Victoria Beckham has inadvertently sparked an online debate about whether parents should kiss children on the lips.
The 42-year-old mum-of-four shared a photo of herself and Harper kissing, to celebrate her daughter’s fifth birthday.
“We all love you so much, kisses from mummy,” she captioned the photo.
But the mother-daughter shot did not go down well with many commenters.
“It is strange to kiss your parents on the lips,” one person commented.
“We need to stop saying to other people it isn’t.”
Another person wrote: “Ew sorry I’m old fashioned it looks like they making out”.
Within the nearly 4,000 comments included claims the photo was “pervy” and arguments that children can get cold sores from kissing their parents on the mouth.
After the initial criticism, the photo started to receive comments from people praising Beckham and slamming those who were quick to criticise her.
“I can’t believe the things people write,” one fan wrote.
“It must be horrible to see the world through some people’s eyes. I’m pleased I see this for what it is. A gorgeous pic of the love between mother and daughter.”
Others agreed, commenting: “Beautiful photo, what is the world coming to when you cant even kiss your own child on the lips! I always kiss my boys on the lips.
“This is a perfectly normal moment for any parent and child. The things people have been saying are rude and how can they have the audacity to say it.
“They purely don’t understand the love between mother and child.”
David Beckham also uploaded a photo of Harper kissing him for her birthday
Many said they felt sorry for Beckham.
“I feel really sorry for VB,” one person wrote.
“People reading into this are simply sick themselves. There is absolutely nothing sexual about this.
Another commented: “I actually can’t believe what am reading, the world is full of that many pervs and horrible people that people think that @victoriabeckham kissing her daughter is wrong, I’m gobsmacked with the comments.”
This isn’t the first time there has been a public debate over whether parents should kiss their children on the lips.
In August 2015, an article with the headline ‘Experts Say Kissing Your Kids On The Lips Is “Too Sexual”’ sparked widespread discussion among parents.
The feature on website Your Tango made reference to comments made by Dr. Charlotte Reznick who believes kissing children on the lips “can be stimulating”.
Reznick, author of The Power Of Your Child’s Imagination, said: “The kiss on the lips can be stimulating. It’s just too confusing.
“If mummy kisses daddy on the mouth and vice versa, what does that mean, when a little girl or boy kisses their parents on the mouth?
“If I had to answer when to stop kissing your kids on the lips, it would be now.”
Many responded with frustration writing: “That is utter nonsense”, “Good god whatever next?” and “Sexual? That’s ridiculous”.
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Parents Frustrated By Claims Kissing Your Kids On The Lips Is ‘Too Sexual’