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By Claire Dodds
Life & Trends Reporter
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A woman leaving for work captured more than her morning routine on a doorbell camera—she also recorded unsolicited beauty commentary from her mother that sparked a wave of responses online.
The video, posted by TikTok user Abby (@abby_giunta), shows Abby talking to her mother through her Ring doorbell camera as she leaves for work.
“Is your hair greasy? Abby?” the voice from behind the camera says. “No makeup today?"
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"No, I can't today, I can't," Abby replies, to which her mother eventually says, "Alright, well, you have a good day."
"Thanks," Abby responds, and her mother quickly repeats, "Is your hair greasy? That's great, it looks... Really, Abby? Goodbye."
"POV: You grew up [with] a mom who let you know you look like trash," the overlaid text reads.
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The clip has now been viewed more than 1.1 million times on TikTok and triggered a flurry of responses, with some seeing it as an example of harsh parenting and others defending the interaction as culturally normal.
In a follow-up post, Abby attempted to provide clarity, saying, “I understand that this video, you know, can kinda be perceived in a bad way. My mom is just giving me constructive criticism and feedback.”
She continued, “If your mother cannot tell you that you look like trash, who can tell you?” clarifying that there was no bad blood between her and her mother.
“I grew up in an Italian American household," she added. "This is...how we speak to each other.”
'Comments like these come from love'
"It had been a long work week, so extra sleep took priority over getting fully ready," the 24-year-old from Scranton, Pennsylvania, told Newsweek.
"When you have that level of closeness, comments like these come from love, not criticism. I'd much rather hear it from my mother than from a boss, stranger or anyone else."
She also revealed her New Year's resolution to wear makeup every workday in 2026, explaining her mother’s comment.
Users React
Despite Abby’s defense, the online reaction reflected discomfort with the exchange's tone.
One TikTok user declared, “I never want my daughter feel like this,” while another quipped, “Who needs enemies with mothers like this?”
“My daughter is my bestie and I would never criticize her like that," a third commenter vowed.
“We just want to see you get hyped up,” one contributor pointed out.
Constructive and Destructive Criticism
Mental health experts have long emphasized the difference between constructive and destructive criticism.
According to Thriveworks, “Constructive criticism uplifts, offers suggestions and even provides possible solutions,” whereas “destructive criticism is cutting, derogatory and sometimes even mocks our failures.”
The nature of the feedback often hinges on its delivery and intent.
Destructive criticism "knocks people down. There’s no lesson, just an overbearing sense of defeat,” as noted by Axero Solutions in a discussion on workplace and personal criticism.
In Abby’s case, the line between blunt honesty and public discomfort has raised questions about how tone, culture and proximity affect how feedback is received.
As the video continues to circulate, viewers are left asking whether the intent justifies the impact—and if self-deprecation within families fosters resilience or erodes confidence.
We could not verify the details of the case.
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