Parenting

The Shocking Reason Instagram Removed This Photo (& It Has Nothing to Do With Nudity)

ParentingPublished Jan 9, 2018
By Lauren Levy
Toddler at beachlifewithwinter/Instagram

As a mom of two who lives near the beach in Australia, Jordyn Jones fills up her Instagram feed with sunny photos of her sandy kids enjoying life by the water. Yes, publicly posting family photos opens any parent up to an influx of criticism from eager mommy-shamers ready to leave comments, but Jordyn never expected to receive the backlash that commenters threw at her for a recent snapshot of her little girl. She also never imagined that Instagram would censor the post because of the haters.

Jordyn often shares beachy snapshots online of her kiddos Winter and Wilde.-placeholder
Jordyn often shares beachy snapshots online of her kiddos Winter and Wilde.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

Jordyn often shares beachy snapshots online of her kiddos Winter and Wilde.

Her recent post was like many of her other snapshots, but the photo of her 2-year-old enjoying the sand after skinny-dipping quickly sparked an unintended backlash.

The controversy went as far as Instagram removing the waterfront snapshot after multiple complaints.-placeholder
The controversy went as far as Instagram removing the waterfront snapshot after multiple complaints.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

The controversy went as far as Instagram removing the waterfront snapshot after multiple complaints.

This is the photo that people were seriously slamming her for -- but not because Winter was naked.-placeholder
This is the photo that people were seriously slamming her for -- but not because Winter was naked.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

This is the photo that people were seriously slamming her for -- but not because Winter was naked.

Jordyn explains to CafeMom that the photo was taken in the evening and that one of the editing tools she uses can "deepen the warmth of the photo, which can sometimes give off a more bronzed complexion" if the photo is taken in less light. "Winter was actually wearing a full piece that afternoon and I captured the photo as she was walking up from washing her hands," she says. "I saw no problem in posting it. Even though she has no clothes on, the photo was taken from the side and there is nothing inappropriate showing."

More from CafeMom: This Mom Will Damn Well Kiss Her Kid on the Lips Whenever She Wants To

But some people thought the toddler looked burned based on her tan line, and they weren't pleased.-placeholder
But some people thought the toddler looked burned based on her tan line, and they weren't pleased.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

But some people thought the toddler looked burned based on her tan line, and they weren't pleased.

Although Winter is glowing while walking in the sand, some haters online had an issue with her skin tone and and assumed that the toddler was sunburned. "It's disgusting to see how dark your daughter's skin is. Have you heard of sunscreen? How about you start using it before your kid looks 40 at 4. Horrible mother," one user commented. 

"This is not OK. Talking to anyone like this is not OK," Jordyn responded along with a screenshot of the user's harsh words.

That was just one of multiple people accusing Jordyn of letting her daughter get burned and harming her.-placeholder
That was just one of multiple people accusing Jordyn of letting her daughter get burned and harming her.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

That was just one of multiple people accusing Jordyn of letting her daughter get burned and harming her.

"Woke up this morning to see my post had been removed from Instagram because more than a few people had reported it," Jordyn wrote in a follow-up post on Instagram. "I am disgusted at the thought that people who follow me condone that lady's bullying and racist remarks."

Jordyn also posted a photo of Winter's rich skin from birth and clapped back at the "racist" mom-shamers.-placeholder
Jordyn also posted a photo of Winter's rich skin from birth and clapped back at the "racist" mom-shamers.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

Jordyn also posted a photo of Winter's rich skin from birth and clapped back at the "racist" mom-shamers.

Alongside a photo of Winter at 10 days old, she explained that her mom's side of the family is Aboriginal. "Winter identifies as Aboriginal and she is blessed with her beautiful olive skin," she wrote. "Please refrain from messaging me with concerns regarding her skin. It is offensive and unwarranted. Winter is always lathered in Zinc."

However, Jordyn also explained that her younger child, Wilde, gets his skin tone from her Dutch husband. "I should not have to justify my daughter being tanned. We live at the beach and I always ensure I take appropriate measure to care for her skin," she wrote. "Remember you are only seeing a minor glimpse into my life."

She's outraged that people don't know the difference between a tan and a burn -- and reported her for it.-placeholder
She's outraged that people don't know the difference between a tan and a burn -- and reported her for it.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

She's outraged that people don't know the difference between a tan and a burn -- and reported her for it.

In her follow-up post, she reminded people that both she and her child are real people and not just objects to judge. "My child's skin is beautiful, I take all necessary measures to ensure her skin is protected and I wake up every damn day striving to be the best mother possible," she wrote. "If you don't like my posts or our skin color offends you please just unfollow."

More from CafeMom: This Toddler Didn't Just Help Deliver 'Her Baby' -- She Jumped in to Do Skin-to-Skin

Despite the hate, Jordyn is moving on and refuses to let it ruin these sunny memories.-placeholder
Despite the hate, Jordyn is moving on and refuses to let it ruin these sunny memories.
lifewithwinter/Instagram

Despite the hate, Jordyn is moving on and refuses to let it ruin these sunny memories.

Even with all the negativity, Jordyn believes that all folks are entitled to their own opinions and she's used to dealing with them thanks to her public social media platform. However, this has seriously crossed a line -- but she refuses to move on instead of stooping to the same shaming tactics. 

"I have thick skin when it comes to trolls ... I usually just delete their unwarranted comment or message but comments directed at my children I won't tolerate," she says. "It's one thing to message someone in a kind manner regarding their concerns, but to write that her skin tone is 'disgusting' is vile and racist. This type of comment said to another human being could have really affected them and I wanted to share this experience without naming and shaming the [commenter] in hopes that she may learn to think before she types. I often wonder if these people who comment on my photos in a negative way would walk up to me in public and say it to my face?"

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