- - Mom Responds to Internet Backlash Over Viral Post Criticizing Teacher for Giving Daughter Candy

Ashley VegaNovember 13, 2025 at 11:03 PM

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Stock photo of a teacher giving a child a lollipop -

Staci Freed criticized her daughter’s teacher for giving her a Ring Pop despite dietary requests

The TikTok went viral, sparking backlash from teachers and parents nationwide

Freed later posted several videos apologizing, reflecting on the criticism and announcing a social media break

When Staci Freed’s 5-year-old daughter, Audrey, came home from kindergarten in suburban Atlanta proudly holding a Ring Pop, the mom didn’t see a harmless treat — she saw something that went against her wishes.

In a TikTok video posted to her account, @stacifreed, she tells her followers she has “told [teachers] numerous times” that she doesn’t allow “conventional candy” because “it is toxic.”

“I let her choose a better brand of candy,” Freed says in the clip, explaining she swapped the Ring Pop for an organic sucker and “Giggles,” a cleaner version of Skittles. “It definitely doesn’t have the artificial colors in it that mess with their precious development,” she adds before saying, “These teachers need to get it together.”

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Stock photo of a group of kids with candy

Speaking with TODAY.com, Freed — an iridologist — explains that she had “asked Audrey’s teacher not to give her conventional candy” after learning her daughter received Skittles the week before. “I also sent a bag of approved candy at the beginning of the year and weekly alternative snacks,” she tells the outlet.

Her TikTok caption echoed that message, saying she’s told teachers “multiple times” about avoiding conventional treats but that she’s “choosing compromise over conflict.” “The goal isn’t perfection,” she wrote. “It’s protecting their health and their joy.”

The post quickly went viral, sparking thousands of comments from parents and teachers across TikTok. Many educators pushed back, with one teacher writing, “Please provide those more expensive treats to her teacher. Don’t require us to use MORE of our own money to provide for YOUR child.”

Freed responded directly, saying she understood the frustration. “I did provide the teacher with a full bag of organic suckers,” she wrote, explaining she had already sent “cleaner alternatives” and a note saying her daughter was on a special diet. “This isn’t about expecting teachers to buy special treats,” she added. “It’s about communication and consistency.”

As the conversation spread, Freed released a follow-up video addressing the online backlash. “TikTok is wild. I’ve never experienced anything like this,” she says. “I’m a single mom with four children, healing traumas, breaking cycles and figuring it out in real time.” She adds that she isn’t trying to be perfect, only “real,” and thanks her followers for “choosing to wake up” and “honor our bodies and our children.”

Soon after, Freed shared another video reflecting on the experience. “When I first recorded that video, it came from a knee-jerk reaction,” she admits. “While I don’t regret speaking my truth, I do understand that for some people, it hit differently.” She says she never intended to “attack anyone, especially not teachers,” and calls the experience “a huge mirror” that has helped her “refine [her] voice.”

After viewers continued to question whether she had directly apologized to teachers, Freed posted again. “I apologize to the people that were actually hurt, like the teachers,” she says. “I didn’t mean anything by it when I said, ‘teachers need to get it together.’ I can understand why teachers would have felt upset because I didn’t tell the whole story.”

In that same video, Freed opens up about her struggles as a parent. “I’m a single mom. I’m doing this with three stair-step children — five, four, and two and a half,” she shares. “For all the people commenting on my parenting, yeah, I have a lot to learn about how to nurture my children because I’m still trying to learn how to nurture myself.”

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Stock photo of a teacher giving our candy

Freed tells followers she’s learning to balance authenticity and vulnerability online. “People can smell that stuff from a mile away,” she says. “What I was really feeling when I recorded that message is, like, I am so over this systemic corruption… and teachers are just, they’re asleep, in the Matrix, just like everyone else. They are doing the best they can.”

Freed later tells TODAY.com she was surprised by how quickly the post spread. “I wasn’t trying to attack anyone,” she says. “I just want parents to feel empowered to speak up about what their kids are given.”

In her final post before stepping away from social media, Freed says she’s been humbled by the experience. “I have a lot of people saying they didn’t hear an apology. I’m sorry it wasn’t to your liking,” she says. “I’m not gonna take the video down because it’s part of my story.”

Reflecting on the backlash, she adds, “Even though I don’t feel that outrage directed at me is warranted, I’ve said so many ugly things to the people closest to me. This is karma, so thank you. We’re burning it away.”

Freed promises to come back with a fuller picture of who she is. “When I come back, I will reintroduce myself,” she says. “I know my story is powerful, and I know that there are so many out there that will resonate with it.”

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Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”