A “toxic” man has been criticized online after he appeared to bombard his wife with their children moments before she crossed the half marathon finish line.
Footage captured by a Brazilian journalist shows the moment a man encourages two girls to greet a runner during the competition in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo.
The TikTokaywhich has racked up more than 8 million views, begins with the woman approaching the finish line 100 minutes after starting the 13-mile race.
The man, believed to be the woman’s husband, takes the girls to the track, assuming that she will be happy to finish the race with them by her side.
However, the mother decides to run around the children to reach the finish line as quickly as possible.
Pictured: A contestant in the recent Presidente Prudente half marathon is seen approaching the finish line as two girls run in front of her.
After crossing the line, the mother, dressed all in black and wearing sunglasses, screams with excitement at her achievement.
In the background, the husband seems confused by how the race ignored his children and is seen shrugging his shoulders at someone off camera.
The viral clip ends with the mother hugging a runner who finished the half marathon moments after her.
The video was then shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by an unimpressed viewer who took issue with the husband’s behavior.
She fumed: ‘I have no words to describe how much I hate this husband. Let her have something without feeling guilty.
One reviewer responded: “Look at him signaling to the other viewers: “that was weird, huh?” No, you’re weird taking the kids long before the finish line and not after.’
User X then responded: ‘Exactly. It was entirely deliberate that she did it there instead of after the finish line so that she would have to run alongside her children, who were encouraged to come up and hug her.’
The woman avoids the young women to reach the goal faster, which provoked a confused response from the man presumed to be her father.
One responded: ‘I’ve run seven marathons. The best thing my family receives from me is a greeting. I’m not going to stop right before the finish line.’
Another joked: ‘Ready kids? Let’s ruin mom’s time in this race she’s trained MONTHS for!’
While a third called it “toxic”, a fourth argued: “He tried to sabotage his performance.” Has he never attended a competition before?
Meanwhile, others couldn’t understand why the runner’s family didn’t meet her when she finished.
Another added: ‘Why would I wait there with the children? Literally, just wait until you cross the finish line.
“Finish lines can be dangerous, especially if multiple people are competing for their personal best,” said a third. ‘It is absolutely NOT a safe place to leave small children because they can be run over by other runners.
The video was then shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by an unimpressed viewer who took issue with the husband’s behavior.
‘We cannot stop in the moment. He should know how much training he has received and how important it is to her.
A fourth said: ‘Why didn’t you prepare the kids AFTER the finish line?’ They should be there to CONGRATULATE HER on her moment…not make the moment about them.’
However, others jumped to the man’s defense and said he was not trying to divert attention from the runner.
One supporter said: ‘I’m not sure about this. Dad might just be clueless, but saying he doesn’t support his wife (if she is his wife, they could be brothers) is a stretch.
“This type of training requires a lot of time and sacrifice that he would have had to endure.”
“She looks perfectly fine with her kids there,” another added. ‘STOP judging through your own paradigm.’
