Father-daughter pose seen as ‘couple-like’ prompts backlash, concern among netizens

SHAH ALAM – A photo of a father and daughter posing in matching outfits has gone viral, triggering widespread outrage online who say the content crosses the line between parental bonding and disturbing portrayals of grooming.

The picture, which showed a man with his young daughter dressed in green traditional attire, struck a nerve as the duo posed in a manner many described as resembling a married couple.

Critics said the father’s choice to repeatedly refer to his daughter as “wife kecik” (mini wife) on social media has only fueled unease.

The father-daughter pair has long enjoyed attention online for their close relationship, with many initially praising their bond. But as the girl grew older, more viewers have begun questioning the appropriateness of her portrayal.

Netizens highlighted how she was often dressed in adult-style fashion, complete with heels, handbags and heavy makeup—despite still being a child.

A viral post by user @tubatushooter on X captured what many others were feeling, pointing out that the relationship and content crossed boundaries of normal father-daughter bonding. The user highlighted both the troubling pose in the photo and the father's habit of calling his daughter “wife kecik.”

“This is so disturbing. Why is a father posing like this with his daughter?? Even his TikTok content is weird, sometimes calling her “wife kecik”... Still doesn’t explain that profile picture. No father and daughter take photos like a married couple,” the post read.

Echoing similar concerns, user Mint Ha said the behaviour was more than uncomfortable. She even questioned why the mother of the girl was not intervening in the situation and suggested legal action might be necessary.

“This is a huge red flag. Cringe to watch. Doesn’t her mother feel something is wrong? Honestly, she should gather evidence and fight for custody. This behaviour is not normal at all,” she commented.

Another social media user Ain, weighed in on the importance of preserving childhood, stressing that children should be allowed to remain carefree and innocent instead of being pushed prematurely into adult roles.

“I’ve said this before—kids should stay as kids. Once you make them dress and act like adults, they lose their childhood memories,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, social media user Aria said this was not the first time the father had been cautioned. She noted that criticisms have long been raised about how the father portrayed his daughter online, accusing him of blurring the lines between guidance and exploitation

“People have been warning him for years. The way he portrays his daughter online makes her look like an adult. And then he says she likes it or wants it? You’re the adult and her father,” she wrote.

Amid the backlash, the man issued a statement defending himself, saying critics had misinterpreted his intentions.

“For everyone’s information, I am a single father who has raised (my daughter) since she was eight months old. Although her mother remains involved, I took full responsibility for her care after the divorce,” he explained.

He added that his daughter's interest in dressing up stemmed from accompanying him to work and social events, where she developed a fondness for makeup and fashionable clothing.

“This comes from her interest, not coercion,” he said.

On the controversial nickname that has drawn the most criticism, the man clarified that he was not the one who coined the term. He said outsiders were the ones who often referred to his daughter as his “mini wife,” and he only used it sarcastically to push back against those remarks.

“The term mini wife was actually a sarcastic expression I used in response to people who often labelled my daughter that way,” he said.

He stressed that both him and his daughter were uncomfortable with the title, saying it had been misinterpreted by the public.

“We have never been comfortable with that label. It was not meant to be taken literally and it certainly was never something I encouraged as a normal way to refer to her,” he said.

He also stressed that all social media campaigns involving his daughter were done with her agreement, with earnings split between the girl and charity causes.

Despite his explanation, many netizens remained unconvinced, urging authorities and child rights groups to take a closer look at how children were being portrayed online.