A woman has sparked a massive debate after posting her family holiday card online. Influencer Amanda Cooper and her siblings discreetly flipped off the camera when the picture was taken, but the photo has left many angry. Now, Cooper shares her take on the controversial holiday card.

Taking family portraits is always a fun way to remember those big gatherings. For some, they only occur a few times a year. While it’s a lot of fun taking these pictures, looking back on them years later – seeing how people change their style, grow younger or older – makes it much easier to remember.

Also, it’s a great way to give the younger generation a peek at how their uncles, aunts, grandparents, or even parents used to look.

For Amanda Cooper and her mother, Melynda King, taking family portraits has always been fun. Speaking to Today, Cooper said her mother takes it quite seriously, as she last year “went to Home Depot and bought paint sample cards of the colors that we were all allowed to wear.”

After the large family had taken this year’s holiday photo, Amanda Cooper, an influencer with around 30,000 Instagram followers, decided to share it online. However, one detail sparked a major debate.

Amanda Cooper and her siblings flipped off the camera for holiday photo prank
Cooper shared three pictures, with some zoomed in, showing how several of her family members flipped off the camera. Cooper’s brother-in-law suggested they use the code word hippopotamus.

“So right before the middle finger picture, I called out, ‘Everyone say, ‘I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!” Amanda said, adding that she gave her mom a heads-up before posting it.

“I get this text from Amanda and it just said, ‘I’m going to apologize in advance for the reel I just posted,” Melynda recalled her daughter saying. “Then I look at the video and I burst out laughing. I thought it was absolutely hilarious.”

Amanda posted the pictures with a text, reading, “When your mom/mother-in-law makes you take professional family pictures 3 times a year…”

It contained several close-ups from different angles, revealing how they subtly flipped off the camera. The caption read, “Someday we will be grateful for all the family pictures.”

Internet is left divided over prank
The photo went viral, and the comment section was filled with opinions.

“This is terrific. All in good fun,” one user wrote.

“I love a family with a sense of humor and thety apperently have it,” another added.

A third recalled, “I did this when I was 10 yrs old because I didn’t like the way my mom did my hair. It’s been 30 years and she still hasn’t caught it.”

However, others weren’t amused by Amanda’s prank. Some users found it appalling.

“Be grateful she cares, this is so disrespectful,” one comment read.

“I hate this so much. How awful,” another said.

Father says it’s “the best family picture” they ever too
A third stated, “Talk about passive aggressive! Man! Not cool at all!,” while a fourth shared, “It’s so sad. Wish I could go back and take family photos with my parents, and here you are being complete A holes.”

Some came to Amanda’s defense, with one saying, “I promise you the photographer didn’t take only this one picture.” Another said, “I’m sure they have a nice shot & this is their not so nice shot. Lighten up.”

Another user commented, “These are digital and they took many you think they did this for all of them?! These comments are so dramatic.”

Speaking to Today, Amanda Cooper said she was in shock at the backlash she received for posting a video of them giving the bird. She made sure to let everyone know that it wasn’t just a single photo, but that they behaved in other shots.

“I got my nice Christmas card,” Amanda’s mother said. “But my husband wants me to send the middle finger one to our best friends. He thinks it’s the best family picture we’ve ever taken.”

Please share your thoughts on Amanda and her siblings’ prank in the comment section on Facebook!