Australian Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm fires back after online troll takes issue with family Christmas photo

Ava Martin
The Nightly
Emily Seebohm’s family Christmas photo has received backlash from trolls online.
Emily Seebohm’s family Christmas photo has received backlash from trolls online. Credit: @emcbomb/Instagram

Australian Olympic gold-medalist Emily Seebohm has been the subject of harsh scrutiny after she posted a family Christmas photo online.

In the snap, the 33-year-old retired swimmer is seen with two-year-old son, Sampson, and her new partner posing with Santa, but a commenter has taken issue with one particular detail.

Seebohm was called out for allowing her son to sit on her new partner, Brandon Caust’s lap.

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“I actually find this disrespectful to your son’s father. Sure have a photo together but have your boy sit on your lap”, the commenter wrote.

Clapping back, Seebohm responded “thanks for the feedback, but my son chose where he wanted to sit”.

“It’s not about anyone apart from him.”

However, this response wasn’t enough for the troll who followed up with another comment: “oh I thought you were the adult and should teach your son about feelings and appearances”.

Seebohm replied with, “thanks for the parenting tip but I teach my son that who cares what other people think if it makes you happy”, putting an end to the heated exchange.

The retired Olympic swimmer hard launched her new partner, Brandon Caust, in photos posted to Instagram.
The retired Olympic swimmer hard launched her new partner, Brandon Caust, in photos posted to Instagram. Credit: @emcbomb/Instagram

Seebohm revealed her new relationship with Mr Caust in an Instagram post two weeks ago captioned: “Surprise”.

She shares her son with her reality star ex, Ryan Gallagher, who appeared on season five of the hit series, Married At First Sight.

The two were engaged in 2022, but made headlines in November when they confirmed their split after months of it being an open secret.

The MAFS star posted his own Christmas photo to Instagram a week ago, showing Sampson on his lap posing next to Santa.

Seebohm’s ex, Ryan Gallagher, posted a photo with their son posing next to Santa to Instagram.
Seebohm’s ex, Ryan Gallagher, posted a photo with their son posing next to Santa to Instagram. Credit: @ryangallaghergram/Instagram

Seebohm shared a clip of herself crying on TikTok on Christmas Day, offering an emotional glimpse into the realities of co-parenting.

She admitted it was “hard” to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning without her son.

“Co-parenting, no baby for Christmas Eve and won’t get to wake up with him on Christmas morning,” she captioned the emotional clip.

“Feels like the magic is gone without him.

“It’s hard.”

Despite speculation, Seebohm and Gallagher are said to be focusing on co-parenting their son.

“This is a private matter, and they’re treating it as such”, a source told Sky News after the pair had confirmed their break-up.

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