Shawn Johnson’s latest family video has turned into an online parenting debate after the former Olympic gymnast shared a playful moment with her 2-year-old son, Barrett “Bear” East.
PEOPLE reported that Johnson posted the clip on July 4, showing Bear grabbing her face and kissing her on the lips while they were on a boat.
Page Six reported that the video quickly divided commenters, with some criticizing the moment and others defending it as normal affection between a mother and young child.
The Video Drew Mixed Reactions From Viewers
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Johnson captioned the clip by joking that Bear “came outta nowhere” with the smooch.
As of the reports from PEOPLE and Page Six, Johnson had not publicly issued a separate statement addressing the criticism. PEOPLE also noted that a representative for Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
One supportive comment came from Married at First Sight alum Jamie Otis, who wrote warmly about the way a young boy loves his mother. Johnson replied to that comment by calling it “the sweetest,” keeping her response brief and focused on the affectionate side of the moment.
Johnson and Andrew East Share Three Children
Johnson, 34, shares three children with her husband, former NFL player Andrew East. Their daughter, Drew Hazel, is 6, their son Jett James is 4, and Bear is 2.
The couple married in 2016 and have often shared pieces of their family life online, including parenting milestones, marriage conversations and postpartum struggles.
In June, PEOPLE reported that Johnson and East said they were happy with their family of five and did not plan to have more children. Johnson said their family feels complete, while East said he loves having little kids but thinks they are done.