Kate Ferdinand has been defended by her fans after her sweet family Christmas snap with husband Rio caused a negative response. The former The Only Way Is Essex star popped onto Instagram on Boxing Day (Monday) to share a family-filled photo from her Christmas with her family.
The snap showed Kate and Rio joined by their son, Cree, as well as Rio's children with late wife Rebecca Ellison - Lorenz, 16, Tate, 14, and Tia, 11, who he now raises with Kate. They were also joined by other members of the family and the group all adorably donned matching pyjamas.
The big group posed for a family photo in front of the Christmas tree to mark the special occasion, which Kate then shared with her 1.4m followers.
"So grateful for such a special Christmas spent with our family," she penned alongside the image which featured only the adults as the children's faces had been covered by red heart emojis. Despite this not being anything new, as Kate and Rio always keep their children’s faces covered for photos when posting on social media, some cruelly took to the comments to complain.
@sophia051x said: "What on earth is the point in posting with so many faces covered!!!!" @southafrica3246 wrote: "Don’t understand a photo like this when so many faces are covered. Yes, keep the kids private but this photo is pointless." @_sally_mp added: "Keep this one private and take one with those on it who can be seen... simple!"
But others were quick to defend Kate and praise the family photo. @lunt_71 said: "She doesn't want her stepchildren son exposed to the world for them too be trolled and I don't blame her peaple can be so crue!" @ conniemaggie commented: " I love the fact you protect your child’s privacy. It’s fantastic."
@karenharris71 replied: "Love this photo with everyone in matching pjs - it doesn’t matter if faces are covered you can still see it’s a fantastic family photo." @natalieo1989 posted: "Keep posting as many beautiful pictures you want to, in your Instagram, you show what you want to and what you don't want to. And any one who wants to be so extra and negative to the extent of commuting, block them. Because although we can't see some of the faces, it's still loveky to see the whole family together, a rarety we can all get."
@stacey35l typed: "Lovely photo ignore all the negative." @beckyjaynemellin shared: "Gorgeous photo. Dinner clean up must have been huge! Happy holidays." @sarahreynolds0808 added: "@xkateferdinand can't win shes kept the kids faces covered to respect there privacy but everyone saying just post the adults all you trolls would then be like ooooh Where's the kids the woman can't win!!!"
During a fan Q&A on Instagram earlier this year, Kate responded to being quizzed on why she keeps her stepchildren and son's faces covered. "As much I would love to show you guys how funny, talented, cute and beautiful they all are at the moment, we think it's important, especially given everything they have been through, that they can grow up without the added pressure of social media and everyone's opinions," she wrote.
"We all make mistakes, change and grow and as kids I think it's important to be able to do that without the world watching." However, Kate hinted that it's not a lifelong decision. "Although, saying all of this, when they are a certain age it's as much as their decision as it is ours," she added. "I'm sure you will be seeing them all at some stage."
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