Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank has posted a rare glimpse of her two-year-old twins to social media, following a recent public controversy that stemmed from her fears over their privacy.
Airport Incident Goes Viral
The 51-year-old star found herself at the centre of a social media storm earlier this month after an encounter at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Swank reportedly confronted a mother, Jada Bafus, who was travelling with her two terminally ill sons on a Make-a-Wish Foundation trip to Disneyland.
According to Bafus, the incident occurred at baggage claim. She spotted the actress and, being a fan, did a double take. Bafus then took out her phone to call her husband to help locate him and their children. Swank, however, mistakenly believed Bafus was trying to photograph her.
"You get what you needed? Get you what came for?" Swank is alleged to have said, before adding, "I hope you enjoy that picture," and walking away. Bafus documented the exchange in an Instagram post that was shared millions of times.
A Private Apology and a Protective Mother
After the story went viral, Hilary Swank reached out to Jada Bafus privately on Instagram to apologise. She explained that her reaction was driven by anxiety about her own young children, twins Aya and Ohm, having their pictures taken in public.
Swank has been fiercely protective of her twins' privacy since their birth, only ever posting photos where their faces are concealed. She shares the children with her husband, businessman Philip Schneider, whom she married in August 2018.
Bafus, whose sons Mason, 7, and Jack, 4, have the incurable condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy, accepted the apology. She shared the messages with the Daily Mail but requested they not be published.
A Festive Glimpse Amid the Furore
This week, Swank returned to Instagram with a seasonal post, offering fans another carefully curated look at her family life. The photo shows her twins, Aya and Ohm, dressed in matching pyjamas and looking at the family Christmas tree, with their backs to the camera.
"Hope you all had the opportunity to slow down and embrace the big and little magical moments of the Holidays," the two-time Academy Award winner captioned the snap. "Wishing you a joyful, healthy and abundant 2026 from my family to yours."
The post attracted warm comments from followers and friends, including a heartfelt "My loves" from Swank's close friend and fellow actress, Mariska Hargitay.
The episode highlights the intense pressure celebrities face in balancing public life with the desire for private family moments, a challenge that sometimes leads to misunderstandings with the public.
