A young man has spoken out against a torrent of online abuse he and his family have received after his girlfriend and his mother, who share a close bond and a similar appearance, began posting content together.
The Unbreakable Family Bond
Isaiah, 20, met his girlfriend Yarelis when they were just 11 years old at school. The couple officially got together a year and a half ago. Isaiah has always been very close to his mother, Zashia, a content creator since 2012, and was delighted when she and Yarelis hit it off immediately.
Zashia describes her son's girlfriend as being like a daughter to her, and the two women have a sisterly dynamic. Zashia, who is from Miami, says their similar, loud and vibrant personalities are typical of Latinas from the area.
When 'Cute' Content Attracts Hate
The situation took a dark turn when the two women started sharing what they thought were cute videos and pictures online, often dressed in matching outfits. The post went viral, but for all the wrong reasons.
Instead of positive feedback, they were bombarded with cruel comments. Trolls accused Isaiah of having Freudian mummy issues and made vile, unfounded accusations of incest. One comment read, "This dude definitely has weird mummy issues," while another was directed at Zashia: "So you're basically your son's type."
Defying the Trolls and Double Standards
Isaiah admits he feels "weirded out" by the accusations and doesn't understand the negativity. His mother, however, remains defiant. Zashia points out a clear double standard, stating, "When a woman... tries to find a man who is like her father... that's not weird, that's fine. But when a mother is a good mother... for her son to find those characteristics, then it's weird."
Zashia is in a relationship with her wife, Taylor, who is also a huge part of the close-knit family. Taylor describes the bond between mother and son as "beautiful" and says it "eats her alive" to see her loved ones targeted by online hate.
Dismissing the incest claims as "really dumb," Zashia emphasises that their family is a safe space. Isaiah's hope is that they can all continue their lives without being changed by the vitriol, focusing on the many positive comments they receive.
The family's experience highlights the very real problem of online trolling and harassment. Those facing similar issues can seek guidance from The Cyber Helpline or contact the National Bullying Helpline.
