Parenting Influencer’s “Skin Care” For Adopted Black Son Sparks Controversy Due To Sensitive History

May 12, 2026 - 23:53

A parenting influencer from Utah is facing intense criticism after posting a video that many are calling racially insensitive and dehumanizing. Reed Harris, known online as Grill Father, along with his wife Kaitlin Harris, shared a clip of him applying Vaseline to the face of their adopted Black son. The couple, who document their life as a family of six on social media, has three adopted children and one biological child. Two of their adopted children are Black.

Critics argue the video taps into a painful and sensitive history. For generations, Black people were subjected to forced skin treatments and dehumanizing examinations of their bodies during slavery and colonialism. The act of a white parent publicly applying a substance to a Black child's face, without apparent context or sensitivity, has been described by some viewers as a modern echo of those practices. Many commenters accused the father of treating the child like an object or a prop for content, rather than respecting his autonomy and dignity.

The Harris family has not issued a public apology or explanation for the video. However, the backlash has reignited a broader conversation about white parents raising Black children, particularly the need for cultural competency and awareness of racial trauma. Critics stress that well-meaning actions can still cause harm when they ignore the historical weight behind them. The incident serves as a stark reminder that parenting in a diverse family requires more than love; it demands an understanding of the child's heritage and the struggles tied to their skin color.