TikToker @jackielabonita goes viral after being mocked at Astros game: Fans defend, critics debate [VIDEO]

Controversial Clip Ignites National Debate on Public Etiquette, Bullying, and Influencer Culture

TikTok user Jackie (@jackielabonita) has gone viral after sharing a clip that captured a vulnerable moment during a Houston Astros game. The video was initially posted in April 2023. But it’s resurfacing again here in 2025. It shows Jackie trying to take photos of herself when two women seated behind her begin laughing, sticking out their tongues, and appearing to mock her. She captioned the video: “Watch my confidence disappear after these random girls make fun of me for taking pics.”

The clip was recorded at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, during a public baseball game. Jackie appeared visibly uncomfortable in the footage, which was overlaid with music and the now-viral caption. The emotional resonance of the video caused it to spread rapidly across platforms, particularly on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). There, it received over 34 million views within days of its initial post. Also, the latest X upload has it at over 4 million views in a day.

From Viral Fame to Controversy

As the video continued to gain traction, internet sleuths quickly identified the two women in the background. As a result, their personal information was doxxed and widely disseminated online. TikTok users like @araa.4 took to the platform to publicize their identities. The online backlash even reached one of the girls’ ex-boyfriends, known as @stephano_z, who posted a video begging users to stop harassing his family.

Despite receiving an apology from the girls in person, Jackie chose to keep the original TikTok live. That’s a decision that ignited further debate. Some saw it as a powerful testament to standing up against bullying. Meanwhile others interpreted it as a tactic to gain social media traction.

Mixed Reactions on X and TikTok

Public opinion was sharply divided. Many defended Jackie:

@PicturesFoIder: “Absolutely pathetic behavior from those girls. Good on Jackie for speaking up.”

@ragingtampon86: “Insecure, immature, with a mean spirit. Jackie did nothing wrong.”

@LASHYBILLS: “Jackie has more confidence than they ever will.”

However, others criticized her for posting the video:

@000000O96: “Selfie culture is out of hand. Why would anyone want strangers filming around them?”

@meta_rach: “It’s about consent. The girls didn’t ask to be in her video, and now they’re being harassed.”

@RonnieDobbs2000: “This is why we need to bring back bullying. Some people need to be called out for this behavior.”

The backlash against the girls escalated quickly, resulting in what some users called a “digital witch hunt.” False rumors even led to negative reviews being posted for a business they were incorrectly linked to, Limestone Commercial Real Estate, which later issued a statement denying any association with the women. Originally, Jackie was very vocal about why she let this video stay live.

The Ethics of Filming in Public

The controversy sparked broader conversations about privacy, bullying, and influencer culture. Can one truly expect privacy in a public space? And if someone appears in the background of a video, does that give the poster the moral right to leave it up, even after harm has been caused?

The Reddit community was particularly vocal. One post labeled Jackie as manipulative, claiming she “played the internet” by keeping the video up despite receiving an apology. Others defended her, arguing that the emotions she expressed were authentic and that no one could have predicted the video would explode the way it did.

Given the changes in how people conduct themselves, being recorded in public is nothing new to most people. Instead, it’s almost akin to how people would take Polaroid pictures, years ago. Several times, people who became closer later in life say they were photographed, years earlier, when they were strangers. Some look at viral and social videos as the spiritual successor of that.

Jackie’s Intentions Questioned

While Jackie appeared visibly shaken in her video, critics argued that she benefited from the attention. Her follower count increased, and the sustained engagement helped her gain a more prominent platform.

“She didn’t delete the video because she knew it would keep racking up views,” one Redditor wrote.

Still, defenders pointed out that Jackie never directly attacked the women in her caption or follow-ups, making the viral backlash more a product of audience reaction than creator manipulation.

Cultural Implications

This incident taps into a larger conversation about the rise of influencer culture, parasocial relationships, and the fine line between accountability and cyberbullying. In a world where everyday people can become internet-famous in hours, the power of a caption or reaction video is immense.

The girls involved, once anonymous faces in the background of a TikTok, became “two of the most hated girls on the internet,” according to multiple Reddit threads. Whether that notoriety is justified or a product of an overreactive internet remains a matter of debate.

Regardless of whether the women bullied Jackie, they have now been exposed. As a result, this situation has become a story. Now, people from all over the world have seen these women.

Final Thoughts

The @jackielabonita incident highlights the complexity of viral fame. What began as a short video meant to capture a personal moment evolved into a flashpoint for conversations around bullying, privacy, influencer ethics, and internet justice. As public figures, even accidentally, the people involved have become cautionary tales about the volatile nature of online attention.

In the case of Jackie, her actions created a huge moment in 2023. But at a time when so many things go viral, Jackie is doing so from the same video is an incredible feat. This has the potential to lead to bigger opportunities for her, ironically. Most people, even viral celebrities, struggle to actually go viral with their video releases. So, for Jackie to go viral twice from the same video is a huge accomplishment.

While Jackie’s confidence may have been shaken in the moment, the aftermath suggests she has emerged as both a symbol of vulnerability and resilience in an increasingly judgmental digital world. Whether one views her as a victim or a savvy content creator, there’s no denying that her TikTok has left a lasting impact.