A mom was left mortified after watching an old video and commenting on her weight—only to realize it was her daughter in the clip.
Nikki Lieberman was watching a video from five years ago with her mom, Erica Stone Lieberman, when the accident occurred. The duo was reminiscing about the day they got their dog, Bentley, all those years ago and couldn’t resist looking through old videos.
When she watched the clip, Nikki, 26, of Chicago, Illinois, told Newsweek that she noticed “how much bigger” she was, having lost 140 pounds since then. But importantly, she didn’t say anything about it.
That didn’t stop her mom however, as Erica, 58, mistook it for herself and couldn’t help but blurt out: “God, look how fat I was.” Needless to say, Nikki was stunned by her mom’s comment.
Nikki said: “We have both struggled with weight our entire lives, which is why she felt comfortable vocalizing it. She thought that the video was of her, hence her comment.
“At first, I was shocked and maybe a little offended. But then I remembered how she would never intentionally shame my appearance in any way. After that, I could join her in laughter as the situation was quite funny.”
Erica apologized profusely in that moment, and has continued to do so. She told Newsweek that she “felt terrible” for her statement, but was relieved that they could use “humor to ease some of the pain.”
Like many people, Erica and Nikki have always felt conscious of their weight and endured personal struggles. But Erica didn’t want her daughter to feel dismayed by her comment and still reminds her that beauty is far more than a number on a scale.
“Our country places far too much value on outer beauty and body type. Nikki’s father and I did our best to raise her to know that she is beautiful both inside and out. It is a person’s heart that makes them a true beauty,” Erica said.
The mother and daughter certainly look alike, as both women often get reminded of how similar they are.
Following the incident, Nikki shared a video on TikTok (@thickjewishgirl) showing her mom laughing with utter embarrassment at her faux pas. In just a matter of days, the clip has gone viral with over 7 million views and more than 1.4 million likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
The online response is beyond anything Nikki expected, but she’s enjoyed seeing the wave of responses. Many people laughed about the honest mistake and shared their similar stories, but others criticized the comment as harmful.
Thankfully, Nikki wasn’t overly offended and knew her mom’s comment wasn’t meant maliciously.
Although she did see this is an important reminder of how women talking negatively about their own body image can impact those around them who may “internalize the dissatisfaction.”
After going viral, Nikki told Newsweek: “I want those criticizing my mom to remember that we are all working on our self-worth at every age. I will continue posting my authentic self in all of my thick Jewish girl glory for the young women out there who see a similar body shape in me and want to mirror the confidence that I embody.”
With over 4,400 responses on the TikTok post so far, many social media users have taken to the comments section to share their own similar experiences.
One comment reads: “Maybe this is a learning moment that she should talk more kindly about herself.”
Another TikTok user replied: “Count yourself lucky girl, my mom would say it knowing damn well.”
While another person added: “Let this be a lesson. Why would we say it about ourselves if we wouldn’t say it about/to someone we love?”
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