WWE Hall of Famer addresses negative comments regarding affection towards her five-year-old child
Summary
– Nikki Bella addressed backlash from photos of her kissing her five-year-old son on the lips
– She turned off comments on the post after receiving criticism about parenting and her son’s hair
– Bella defended the innocent moment and expressed sadness for parents who withhold affection
Nikki Bella is directly addressing online criticism she received following a recent family trip to Legoland. Speaking on The Nikki and Brie Show on January 15, 2026, the WWE Hall of Famer responded to negative comments she received after posting a photo kissing her five-year-old son, Mateo, on the lips.
Bella revealed she disabled comments on the specific post because the reaction was disturbing and reinforces exactly why she limits her son’s presence on social media. She expressed deep frustration over fans being bothered by affection towards her five-year-old, as well as unsolicited comments criticizing his long hair. She emphasized that her son loves his hair and called the critics, annoyed by her parenting, crazy.
Bella explained that the photo captured a genuine moment of joy where her son excitedly grabbed and kissed her after seeing Lego Santa for the first time. She stated it is sad if other parents reject such affection from their children due to outside opinions and defended the innocent nature of the interaction against those trying to ruin it.
