Jessica Biel has cast doubts over the “Jessica” parenting hack that has recently gone viral on social media.
In a TikTok video posted on Friday (10 April), the actor reacted to the trend in which mums are seen putting a stop to their toddler’s tantrums by calling out the name “Jessica” in an effort to distract them.
Biel, who shares two sons with husband Justin Timberlake, told her followers that she is “not really sure” how she feels about the so-called hack.
“Guys, I’m not really sure how I feel about this Jessica trend with moms and toddlers and now dogs apparently it’s working for – which is kind of amazing, I’m gonna try it on my dogs,” she said, before adding, “I feel like half the kids in these videos look petrified.”
Acknowledging how her own name factors into the trend, Biel said: “I really love if I can come into your household with my name that I share with so many other incredible Jessicas around the world, I’m sure, and help you with your kids’ tantrum, but I sort of feel like these kids are terrified.
The 44-year-old continued: “They look terrified and hopeful that Jessica is not gonna show up.”
Noting that she does not want a generation of kids to be afraid of people with her name, she added: “Part of me wants to say, ‘You’re welcome. Glad I could be helpful. Glad all of us Jessicas could be helpful.’
“And also, please please please don’t make your toddler terrified of people named Jessica. ‘Cause we’re good people. We’re nice people. We wanna help you with the tantrum, but we don’t wanna scare the s***out of your kid.”
Speaking about her experience using the trick on her young sons, Biel said: “Of course it’s not working with my kids. My kids are like, ‘What? Why are you yelling your own name, you weirdo? You’re weirder than you already are normally.’”
The 7th Heaven star welcomed her first child, Silas, with Timberlake in 2015, followed by a second son, Phineas, in 2020.
“So yeah, I’m conflicted,” Biel concluded. “I don’t know what to say. What do you guys think? No other name works? You’re welcome? It’s a toss up.”
The Sinner star previously chimed in on the trend earlier in the week. The day before, on Thursday (9 April), the actor posted some examples of people doing the trend on her Instagram Stories, alongside the caption: “You rang?”
The trend went viral earlier this month as parents documented their success with it on social media. In one clip posted by a woman named Tiffani Ortega, her son could be seen crying in his car seat while his father was buckling him in.
“Jessica, come here,”he said as he stood outside the car with his head turned. Only seconds later, the toddler’s crying came to a halt while he looked around for the person his dad appeared to be calling for.
“Come here, Jessica. He’s crying,” Ortega’s husband continued, pretending to call for someone. “Are you going to stop crying? Because Jessica is coming. You want Jessica to come?”
“Yes,” the toddler responded, while he leaned back in his car seat and completely stopped crying.
In the comments of Ortega’s TikTok video, which has more than 19 million views, people were impressed by the trick.
