Jessie James Decker Was ‘So Confused’ by Backlash to Photo of Her Kids’ Abs: ‘I’m Proud of Them’

23.01.2023 - 17:05 / usmagazine.com

Mama bear mode. Jessie James Decker didn’t hesitate about posting a vacation photo of three children, not realizing that their defined ab muscles would soon be criticized.

“You know what’s really funny is there are times where I will post something on Instagram and I will be like, ‘That may cause this but whatever’ or ‘That may be taken in a funny way, I don’t care.’ I literally posted that and didn’t even think twice,” the Kittenish founder, 34, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, January 19, while promoting her partnership with Heluva Good! Dips. “So hours go by and all of a sudden I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ Like, I couldn’t believe the reaction. I was so confused but there was never one moment where it upset me.”

James Decker posted a photo of daughter Vivianne, 8, and sons Eric Jr. 7, and Forrest, 4, posing together during a beach vacation in November 2022. After the Dancing With the Stars alum — who shares her kiddos with husband Eric Decker — uploaded the sweet pic, social media users chimed in that their ab muscles were too prominent. James Decker immediately clapped back, noting that Vivianne, Eric Jr. and Forrest are “healthy fit kids” who are “super active.”

“I think if anything I was like, ‘This is so wild.’ My kids are athletic, they are outside and genetics have a big play. Like, my siblings [Sydney Rae Bass and John James] had six packs when we were kids and so did Eric and his sister,” she told Us on Thursday. “They were just genetics and my kids are extremely active and I’m not gonna apologize for it. There are a lot of times where I’m not gonna speak up about things, but they’re my kids and I’m a mama bear.”

She continued: “And for me, it was ridiculous. I’m proud of them and they’re very active and they