At a Glance
- Nikki Garcia, 42, hit back at social-media users who mocked her for kissing 5-year-old Matteo on the lips
- The WWE star turned off comments on the post and says the backlash proves why she rarely shares images of her son
- Garcia called the criticism “weird” and “annoying,” insisting the kiss came after Matteo’s excited reaction to Lego Santa
- Why it matters: The incident spotlights ongoing debates about public parenting choices and online judgment
Nikki Garcia is firing back at followers who criticized a photo showing her kissing her young son on the lips, calling the reaction both surprising and intrusive.
Speaking on the January 15 episode of The Nikki and Brie Show, the former WWE performer-previously known as Nikki Bella-detailed the wave of negative remarks that appeared after she posted the moment with Matteo, 5.
“It’s so weird. I mean, there were quite a few reasons why I turned my comments off on that post, and it just goes to show why I don’t put my son on social media,” she said.
Backlash Over a ‘Great Moment’
Garcia explained that although the number of critical comments wasn’t huge, the tone was enough to prompt her to disable them.
“It was enough to bug me where like, ‘I can’t believe she kisses her son on the lips, he’s 5,’ and I’m like, dude, I can’t believe you’re so bothered by it and annoyed. That’s crazy to me,” she continued.
The picture, she noted, captured an impromptu kiss that happened while the two were visiting Lego Santa.
“In that photo that’s on the cover photo, Matteo, that was his first time seeing Lego Santa, just the Lego version. He got so excited, so the lady was just taking photos,” Garcia recalled.
“He grabbed me and gave me a big kiss on the lips. It was the cutest thing because of how excited and grateful he was.”
Why She Rarely Posts Her Son
The former Total Divas star said such reactions confirm her decision to keep Matteo largely off her feeds.
“It felt so rude,” she said of the remarks. “I’m so over the people who comment on my son.”
She added that denying a child affection can carry its own emotional cost.
“First of all, I love my son so much and I feel bad if your kid wants to kiss you on the lips and you tell him no. I think that’s sad because I don’t know what that would do to them mentally.”
Garcia and her husband, Dancing with the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev, welcomed Matteo in 2020.
Motherhood as a Life-Long Dream
Becoming a parent, Garcia told News Of Losangeles shortly after Matteo’s birth, fulfilled a lifelong ambition.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life. I can’t imagine life without being a mom and experiencing the miracle of life and raising a child. I’m just so family-oriented that I couldn’t imagine not having that family life,” she said at the time.
In a 2023 interview she reiterated that motherhood revealed new depths of selflessness, saying, “You’re just willing to give it all up for this one special human being.”
Personal Turmoil and Life Changes
Two years after Matteo’s arrival, Garcia and Chigvintsev married.
The relationship later faced upheaval when Chigvintsev was arrested on a charge of corporal injury to a spouse. Garcia filed for divorce in September 2024.
Throughout the separation process she has continued to focus on parenting, choosing moments of celebration-like the Lego Santa visit-to share glimpses of her life while protecting her son from the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
- A single photo of a spontaneous kiss triggered enough criticism that Garcia disabled comments and reaffirmed her decision to limit Matteo’s online exposure
- Garcia defends affectionate parenting, arguing that denying a child a requested kiss could have emotional consequences
- The incident underscores the scrutiny public figures face over everyday parenting choices
