Tom, from England, never misses a chance to show his love for his young son, Roman. However, when their public displays of affection made their way onto social media, not everyone was pleased.
Criticized for kissing his five-year-old son on the lips, the father from northern England refuses to be swayed by trolls accusing him of confusing his child. With a mix of simple logic and humor, Tom is standing his ground, supported by Roman, who boldly tells the critics, “You are all crazy!”
The bond between parent and child is deeply meaningful and helps shape the morals, principles, and personality of the child as they grow. Each parent has their own unique approach to raising their children, influenced by culture, socioeconomic factors, mental and physical health, or personal preference.
Tom, a devoted father from Yorkshire, England, is committed to his parenting style despite the negative comments from trolls. Regularly posting videos on TikTok, he attracts attention not just for his striking blue eyes, accent, and well-toned body, but also for his affectionate relationship with his sons, five-year-old Roman and Raphael Reign, who was born in mid-May 2023.
Many of Tom’s recent TikTok videos involve him addressing accusations that he’s confusing Roman or putting him at risk from strangers or infections. But Tom remains steadfast.
On June 27, the northern England dad confronted a user who commented, “Just gorgeous both, but don’t kiss him on the lips.”
@tom_leeds Replying to @teresa02garcia ah jheez. #fyp #foryou #xyzbca #xuhuong #fypシ ♬ original sound – Tom
In his response, Tom emphasized that he will continue showering his five-year-old son with love as long as Roman is comfortable with it. He said, “I find it worrying that it bothers you. I will kiss my son, my five-year-old child, on the lips for as long as I see fit and as long as he lets me. I love him dearly and he’s my best friend. One day, he might not want me to kiss him, and he might not want much to do with me. So for now, I’ll continue as I am.”
Supportive fans chimed in with comments like, “I love giving kisses to my kids and now my granddaughter—those who think it’s wrong are the ones who should be worried.” Another, who lost her father, shared, “Absolutely ridiculous! I always kissed my dad on the lips, and I lost him two years ago. I wish I could cuddle and kiss him again.”
Tom responded to these thoughtful comments, saying, “He is the most loving little boy because we raise him with love. Thank you for your kind words.”
However, a user’s outrageous accusation prompted a quick video response from Tom. The person claimed, “You shouldn’t kiss him because of the bacteria in your mouth. Did you know you can make your child more susceptible to cavities if you have them and kiss him?”
@tom_leeds Replying to @Haley Bear what are you brushing your teeth with please?! #fyp #foryou #xyzbca #xuhuong #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Tom
In a witty post that has garnered nearly 123,000 likes, Tom humorously addresses the claim that kissing his five-year-old son, Roman, on the lips could lead to cavities. He writes, “Wow. So I kiss my 5-year-old son on the lips, and he’ll get cavities. He’ll get cavities from his daddy kissing him.” He then turns to Roman and asks for his opinion. Roman giggles and replies, “Don’t be silly!” before sealing the statement with a kiss on his dad’s lips.
Fans reacted strongly to the unfounded claim. One user commented, “Omg … who educated that person? You kiss away, you two!” while another added, “That is soooo ridiculous. I work with a dentist, and it’s still absurd. Keep being the loving dad you are… your son is adorable.”
In early July, Tom posted a now-viral video with nearly 579,000 likes, showing him with Roman on his lap in the car. Tom reassures viewers, “Don’t worry. Absolutely nothing’s going to change.” He then asks Roman, “What do you think of people who say you shouldn’t kiss me on the lips?” Roman responds emphatically, “You are all crazy. That’s my daddy!” The video ends with the pair sharing a sweet kiss.
Fans quickly defended Tom and supported the father, with one writing, “Some people are just sick. He’s adorable and will let you know if he doesn’t like it when he gets older.” Another commented, “In my culture, we kiss on the cheeks, but I really admire this father-son relationship.”
One user addressed Tom’s critics directly, asking, “Do you have an issue with him kissing his son on the lips because he’s a man? If it were his mom, I’m sure you wouldn’t say a word.”
@tom_leeds Replying to @Nicole you are starting to geuinely concern me now. #fyp #foryou #xyzbca #xuhuong #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Tom
Responding to the comment and thanking the woman for highlighting the issue, Tom says, “I’ve genuinely been curious about this because it’s something I’ve wondered too. I really don’t think anyone would say anything if it were a mom kissing her little boy. For some reason, though, when it’s a dad, there’s always criticism from this odd minority. I’m glad a woman brought this up, so I really appreciate it. …and I’m not changing anything.”
In another clip, Tom visibly expresses frustration over a comment suggesting that kissing his son on the lips might make the boy vulnerable to malicious strangers.
The commenter wrote, “Don’t kiss your children on the lips. Not all people have good intentions. Don’t make it acceptable!”
Tom responded with a quip, saying, “So the logic here is that if I kiss my five-year-old, he’ll think it’s okay to kiss strangers and strange adults… obviously!” Trying not to laugh, he added, “Let’s take that logic further. I shouldn’t let him ride in my car anymore because he might think it’s normal to get into a stranger’s car. He can’t live in my house either… he might just walk into a stranger’s house and think that’s normal.”
Then, the devoted dad suggested an alternative approach: “Or, hear me out, we could teach him that kissing his mommy and daddy is normal, but kissing dodgy Barry down the road is a bit strange.”
The majority of people in Tom’s online community support him and admire the affection he shows his son. They’re pleased to see that Tom stands firm against online trolls who have no right to dictate his parenting choices!
What’s your opinion on dads kissing their children on the lips? Do you think it’s equally acceptable for moms to do the same?