Chelsee Healey Faces Parenting Backlash Over TikTok Video
Former Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey has ignited a social media firestorm after sharing a family video on TikTok that captured her eight-year-old daughter, Coco, making what many viewers deemed a 'rude' gesture. The 37-year-old actress, known for her role as Goldie McQueen on the Channel 4 soap, posted the clip showcasing a 'family day' in their car, set to music, but it was her daughter's actions that drew sharp criticism.
Controversial Clip Sparks Outrage
In the video, Chelsee can be seen smiling and dancing enthusiastically in the passenger seat, while her partner, Eddie Rainford, appears less engaged. Their daughter Coco, however, refused to participate in the cheerful moment. Instead, the young girl held up her middle finger before raising her leg to kick her mother, all while Chelsee seemingly ignored the behaviour and continued performing. Chelsee captioned the post with, 'What our family days look like!' and added humorously, 'Coco is just happy to be here.'
The response from TikTok users was swift and largely negative, with many questioning Coco's conduct and Chelsee's parenting approach. One commenter wrote sarcastically, 'What a polite, well-mannered little girl, you must be so proud,' while another expressed dismay, stating, 'How old is she? I'd be mortified if my seven-year-old acted like this.' A third user remarked, 'I can tell you’ve disciplined your daughter well,' to which Chelsee retorted with, 'Soz mother earth.'
Mixed Reactions and Defence from Supporters
Criticism extended beyond the gesture itself, with some viewers noting that Coco appeared 'glued to her phone' and others calling the video 'rude' and 'not funny at all.' One ominous comment warned, 'Wow, good luck to you when she's a teen.' However, not all feedback was negative. Several supporters rallied to Chelsee's defence amid the 'hate comments.' One person shared, 'People in the comments, honestly, my daughter is worse and she’s 11, but guess what, good for them!' Another defended her parenting style, saying, 'Half of you probably don’t have kids. She’s a mother doing it her own way, if you don’t like it leaveeeee.' A third simply found humour in the situation, writing, 'That is hilarious, kids are funny.'
Background on Chelsee Healey's Family Life
Chelsee, who also appeared on Dancing on Ice last year, is a mother of two daughters. She welcomed Coco with her former partner Jack Molloy in 2017 and has a two-year-old daughter, Cookie, with her current partner, Eddie Rainford. Her family life has been under public scrutiny before, particularly following Eddie's legal troubles. In June of last year, Chelsee attended Manchester Crown Court as Eddie was sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in a 'wholesale' drug-dealing operation, where he was accused of heading an Organised Crime Gang dealing 'multi-kilos' of cannabis. He was released early in November, and a source close to the couple revealed that Chelsee had 'stayed with Eddie since his sentencing' for the sake of their daughter, looking forward to rebuilding their family.
Since then, Chelsee has shared glimpses of their relationship on TikTok, documenting her life as a mother to Coco and Cookie. This has not been without controversy; when Cookie was born in December 2023, Chelsee faced criticism over the choice of name, with one Instagram follower commenting, 'Stop choosing names for your kids that people will bully them with because you want to be 'special''. Chelsee fired back strongly, stating, '@amber.darke any kid bullies my kids we don't tolerate bullies bring your kids up better and mind your business' [sic].
The recent TikTok video adds to the ongoing debate about Chelsee's parenting style, highlighting the challenges of navigating family life in the public eye while facing both support and backlash from social media audiences.
