Couple Faces Backlash For Canceling Adoption After Finding Out They Can’t Post About The Baby Online

Jun 14, 2023 by apost team

YouTuber and social media influencer Nikki Phillippi, known for her lifestyle and family content channel with over 1.21 million subscribers, has found herself facing cancellation for the second time due to resurfaced video footage. The video shows the online personality admitting that she and her husband, Dan Phillippi, decided not to proceed with their planned adoption after discovering they couldn't post videos and photos of the child online for a year. 

The revelation has sparked a renewed backlash against the couple and ignited a broader discussion about influencer culture and the exploitation of young children. The resurfaced video, originally shared on YouTube in 2018, gained traction after being posted on the TikTok account @the_internet_is_foreverr on May 31, 2023.  

In the clip, Nikki explained the reasons behind their decision to cancel the adoption from Thailand. They learned that it would not work for their lives because they will be legally banned from sharing their adopted baby's online presence until the adoption has been finalized, which usually takes about a year. 

Unfortunately, the Phillippi family shares almost everything about their life on the internet thus the conflict. Dan also added that he was not comfortable about a baby living with them before he's technically their adopted son until the process has been completed after a year. 

The overlay caption on TikTok asked if anyone still remembers the couple's adoption brouhaha and implied that they still have over a million followers despite the controversy.  The resurfaced video has since received over 5 million views and has gone viral on Twitter, amassing an additional 12 million views and over 8,0000 retweets. 

Critics on Twitter and TikTok condemned the couple yet again, accusing them of exploiting the potential adoption for personal gain. Users expressed their disapproval of family vloggers and influencers who utilize their children as props and financial assets. 

Many argued that the couple's decision not to adopt due to the inability to share online content indicated their primary motivation was seeking views and money rather than genuinely caring for the child's well-being. Some defended the adoption regulations, noting that a one-year delay in sharing online content is common and serves to protect the child's privacy and best interests.

According to Insider, the canceled adoption video also resurfaced in 2021 after Nikki and Dan shared that they had to put their dog to sleep because of aggression. Their followers criticized the couple for not choosing to rehome the dog with a family that can properly train and care for it.

The Phillippi family’s controversy sheds light on the larger issue of influencer culture and child exploitation on social media platforms. Chris McCarty, the founder of Quit Clicking Kids, a movement advocating for legislation to protect the children of influencers, emphasized the need for regulations in the field. In an NPR report in March 2023, McCarty highlighted how personal information shared by parents, including health issues, grades and other private details, can have lasting consequences for children as they grow older.

Meanwhile, since the controversy, Nikki and Dan have decided to have a baby by conceiving and going through the process of pregnancy the traditional way. They welcomed their biological son in 2020 and announced a second baby on the way in 2021. However, Nikki suffered a miscarriage after a few months.

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The incident surrounding social media influencers has reignited a larger conversation about the ethics of influencer culture. What are your thoughts on the Phillippi family's choices? Do you know someone who might be interested in this story? Then pass this piece along to them!