sent in an Instagram post, defending his mother’s actions and revealing it was an emotional match for the family.

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

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

The message from Brixton read: ‘My mother is my hero. I just gave her a hug after the game and I picked her up, she didn’t jump on me. My mothers have been the only person there for me my entire life.

‘I grew up with an alcoholic father who just came and went as he pleased, he was great when he was sober but he wasn’t, he was just so dark and different. He never showed up to any of my games or anything like that. My moms have been to every game since I’ve played.

‘My father committed suicide last year and this year I changed my number to 44 BC, it was the date of his death (4/4/21). It was the first time I’d seen it worn in person, so she was obviously very emotional, and so was I. It was just a big hug from me to her.”

The 16-year-old has posted several comments in recent weeks defending his mother’s actions, before his mother verbally addressed the incident.