Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm has issued a sharp retort to a social media critic who took issue with a family Christmas photograph. The 33-year-old athlete shared a festive portrait featuring her two-year-old son, Sampson, and her new boyfriend, Brandon Caust, which prompted unsolicited commentary about her parenting choices.
The Festive Photo That Sparked Controversy
The image in question, posted to Seebohm's Instagram over the holiday period with the simple caption 'Merry Christmas', showed the gold medallist posing for a Santa portrait with her young son and new partner. In the sweet snap, her toddler, Sampson – whom she shares with ex-fiancé and Married At First Sight star Ryan Gallagher – chose to sit on the lap of Caust.
This innocent detail, however, drew fire from one follower, who commented: 'I actually find this disrespectful to your son's father. Sure have a photo together, but have your boy sit on your lap.'
Seebohm's Firm Defence
The athlete did not hesitate to respond directly to the critique. 'Thanks for the feedback, but my son chose where he wanted to sit. It's not about anyone apart from him,' Seebohm replied, firmly centring her child's autonomy in the matter.
When the same commenter persisted, adding, 'Oh, I thought you were the adult and should teach your son about feelings and appearances,' Seebohm opted not to engage further in the comments. Instead, she took to her Instagram Stories, posting 'Wow, some people' alongside a facepalm emoji, succinctly conveying her exasperation with the unsolicited judgement.
A Family Dynamic in the Public Eye
The online exchange comes amid ongoing public interest in Seebohm's separation from Gallagher, 37. Their split was confirmed in November after months of speculation, becoming an open secret. Relations between the former couple appear to have shifted since their breakup.
Earlier in December, Gallagher shared his own heart-warming Santa photo with their son Sampson, from which Seebohm was notably absent. This contrasted sharply with the previous year's festive season, when the then-family-of-three posed together for a Christmas snapshot. Her absence from this year's father-son portrait has raised questions about the current state of their co-parenting relationship.
Seebohm's Christmas photo also served as a follow-up to her recent 'hard launch' of her relationship with Brandon Caust, which she announced just days prior with a post captioned 'Surprise'. The couple have been pictured together at a charity gala, a Brisbane Bullets NBL game, and out for dinner, with Caust also bonding with Sampson.
Meanwhile, Gallagher confirmed in November that he was back on the dating scene, recounting a date that went awry because their 'energies didn't align'. The pair, who were engaged in 2022, first sparked split rumours in April when they unfollowed each other on Instagram. A source close to the former couple emphasised to Sky News Australia that their 'number one priority is Sampson and ensuring he continues to feel supported by both parents.'
