At a Glance
- Joseph Maine posts a TikTok clip of his mother dancing wildly at their June wedding.
- The video has earned 25.8 million views and millions of likes, shares, and comments.
- The clip sparked mixed reactions online, from praise to harsh criticism.
- Why it matters: It highlights how a simple wedding moment can ignite global conversation about motherhood and social media expectations.
Joseph Maine’s TikTok clip of his mother’s exuberant dance at their wedding went viral, drawing millions of viewers and a wide range of reactions. The clip, posted on January 23, showcases Julie Maine being carried and bounced by a friend to the beat of Icona Pop and Charli xcx’s “I Love It.” The video’s popularity and the ensuing debate illustrate how quickly a wedding moment can become a cultural touchstone.
The Viral TikTok Clip
The clip was uploaded to TikTok on Jan. 23 and quickly amassed more than 25.8 million views, 1.6 million likes, 136,000 shares, 56,000 saves, and 18,000 comments. Joseph posted the video with a caption that read, “She asked our friend to pick her up 😂 Let moms live. They need to shake it sometimes too.” In the video’s onscreen text, he wrote, “In Victoria Beckham’s defense, this was my mom at our wedding.” The background track was a remix of Icona Pop and Charli xcx’s “I Love It.”
Julie Maine, 55, is carried by Travis Kipp, 40, a longtime friend of the groom’s. The dance lasts less than 15 seconds, but it captured the energy of the moment and the celebratory atmosphere of the wedding.
Mixed Online Reactions
While many viewers praised the clip, some comments were sharply critical. One top comment, with 610,000 likes, read, “I’ve never been so uncomfortable.” Another user wrote, “Why the hell were you all okay with this???😭.” The comments highlighted a tension between the joy of the moment and the scrutiny mothers face online.
Joseph noted that the clip had sparked “so many expectations for how a mom is ‘supposed to act.'” He added, “Had this not been my mom and a friend who was 15 years younger, the reaction would have been dismal in comparison.” The negative feedback, according to Joseph, often came from other women and mothers who felt judged.
Joseph Maine’s Perspective
Joseph explained that the dance occurred on the third day of a four-day celebration in June at Valle De Guadalupe, Mexico. He said, “There has been so much discourse online and pearl clutching about a single sentence written about Victoria Beckham at her son’s wedding with zero context or evidence.” He believed that sharing a lighthearted moment would counterbalance the harsh online commentary.
“I just never imagined people would not be able to see the humor, not understand the text on screen was a joke or that people would not read the caption and think I was the one holding her,” Joseph told News Of Los Angeles. He added that “there’s so many expectations for how a mom is ‘supposed to act.'” Despite the backlash, Joseph and his mother laughed at the viral clip, though Julie noted the negativity.
Joseph also mentioned that his mother had endured a rough year before the wedding, losing a partner and a grandmother. “I was just happy to see her smiling and having fun,” he said. “All those crazy moments over a four-day wedding are the stories we will retell for years to come. Life’s too short to be boring.”
The Wedding Context
The wedding itself was a four-day affair that began in June at a picturesque venue in Valle De Guadalupe, Mexico. Joseph, 36, and his husband, Jack McWilliams, celebrated with close friends and family. The third day, when Julie performed the dance, was a spontaneous highlight that resonated with many attendees.
The couple chose TikTok as a platform to share the moment, reflecting a broader trend of couples using social media to document their nuptial celebrations. The choice of a high-energy song and a playful dance mirrored the couple’s desire to showcase authenticity and joy.
Takeaway
Joseph Maine’s TikTok clip demonstrates how a single, joyous act can spark widespread conversation about motherhood, social media norms, and the pressure women face to conform to expectations. While the video drew both praise and criticism, it also highlighted the importance of celebrating personal moments on one’s own terms. The viral clip, and the reactions it generated, serve as a reminder that authenticity can resonate far beyond the wedding day.
For more stories like this, sign up for News Of Los Angeles‘s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what News Of Los Angeles has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
