In the age of social media, holiday traditions often receive modern twists, blending humor with longstanding customs.
However, a recent family holiday card has sparked a heated online debate, emphasizing the delicate balance between playful jest and perceived disrespect.
Amanda Cooper, a travel and fashion influencer with over 14,000 Instagram followers, is at the center of this controversy.
Known for sharing glimpses of her family life, Cooper recently posted their annual holiday photo, which, at first glance, appeared to be a typical family portrait.
The image featured Cooper, her siblings, and their children, all dressed in coordinated outfits.
This tradition, meticulously upheld by their mother, Melynda King, has been a highlight of their family holidays for years.
“Let me put it this way, last year, she went to Home Depot and bought paint sample cards of the colors that we were all allowed to wear,” Cooper shared.
The anecdote emphasized King’s unwavering commitment to achieving the perfect family snapshot.
However, Cooper decided to add a surprise element this year.
She coordinated with her siblings to execute a subtle prank during the photoshoot, something her mother However, Cooper decided to add a surprise element this year.devised a clever code phrase.
“So right before the middle finger picture, I called out, ‘Everyone say, I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!'” she explained.
The plan was orchestrated flawlessly, and the subtle detail remained hidden—at least for a while.
Anticipating her mother’s reaction, Cooper sent her a preemptive text after the photoshoot.
“I get this text from Amanda, and it just said, ‘I’m going to apologize in advance for the reel I just posted,'” King recalled.
Surprisingly, King accepted the prank after seeing the image.
“I thought it was absolutely hilarious,” she admitted, appreciating the humor and playfulness behind the joke.
But while the Cooper family laughed, the internet had a much more divided reaction.
Cooper shared the prank on TikTok, where the video quickly went viral, garnering over 2.4 million views and sparking a heated debate.
Some viewers were quick to criticize the gesture, calling it “disrespectful” and “immature.”
One commenter wrote, “This would make me so sad,” expressing disappointment over what they saw as a mockery of family traditions.
Photographers also chimed in, pointing out how such pranks create additional work during post-editing.
Removing the inappropriate gestures, they argued, could add hours to an already lengthy process.
On Instagram, the backlash intensified, with critics labeling the family as “rude” and “attention-seeking.”
“You came off like a bunch of jerks on the internet! Congratulations,” one user wrote.
Others shared more personal responses, with one commenter noting, “I’ve never had a family portrait taken in my life. This hurts as someone who doesn’t have a ‘family.’”
Still, not everyone saw the prank as offensive.
Many praised Cooper for her creativity, finding the prank harmless and amusing.
One supporter commented, “This is so funny and justified. Families need to have more fun!”
Another user shared their enthusiasm for the prank, writing, “I cannot wait for when the kids are older and get in on this tradition too!”
For many supporters, the image simply reflected the family’s playful bond and close-knit nature.
As the viral discussion continued, it became clear that humor can be both subjective and polarizing, especially when shared on public platforms.
Some families cherish traditions, while others find ways to reinvent them with modern twists.
So what exactly caused the internet uproar?
In the now-viral holiday card, Cooper and her siblings had discreetly pointed their middle fingers at the camera.
The prank was a deliberate break from their mother’s tradition of perfectly polished family photos, a twist that sparked laughter among the Coopers but divided the online audience.
While Melynda King laughed it off, calling it a “hilarious surprise,” others couldn’t find the humor.
The incident ultimately highlights the evolving nature of family traditions in the digital age.
What one family sees as harmless fun can easily be viewed as disrespectful or inappropriate by others.
For Amanda Cooper and her siblings, the prank was all in good spirits, a playful way to “shake things up” during the holidays.
For the internet, however, it sparked debates about humor, decorum, and the boundaries of tradition in a viral world.
Feature Image Credit: (Instagram/ @amandak_cooper)
