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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jamie Roberts

Matt Willis keeps his kids away from social media following reaction to son's clothing

Matt Willis has revealed he doesn't let his children go on social media after a picture posted of his son received some criticism.

The Busted singer's wife Emma Willis had uploaded a snap of their 10-year-old son Ace wearing a pink top, blue jeans and showing off his long blond hair.

But what should have been seen as a sweet family snap sparked intense discussion between social media users regarding gender norms.

It led to Matt, 39, saying he doesn't want his kids - he shares three children with Emma - having to worry about what people are saying.

Speaking on the Sweat, Snot and Tears podcast, the musician admitted: "I just love my son and I let him be whoever he wants to be.

Emma Wills and Matt Willis (LightRocket via Getty Images)

"I don't see why how you want to dress or how you want to have your hair should be such a big talking point, but it is to some people and that really shocked me."

He continued: "And I think what happened after that really made me kind of go, 'Yep, stay away from that [social media]'.

"It kind of really cemented that for me. I'm like, 'I don't want you having to worry about this s**t right now'."

TV presenter Emma also revealed she still gets hate over her son's choice of top.

The 46-year-old explained in a new interview with Fabulous magazine that her heart breaks over the fact that society can’t just let kids express themselves.

She told the magazine: "Unfortunately, [the hate] is still there – both from parents and other children.

"I think it’s probably easier [than it would have been 20 years ago], but it’s still there. It’s such a shame. It’s going, but the stereotypes that are ingrained in us from years back are so hard to shift."

She had previously revealed she wouldn't stop Ace from wearing outfits such as his pink top though as she wanted him to "be him".

Emma sparked debate when she shared a photo of her son, Ace, wearing a pink top in 2020 (Instagram)

Speaking to The Sun, she said: "I think it's a really individual, personal thing. You know, my son likes what he likes, and far be it for me to stop him expressing himself or experimenting however he likes with clothes.

"I see it as hair is hair, clothes are clothes and colour is colour. And, you know, if my son wants to wear a pink top, I'm certainly not going to stop him.

"Let kids explore. Kids love exploring. And they don't just have to explore in the dirt with worms and spiders, they can explore with colour and clothes and hair. I just let him be him."

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