While TikTok has its fair share of users partaking in viral challenges ranging from dancing to trending songs to ingesting questionable substances, it also has plenty of videos that send users into a frenzy over single-video controversies. One mom, Christel Holland, posted a video of her babies where they both had bright purple mouths.
In her initial video, which has more than 6 million views to date, Holland claims that her babies ate purple Sharpies. Footage shows both her daughter and son with bright purple mouths. In her caption, she wrote, “Only moms know what this actually is.”
Well, many TikTok users had no idea what it was but took to the comments to voice their concerns nevertheless.
Purple Mouths Galore
@christelholland Only moms know what this actually is😂 ##MakeBakeShake ##healthheroes ##ScoobDance ##pancakecereal ##alwayslearning ##fyp ##foryou ##xyzbca ##foryoupage
♬ original sound – christelholland
Nobody panic. Holland told Buzzfeed News that the purple was actually medicine for oral thrush.
A couple of years ago, Holland took her oldest child — her now 3-year-old daughter — to the doctor because her mouth was coated in a thick, white substance. There, she found out it was oral thrush.
Thrush is a medical condition in which a yeast-like fungus overgrows in the mouth and throat. It’s common in newborns and infants and usually not harmful. Oral thrush is commonly treated with a medicine called Gentian Violet — the medicine to blame for the babies’ dyed mouths.
When Holland noticed oral thrush symptoms in her 1-year-old son, she knew to get the violet medicine again. Holland discussed her comment-critics, telling Buzzfeed News, “The point of the app is to either watch people’s viral videos or be the person who makes the viral videos. I like to make the viral videos!”
@christelholland Reply to @toxic__key300 that’s all lol
♬ original sound – christelholland
In her follow-up video to her viral TikTok, she explains the situation and reminds others to always read into a situation before judging, saying that she had explained the real reason behind the purple mouths in the comments.
“I don’t neglect my kids. That’s actually not Sharpie, that is medicine for something called thrush,” said Holland.
In another video, she reiterated that the video was just a joke, saying, “I’m a great mom. Everybody who knows me knows that I’m a good mom. TikTok is just one big joke and people make dark jokes all the time and it’s fine. If you don’t like dark humor, move on.”
@christelholland Reply to @x_roblox_account_x2
♬ original sound – christelholland
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