TikTok stars Matt and Abby Howard are speaking out to address a recent controversy that has stirred significant debate online. The married couple faced backlash after sharing that they left their young sons, Griffin, 2, and August, 13 months, in their cruise stateroom while they went to dinner. The backlash intensified after Abby posted an Instagram Story revealing that they were monitoring their children via FaceTime.
In response to the criticism, the Howards, who have been married since 2019, released a statement on their joint TikTok account on September 16. Matt, 26, and Abby, 25, clarified that their children were never left alone. “We usually would not be making a video like this,” Matt said, addressing the misinformation circulating about them. “But there is information circulating about us that is completely untrue.”
Matt emphasized their commitment to parenting, stating, “We take our role as parents extremely seriously, and we love our children more than anything in the entire world, and we’re very protective of our kids.” He elaborated that during their seven-night cruise with Abby’s extended family, Abby’s Instagram Story was meant to communicate that they were keeping an eye on their children through FaceTime while someone else was present with them in their cabin.
The confusion arose when viewers misunderstood the post and speculated that the children were unsupervised. Matt firmly refuted these claims, stating, “We had someone with our children at all times on this boat. Period.” Abby also acknowledged the misunderstanding and explained why she decided to delete the original Instagram Story. “I do want to clarify that we have not, would not, and will not ever leave our children unattended,” she assured.
To provide further clarity, Abby explained that their children sleep in “blackout tents” equipped with monitors, allowing the couple to keep an eye on them even when they are not physically present. “We just love to have eyes on them,” she said.
The Howards concluded their video by thanking their supporters and Abby’s family for their help during the cruise. The couple’s response has been met with positive feedback from many fans. “I knew it!” commented one TikTok user. “Sorry you had to deal with this.” Another praised their handling of the situation, noting the maturity and respectfulness of their response.
The incident, which initially sparked a flurry of criticism, now seems to have been resolved, with fans showing understanding and support for the Howards.
