“When we say it, people are like, ‘Oh, did you hire a tutor?’ And we’re like, ‘No, we’re the tutors.’”
Mackenzie Ellsworth wasn’t surprised by the backlash — but it was still an eye-opening experience.
The 32-year-old mom of four, who regularly posts videos with her 11-year-old daughter Kapree, knew what she was getting herself into when she posted a video of her daughter’s lavish Christmas wishlist.
The initial wishlist totaled roughly $1,800, followed by a second wishlist that came to nearly $3,500.
READ MORE: Mom’s simple question to daughter has parents rethinking their priorities this holiday season
Among the Christmas gifts Kapree was asking for were a mini fridge, an iPhone 17, clothes, shoes, makeup, a hoverboard, the newest Apple Watch and a hairless Sphynx cat that costs nearly $2,500.
All in all, Kapree’s wishlist for Christmas wishlist totaled more than $5,300.
And the internet had a lot to say about it.
“1808 is NOT reasonable,” one user wrote in the comment section of the first video.
“I'm 27 and I asked for a pottery kit and a pajamas,” another user commented.
“So I’m 14 and I want Pokémon cards, mini brands, squishmallows, and an Apple Pencil,” another comment read.
Other users were trying to figure out if the videos were “rage bait” or “satire,” and if there was any validity to the lists being real.
“What happened to kids wanting toys,” someone wrote in a comment on the second video.
“Bro all I got as a kid was Barbies and chocolate. What is this kid into,” another user wrote.
Ellsworth reacts to backlash over daughter’s viral Christmas wishlist
On Nov. 25, just two days after her initial video went viral, Ellsworth returned to TikTok with another video.
“If you found us from our satire, rage bait Christmas wishlist video, hi,” Ellsworth says at the beginning of the video. “Let’s do a real Christmas wishlist featuring Kapree.”
Kapree proceeds to list off items that were featured on the first two lists — but not all of them.
At the end of the video, Ellsworth said she loves her daughter “so much,” while Kapree smiled at the camera and said she’s “so grateful for everything she has.”
READ MORE: Mom goes viral for her unedited family Christmas card mishap. ‘I just ordered stickers’
But users in the comment section weren’t exactly buying it.
“The first one was real and now they are doin damage control because they are getting called out,” one user replied.
“Why is the real list the same as the satire ones tho,” another user wrote.
Others defended the mother-daughter duo and said there was no reason to post a third video — after all, if they can afford the first and second list, then who cares what others think.
“Girl get her the list she wanted before that’s your daughter and if you can afford it do it lol,” one user commented.
“If they can afford it, what’s the big deal? Some families are more fortunate than others & thats okay!” another user wrote.
In an interview with People, published Dec. 7, Ellsworth doubled down on the fact that the videos were initially satire.
“My husband and I work hard to provide an amazing life for our kids,” she told the outlet. “Kapree is also the oldest of four and such a big help; she deserves it.”
ALSO ON MOD MOMS CLUB: Kate Gosselin shares her best budgeting tips when buying Christmas presents for a big family
"So Kapree’s items are more [expensive] than her 4-year-old brother's, who asked for MAGNA-TILES and cat figurines," she added. "But like I said...we live in our means and work really hard for what we have."
