A mum claims parents have banned their kids from being friends with hers as they think her job is “too provocative”. Holly Jane Johnston shared her side of the story
A mum has alleged some parents won’t let their children be friends with her kids as they think her job is “too provocative”. Mother-of-four Holly Jane Johnston claims she’s become a target of a “neighbourhood gossip campaign” after residents in her gated Southern community discovered her career.
Holly, who has over one million followers on Instagram, claims someone started sharing articles about her in Facebook groups, and began warning parents to “think twice” before allowing their children to spend time with hers. Now Holly, 43, from Texas, has detailed exactly what she thinks happened.
It’s not the only time such a topic has been raised either. Previously, parents revealed how judged they really feel by others.
Holly said: “Thanks to these neighbours from hell, some parents will not associate with us, and won’t allow my children to play with theirs. I also think money is part of it.
“Many people work incredibly hard and struggle financially. When they see someone making in a month what they make in a year, especially through a career they don’t respect or understand, resentment can follow.
“People don’t always want to admit that, but I think it’s real. I think insecurity plays a role too. We live in a culture obsessed with appearance, yet many people are unhappy with how they look.
“Seeing someone openly embrace their body, profit from it and receive attention for it can be uncomfortable. Sometimes that discomfort gets expressed as criticism.”
Holly produces adult content online – and, after the neighbour allegedly began spreading word about her profession, things started to get a bit out of hand. She said the situation eventually affected her teenage daughter, who was informed that a neighbour had been contacting the parents of her friends to discuss Holly’s online career.
While some of Holly’s family and friends are aware of it, not everyone is. She said she’s “close” to her family, but her parents are oblivious to her risqué job.
“My parents are very old school and wouldn’t understand,” she added. “I think a lot of the outrage has very little to do with me as an individual.
“I represent a combination of things that make some people uncomfortable.”
Holly believes she can make certain individuals feel “threatened” due to the financial independence and personal freedom that comes with her lifestyle. While some people may find it empowering, she thinks others perceive it as “unsettling”.
She also acknowledged that some people simply disagree with what she does for a living on moral or religious grounds, and she respects their right to hold that opinion. However, she doesn’t believe it should affect her children’s lives.
Holly continued: “This industry can affect kids in both positive and negative ways. On the positive side, my children have opportunities that many families simply don’t have because of the income my work provides.
“They’re able to experience things, travel and access opportunities that can help shape their future in meaningful ways. The negative side has not come from inside our home.
“It has come from outside of it. People in my community have sometimes made my children feel uncomfortable because they are inserting themselves into my personal business when it has nothing to do with them. That is unfortunate, but it is a reflection of other people’s choices, not my children’s.
“If someone is uncomfortable with me, that is their choice. But when that discomfort turns into excluding children from friendships, it stops being about values and starts affecting innocent kids.
“My home is safe, stable and loving. My children are well-raised, they have friends and they are not defined by what I do for a living. I am not asking for approval; I am asking for fairness toward them.”