The internet called out the actress over her questionable statements – and she doubled down.
Actress and author Jenny Mollen described her twelve-year-old son in a social media post as the “most toxic guy she had ever dated.” What was presumably intended as a funny joke from her perspective and within her own bubble raised eyebrows among a wider audience. Following the considerable criticism that ensued, she explained what she had meant to express with the comparison – and made everything even worse.
Dating Her Own Underage Son?
On May 25, 2026, US actress and author Jenny Mollen published several photos showing her embracing her son on a bed. She captioned them: “Your eldest son will be the most toxic guy you ever date.” The caption was later removed, but the debate it sparked apparently did not lead to any genuine reflection.
On social media, much of the discussion focused on her use of terminology associated with romantic relationships to describe the relationship between a mother and her child. Some users considered the wording and its combination with the images inappropriate, not only because of the family relationship between the two, but also because of the boy’s age – regardless of the fact that Mollen is apparently known for this strangely exaggerated style of humor.
This was also not the first time Mollen had written something along these lines. She had previously jokingly described her two sons as particularly emotionally demanding “men” and compared various aspects of parenting to experiences from romantic relationships. In this context, she also discussed her older son’s growing interest in girls his own age. Her earlier comment that he now had a girlfriend who was nowhere near as attractive as she was also resurfaced and was criticized again in light of the latest controversy.
Mollen Attempts To Explain Her Post
On June 8, Mollen responded to the criticism in a lengthy post on her Substack page. She explained that the photo had been taken after her son returned from a weekend away from home. To her, the moment demonstrated that her son was getting older and becoming increasingly independent.
She said the original caption had been intended as an exaggerated joke about the demands of parenthood. Parents invest a great deal of time, attention and care in their children without receiving the same form of validation they might expect in other interpersonal relationships. Mollen therefore did not retract the comparison. She explained that she had been making similar jokes ever since her son was born.
Whether the argument “I’ve always said it like that” makes the statement fundamentally any less problematic remains questionable.
A Podcast Statement That Makes It Even Worse
In June, Mollen also spoke about the reactions on the podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat. There, she once again described the statement as a long-running joke about her son’s everyday demands. As examples, she mentioned situations in which she looks after him when he is ill, massages his back before bedtime or prepares his water bottle.
According to Mollen, the original post reached a larger audience beyond Facebook that may not have been familiar with her usual style of humor. She also suggested that her recently announced separation from actor Jason Biggs may have influenced how the post was perceived. In her view, society is always critical of single mothers and treats everything they say as a potential threat. Mollen and Biggs had announced their separation in May 2026 after many years of marriage.
Ultimately, however, Mollen not only shows no sign of reflection; further comments made during the recording appear even more questionable. In an attempt to counter the apparent criticism that she had failed to draw a clear enough distinction between a romantic relationship with a partner and her relationship with her son, she said that in this case her son was “the predator” and that she could barely manage to lock the bathroom door behind her without him wanting to follow her.
The podcast does not further question how exactly these comments should be interpreted. However, it is obvious that people who were already critical of Mollen see them as evidence of even more troubling underlying issues.
Ultimately, it seems unlikely that Mollen will recognize the problem with her statements. Regardless of whether they were deliberately phrased in this way or simply made without sufficient thought, the case nevertheless demonstrates how important it is to examine such statements critically.