What started out as a seemingly innocuous moment during a baseball game took on a life of its own with the woman dubbed “mom of the year” speaking out after online backlash against her husband.
Erika, who was seen carrying a baby and an armful of food during a Giants game last week, has spoken out about the viral moment – and the harm it has caused.
During a game between the Minnesota Twins and Giants in San Francisco on Sept. 22, the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast caught Erika on camera as she returned to her seat.
Commentators Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper — affectionately known as Kruk and Kuip — joked about the situation, calling Erika the “mom of the year.
“If there’s ever a true definition of a multi-tasking mother, that is the deal right there,” Krukow said.
The clip, which was post on X by the No Context Giants account, quickly went viral and has racked up roughly 44 million views in less than a week.
“We initially thought the broadcast was funny,” Erika wrote on Substack on Friday, referring to the video that also featured her husband Ramses, who was watching the game and appears to do little to help.
“Friends and family started calling and texting us immediately. We laughed at the narration because anyone who knows our family knows how ridiculous it is to suggest that Ramses never helps with our kids. But as the clip spread, people on the internet treated the announcers’ imaginary narration as evidence of our unequal relationship.”
What was the outrage about?
Erika said she began receiving angry messages about the clip with many people insulting Ramses – some even saying that she should leave him.
“I hope that lady sees this and reevaluates her relationship,” one user wrote on X. “If there wasn’t a bigger sign to leave his a–, here it f—— is.”
“I’m glad even the commentators are berating that fat useless piece of s—,” another commented.
After seeing the harsh criticism aimed at Ramses, Erika felt the need to clear the air.
She said she had offered to grab food on the way back from the bathroom and that Ramses had offered to take care of the baby while she ventured up to the concourse, but Erika wanted to keep her. She also clarified that there was no argument over forgotten items, which Kruk and Kuip had joked about.
“There was no argument about ketchup. He didn’t tell me I forgot anything,” she said.
Why was the game supposed to be special?
This wasn’t an average Tuesday night outing to a game for the couple and their child, either.
Erika said that Ramses had been grieving a friend who recently died and that the trip to the ballpark was a way to honour him.
“My husband will never admit it, but I know he’s been grieving him deeply,” she said. “That evening, I chose to take care of him.
“A camera catching me doing something for my husband doesn’t show all the times he has done something for me.”
She also called out the local broadcast team for making fun of their situation and causing unnecessary emotional distress.
“I believe you meant no harm. But your jokes helped turn a moment of love and support into something strangers used to ridicule my husband and judge our marriage,” she wrote. “What was a few moments of amusement on your broadcast became days of real pain for our family.
“I wish you had known what that night meant to him before making him the punchline.”