An American content creator has garnered mixed reactions for documenting her daughter's neonatal death on social media. Fashion vlogger Karissa Widder's viral video titled 'Getting ready for my baby's death where I got ready for my wedding' sparked curiosity among concerned social media users. The grieving mother can be seen smiling and twirling in a dress as she purportedly gets ready for the sorrowful event, which some netizens found shocking and disrespectful. However, some others also supported her in dealing with the traumatic incident in her own way.
Karissa Widder's Content
Karissa Widder was your typical content creator, posting everything from outfit ideas and funny reels to family life and cooking videos. However, her content drastically changed on July 21, 2024, when she posted about the loss of her daughter, two days after birth.
Widder posted heartwrenching photos of her baby in the NICU. "Two days with our girl will never be enough. We love you forever baby girl. Thanks for making me a mommy, I’m so glad I get to be yours until I squeeze you again in heaven," she wrote in the caption.
Widder was showered with supportive messages from her followers, however, some social media users pointed out that she should not be posting about such a personal and sensitive matter online. Some netizens also criticised her choice to undergo a home birth.
The Texas-based content creator has been documenting her family's process of grieving their newborn baby. Widder has been posting touching quotes about love and loss, supportive moments with her husband, and their efforts to heal among photos of the deceased little girl.
While Widder has turned off comments on her Instagram, owing to negative reactions, her content has been criticised on the microblogging platform Reddit. “It made me sick to my stomach as to how people can exploit such vulnerable moments in the name of raw content," one user wrote.
"Shut the camera and heal, Karissa," another Reddit user commented on the page, r/InstaCelebsGossip. Another concurred, "I was enraged with this post. I recently saw another couple burying their infant (dead) on reels... Have people lost their conscience for a few likes and comments?"
Widder reacted to the criticism in another Instagram post saying, "I hate that I can’t cry all the time... I’m doing okay and I hate every second. It’s not supposed to be this way. But it is. This is grief: living in a reality you hate & knowing the only way out is through.”
The content creator assured her followers that she is taking counselling to deal with the loss and is documenting a sad yet authentic part of her life. One of her supporters wrote, "People cope in different ways and she’s trying her best during these difficult moments.”
Another supportive commentator, "Getting dressed and heading out into the world was the only way I could move through my grief. People will judge you no matter what you do.” One more social media user said, "You have helped me still find joy as I grieve the loss of my baby."
While Widder's content can come across as distasteful, she asserts that she is simply posting her honest journey to healing-- be it dressing up, taking a holiday, cooking her favourite meal, or just smiling. Her posts have resonated with many parents dealing with a similar loss.
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