What to Know
Father-daughter and mother-son dances are typical at wedding receptions. But when a mother of the bride and her daughter, the bride, took the dance floor in a TikTok video, it’s still wholesome. Until, well, it’s a little much. At least, for some people on social media. In the video, the mother, whose name is Haley Starr, sings to her daughter, Zoe, on the dance floor as they gently sway to the music.
But for some TikTok users, the whole scene is a little cringe. For Haley and her daughter, it seems to be a moment they will cherish for a long time. But the internet has a way of being pretty unforgiving. And even a heartfelt moment between a parent and her kid can result in going viral for the wrong reasons.
The other of the bride and the bride danced during the song.
@haleyastarr Singing to my beautiful baby girl at her wedding 💕 I loved that I was able to have this moment with her 🥹❤️ #leannwomack #bride #motherdaughter #wedding #love ♬ original sound – Haley Starr
In the video, Haley sings to Zoe with a microphone as the women gently sway to the music. It seems to be something that was planned, though it’s not clear if Zoe knew about it. To her credit, she doesn’t look embarrassed or unhappy at all. But the comments from internet strangers feel a totally different way.
“Wearing white and screaming right in her face…,” one TikTok user commented, in reference to Haley’s dress.
Another person wrote, “It sounds terrible but other than that I hate it.”
“I just know the cousin group chat had a field day with this,” a user joked.
A mom added, “as a mother, I promise to never make the biggest day of my daughter’s life about me by screaming a song in her face.”
She later shared a follow-up “full version” video.
@haleyastarr PART 2! Yall asked for the FULL version so here it is! Thank yall for the love💕 This was a moment for me and my daughter. This song has always said what I want for her. Shes my pride and joy. She will always be my baby girl no matter how old she gets. I want everything in this world for her! 🥹🥰💕 #motherdaughter #bride #Love #leannwomack #wedding ♬ original sound – Haley Starr
Haley posted another video where she shared the full version of her song and dance with Zoe during the wedding reception. In this video, Haley sings to Zoe for a little while until Zoe gets up to join her on the dance floor. And, even if people on social media are a little weirded out or feel some sort of cringe about it, the song seems to make Zoe pretty happy.
One person even wrote, “Am I the only one who thinks this is sweet? I could understand the backlash if her daughter looked uncomfortable or angry, but she looks very emotional about it. Emotional in a good way too.”
So hey, there are some supporters of the video, even if a lot of other users were quick to share their discomfort.
She clapped back at the “hurtful” comments.
@haleyastarr Replying to @Lauren Alaina Thank you @Lauren Alaina ♬ original sound – Haley Starr
Haley is one of those reminders on social media that there are actual people behind the videos that go viral. In one of her follow-up videos, she speaks to the camera and admits that some of the comments she got on her original video were “hurtful,” but that she sang for her daughter, not for herself.
“I wanted to give all I knew that I had to give to my daughter Zoe on her wedding day,” she says in the video. “And I have sang to her her entire life since she was in my belly and to all of my kids since they were babies and growing up. And I just wanted to make her day even more special if I could in any way possible.”
She also says that she never tried to make the moment about herself. Even though she was met with some pretty nasty comments, and people who quickly made her into a meme, she’s happy she sang to her daughter on her wedding day.
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