A TikTok mom who was criticized for posting joyful videos of herself seemingly unaffected by her husband's sudden death is hitting back at her detractors, telling them she sees no reason to grieve forever.
Holly Smith, 28, of North Carolina, went viral online after users took issue with videos showing the mom-of-two happy and playful despite her husband dying unexpectedly of a heart attack just months earlier.
The backlash crescendoed after Smith posted a TikTok video on the five-month anniversary of her husband's death where she referred to herself as the "happy widow."
@coach_holly_ It'll high key change your life ngl.
♬ Tropical - Izabella Creator BM
"Girl 5 months is insane," said one TikTok user in a comment. Another user followed up with "weird energy."
While some viewers were kind in the comments, the majority felt confused and accused her of posting "rage bait."
The very next day, Smith published a new video in response to the negative comments, captioning it "your husband just died, why are you acting like everything is fine?"
@coach_holly_ Keep it moving, don't live in the past ✌🏻
♬ Powerful - MaxKoMusic
"Because he's not my God," she says in the video, which shows Smith in the kitchen with her kids. "Because one guy dying isn't going to ruin the rest of my life. Because one bad thing isn't going to ruin you either. What has happened that leads you to think that everything is feeling bad and dark and depressy? We got to fix it, you got to root it out. You got to start walking toward something better. Stop living in the past."
In a follow-up interview with Today, Smith assured the public that while she has "refused to grieve," she has still "mourned the loss of her husband" and marriage, adding that she is now focused on raising her children and being happy.
"[My in-laws have been] very understanding of the fact that, 'Hey, we got kids to raise. We got a life to lead, we got to keep moving,'" she told Today.
Smith also emphasized the role faith played in helping her overcome adversity.
"There's no way that I would be this happy and be able to be this OK in my life if there wasn't a real God in heaven."
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