Celebrity chef Hilda Baci has spoken out against online users who have been mocking her 15-year-old brother after a family video featuring him went viral.
The culinary star expressed disappointment over how a simple and playful moment shared on her Snapchat account turned into a subject of ridicule after being reposted across various social media platforms.
According to Hilda, her younger brother became the target of unnecessary criticism despite doing nothing wrong other than appearing in a video with her.
Reacting through her X account, the Guinness World Record holder condemned the treatment meted out to the teenager and questioned why adults would choose to bully a child online.
She explained that the video was originally posted for fun and was never intended to attract widespread attention. However, after blogs and social media pages picked it up, it quickly became a source of jokes and mockery.
Hilda further alleged that some individuals went as far as editing images of her brother to make him look larger, all in a bid to generate engagement on social media.
“I never imagined that a lighthearted video with my 15-year-old brother would be taken from my Snapchat, reposted across different platforms, and turned into an excuse to bully a child,” she wrote.
She added:
“Adults are editing the image of a 15-year-old boy and publicly mocking him. My brother did nothing except exist in a funny video with his sister.”
The chef criticized those making hurtful remarks about the teenager, stressing that he is still a child and should not be subjected to online harassment because of a viral clip.
“If your idea of entertainment is tearing down a child, then that’s a reflection of your character, not his. He’s a child, stop the cruelty,” she stated.
Hilda also described her brother as a kind-hearted and well-loved young boy with a promising future ahead of him. She maintained that negative comments and manipulated images would not determine the person he grows up to become.
She concluded by urging Nigerians to be more mindful of their words on social media, especially when minors are involved, reminding users that every viral photo or video features a real person who can be affected by online comments.
She added:
“He’s kind. He’s loved. He’s growing, learning, and becoming the amazing young man I know he will be. I hope, before you type another insult or share another edited image, you remember that there is a real teenager on the other side of your screen reading what you write. Do better.”
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