Shawn Johnson branded 'weird' by fans over son kiss video
Shawn Johnson branded 'weird' by fans after sharing a video in which her 2-year-old son, Barrett "Bear" East, grabbed her neck and kissed her on the lips during a boat outing. The former Olympic gymnast's weekend post split commenters, with some calling the smooches excessive while others defended them as normal toddler affection.
The clip quickly spread across Johnson's platforms, putting the gold medalist back in the spotlight for a parenting debate rather than gymnastics. As fans argued in the comments, the moment raised a familiar question for celebrity families: what feels loving at home can read very differently to millions of strangers online.
Key Takeaways
- Johnson, 34, shared a viral video of son Barrett, 2, giving her lengthy lip kisses on a boat.
- Some commenters called the clip "weird" and said parents should not encourage it; others defended the moment as normal toddler affection.
- A representative for Johnson did not immediately respond to Page Six's request for comment.
- Johnson shares three children with husband Andrew East, whom she married in 2016.
- The post revived broader debate over whether parent-child lip kisses belong on public social media.
What happened in Shawn Johnson's viral video?
In the video, Johnson is on a boat with Barrett, who grabs her by the neck and plants lengthy smooches on her lips. Someone behind the camera can be heard exclaiming, "Wow, what was that, dude?"
Johnson captioned the clip, "What a smooch!! Hahahaha this guy came outta nowhere!!" The former gymnast posted it over the weekend, and it quickly drew a flood of reactions from followers.
Why did fans brand Shawn Johnson 'weird'?
Commenters were sharply divided. One person bluntly wrote, "This is weird," while another said, "One little peck ok but this is a lot." A third commented, "Imagine a father kisses his daughter like that bro," and a fourth added, "This is weird. Don't encourage this."
Supporters pushed back just as strongly. One follower with a two-year-old son wrote that such kisses are "literally my favorite thing in the world." Another told critics, "Let that boy kiss his mama! He wont be doing it when he is 15, chill people." An Instagram user also asked, "At what point did it become inappropriate for kids to kiss their parents?"
Stories like this often land in our Celebrity Breaking News coverage when famous parents share intimate family moments that split public opinion.
Has Shawn Johnson responded to the backlash?
As of Tuesday evening, a representative for Johnson had not immediately responded to Page Six's request for comment. Johnson has not addressed the criticism directly in a follow-up post based on the initial report.
The silence has not slowed the conversation. With the video still circulating, the debate has largely played out in her comments section rather than through an official statement.
Who is in Shawn Johnson's family?
Johnson married former NFL player Andrew East in 2016. The couple shares daughter Drew Hazel East, 6, and sons Jett James East, 4, and Barrett.
In a 2024 interview with Motherly, Johnson said "three kids is a lot" but called Barrett "the sweetest, most amazing little man ever," adding that their older children are "obsessed with him." She has also spoken openly about postpartum depression after Barrett's birth and credited therapy — encouraged by East — with helping her heal.