Dad Was Told By Trolls His Four-Week-Old Baby Needed Botox And He Clapped Back
It's not uncommon to notice your social media feed has suddenly flooded with pictures of the same baby. New parents feel so overwhelmed by their new bundle of joy that they just want to share a million pictures of them with the whole world.
For this dad, the last thing he expected when he posted pictures of his four-week-old son, was that he would get told that the baby needed Botox.
Meet Jake Quickenden, An X Factor Contestant
Jake Quickenden is a musician and actor who has appeared on shows like The X Factor. That means that he's used to living in the limelight.
Although being famous comes with the risk of scrutiny, Jake maybe expected it himself, but he never thought his newborn would have to deal with it as well.
When The Baby Was Born, Jake Was Overwhelmed With Joy
It doesn't take a detective to notice just how excited Jake was to be a dad and how proud he was of his baby. His Instagram was flooded with pictures and videos of his newborn, and highlights of them bonding together.
The dad points out that he enjoys having a platform in which he can share his ups and downs.
He Tried To Ignore The Inital Trolls
It didn't take long for Jake to notice that not everyone was appreciating his cute baby posts. In fact, some comments were full-out making fun of the baby's facial appearance.
Jake tried to be the bigger person and acknowledge the trolls but still pay no mind to them.
He Couldn't Imagine That Some Didn't See His Cuteness
Jake simply couldn't imagine how someone could look at a newborn baby and think they're not cute. He attributed anyone who didn't as having a frozen heart.
He continued to try and dismiss the negative comments with jokes such as suggesting they put their cold hearts in the microwave to defrost.
Then He Couldn't Take The Criticism Anymore
Enough was enough, and Jake hit a point where he couldn't stand having his newborn child face such criticism by strangers on the internet.
When the baby was four weeks old and the comments hadn't subsided, Jake finally addressed all those who said his baby needed "Botox."
His Child Was Called "Ugly"
Jake explains that since his little man was born, he has been told by strangers online that he needs Botox.
He points out that some of the comments straight out said the baby was ugly and weird-looking despite the child being too small and innocent to be able to fight back.
Just Because He's Used To The Trolls Doesn't Mean His Child Should Have To Deal With Them
Jake admits that he's used to people's criticism, even though that in itself is sad. "I’ve had to get used to being called ' irrelevant' 'ugly' 'attention-seeking... and the list goes on..."
But, he draws the line when it comes to his child saying that "to troll an innocent child is so wrong."
He Thinks That The Trolls Should "Seek Help"
Jake finds that the issue is with the people commenting, not with the child. He thinks that those trolling "need to seek help".
He shouldn't have to stay off social media to appease anyone or avoid such criticism. "The thought process of some people is shocking, maybe people just shouldn’t troll."
The Dark Side Of Social Media
Jake acknowledges that even though social media full of "lovely people who are supportive," it also has a dark side full of criticism.
Jake tries to be as real as possible in his posts but to continue to do so, he thinks that something needs to be done about the dark side.
Luckily, The Family Has Support Where It Matters
Fortunately for Jake, he still has a supportive network of his family, friends, and fans who continue to be there for him and his baby.
One of his friends tried to comfort him by commenting: "we can be as polite as we want but sometimes people get comfortable because there’s a screen there, one day they’ll do it to the wrong person. What goes around comes around."
17-Year-Old Gets Sent Home For Her Turtleneck Dress, And Her Dad Speaks Up
Not only do schools teach math, but they also turn kids into adults who will one day take over society.
Have the rules of education become so strict that we're completely stripping kids of their personality and confidence? It might the case with a 17-year-old high school senior who was sent home due to her dress-and-turtleneck combo.
The Dress That Started It All
This is the outfit the student in Kamloops, British Columbia, wore that day to school. It's a combination of a high-necked, white turtleneck under a lace-edged black dress.
The dress goes all the way to her knees, and the turtleneck covers her whole upper body. There's no excess skin exposed.
She Was Removed From Class For Making The Teacher Feel Uncomfortable
Not long after class started, the teacher singled her out and told her that the outfit she was wearing could make her, or the teacher's assistant who is a male, uncomfortable.
She was then removed from class, brought to the principal's office, and sent home in tears.
Her Dad Expressed His Outrage In A Viral Facebook Video
Her dad took to his Facebook account and expressed his hurt and disappointment in a video that has since gone viral.
He explained: "My beautiful, Grade 12, 17-year-old daughter went to school today feeling excited, feeling good about herself, ready to learn," but the focus was instead on her outfit.
This Isn't The Way To Treat Women
"I am pretty upset at this happening in 2021," he says in reference to the news you hear about teachers singling students out for their outfits, thinking it was never going to happen to him and his family...until it did.
"This is unacceptable. We shouldn't treat our females like this. We shouldn't be telling them they can't dress a certain way. This is absurd," the dad said.
He Says The Teacher Is In The Wrong Profession
Wilson pointed out that this isn't an isolated instance, but a flaw in the system: "Today I am frustrated, I am hurt, I am disappointed about the system."
He warns: "If you're a teacher and you're distracted by clothing your students are wearing, then you are in the wrong profession... Maybe you should try something new."
The System Itself Is An Issue Many Agreed On
The teacher's defense was that the teen's outfit reminded them of lingerie, probably because of the silky fabric combined with the lace.
However, this raised the question of whether it's a grown man's fault for feeling uncomfortable over a young woman's outfit. Should it be on her to change, or on him to not look at her sexually in the first place?
Students Of The School Organized A Walkout In Solidarity
The school is now facing backlash from the community. The students organized a walkout protest that was covered by media outlets, probably thanks to Wilson's viral video.
Students held up posters and signs with slogans such as "I am not my dress" and "education is more important than what I wear."
The School Says That Some Clothing Hinders Teaching
When the dad confronted the vice-principal, who is a woman, about whether the dress made her uncomfortable, he said that she quietly said no and that there wasn't an issue.
They even pulled the dress code, and one of the four main points was that clothing should not be distracting, which he says is unacceptable.
Students Are Wearing The Same Outfit In Solidarity With Karis
Some of the students protested by dressing in similar outfits to the one that got Karis sent home.
Both Christopher and his daughter said they're speaking out because they want to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen to the students that come after her. Even if it's just for one person.
The Sentiment Was Shared By Many Parents All Over Social Media
Students and parents alike took to Twitter and Facebook to share how they have experienced similar situations.
Some simply expressed their outrage that such a situation could even still happen today.