Jessica Biel has issued a plea to fellow parents, begging them to stop using the viral so-called “Jessica” toddler tantrum trend.
“Guys, I am not sure how I feel about this, like, ‘Jessica’ trend with moms and toddlers and now dogs, apparently, that it’s working for — which is kind of amazing, I’m going to try it on my dogs,” Biel, 44, said in a Friday, April 10, video shared via TikTok. “Because I feel like half of these kids in these videos look petrified.”
The Valentine’s Day actress was responding to the now-viral parenting trend involving parents suddenly and very loudly yelling the name “Jessica” continuously and unapologetically while their young child throws a fit. The goal, according to the trend, is to confuse or distract the small child or children to the point that they cease throwing a tantrum.
“I really love that 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,” she continued. “But I sorta feel like these kids are terrified. They look terrified and hopeful that Jessica is not going to show up.”
She continued, “Part of me wants to say, ‘You’re welcome, glad I can be helpful. Glad all us Jessicas can be helpful.’ And also, ‘Please, please, please don’t make your toddler terrified of people named Jessica. Because we’re good people. We’re nice people. We want to help you with the tantrum but we don’t want to scare the s*** out of your kid.”
Biel shares two sons, Silas and Phineas, with her husband, Justin Timberlake. According to the proud mom, the viral trend does not work on her own children.
@jessbiel On behalf of all Jessicas, we are nice people
♬ Crip Beatz – Crip-Beatz
“Of course it’s not working with my kids,” she explained. “My kids are like, ‘What? Why are you yelling your own name, you weirdo? You’re, like, weirder than you already are normally.’”
She concluded, “So yeah, I’m conflicted. I don’t know what to say, what do you guys think? No other name works? You’re welcome? It’s a — it’s a toss up.”
Biel, who welcomed her first child with the former boy band singer in 2015, has been focused on parenting her sons in the wake of Timberlake’s June 18, 2024, DWI arrest, which occurred just two days after Father’s Day.
“Jessica is extremely upset,” an insider exclusively told Us Weekly after Timberlake’s legal trouble. “She was shocked to hear the news and had no idea as she was working. She was really worried about him.”
The insider added, “She always gives Justin the benefit of the doubt.”
The singer later addressed the arrest during a September 2024 court appearance.
“I try to hold myself to a very high standard for myself — and this was not that,” he told reporters at the time, according to ABC News. “I found myself in a position where I could’ve made a different decision. But I’ve had some time to reflect on that.”
He continued, “What I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening: Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber, there’s many travel apps [or] take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake.”
Timberlake pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while ability impaired (DWAI), a noncriminal traffic violation. He was fined $500, ordered to complete 25 hours of community service and received a 90-day license suspension.
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