Opinion: Blueface and Chrisean Rock's Disturbing Parenting Controversy Sparks Outrage, But Who Should Step In?
I usually try to mind my childless business, but Blueface and Chrisean Rock have made that impossible.
On Sunday, a photo of Blueface and Chrisean's son's genitals was shared on Blueface's X account, formerly Twitter.
In the since-deleted post, he captioned the picture with: "This what my son d**k look like and she worried about me and lil baby c*ck like bih get our son c*ck right then do what you want."
This was posted as an apparent response to Chrisean missing a doctor's appointment to address the issue. He claims to have done this because the child suffers from a hernia. Yet, while the rapper sought to show that Chrisean is taking poor care of her son, it largely sparked a “WTF bro or n-word I can’t write here” like-backlash from the public.
As it should have.
Following a lot of people on the internet condemning him, Blueface claimed on Monday that his phone was stolen and his account was hacked. Umm, sure, but for what it’s worth, if these two keep going, he should keep in mind a warrant will answer that question. That same day, Chrisean Rock took to Instagram Live to address the posting of their newborn son's herniated genitals.
Before I go on, I want to pause on that sentence and how crazy it sounds.
Nothing surprises me, but people on the internet arguing over the posting of a baby’s genitalia is shocking. I’m sorry that kid will eventually find out that this all happened.
In any event, Chrisean said at one point in her live: "Posting your son hernia. For who to laugh at? This is an innocent child, bro. You f**ked up. That's all I gotta say, you f**ked up. And it's crazy, I got cool with you thinking it was gon' save us. It just made you worse."
Similar to my response to many cousins and old classmates who also enjoy broadcasting their problems online, I understand, but why not tell them directly and offline? But now that we’re in their business because they put us in it, let it be known that as foul as Blueface is, Chrisean also admitted that she still hasn’t taken the baby to the doctor.
Like Keke Palmer, Chrisean Rock should be given some grace as a new mom. I have no idea what she’s going through.
However, this latest online rift is only weeks after the baby went viral for how she handled him at a Walmart. In the clip, Chrisean walks through a Walmart as her baby son’s head dangles in a carrier.
She went on Live about that, too.
“I feel like instead of that lady recording me, she could’ve just helped me. I got a dog, two carts full of shit I need for my house. I’m calling my baby daddy, is he helping? No. So I don’t know why he’s chiming in either. This mommy shit is cool, but man your mind is racing 36… eight hours a day,” she said.
“I’m still learning. I love my baby. He’s a good baby. I’mma tighten up, straight up,” she added.
“Everybody makes mistakes.”
She has a point. At that moment, instead of recording Chrisean failing to carry her child properly, she could have assisted her. Someone actually concerned about the baby would have done that.
She’s being exploited in both instances, and the baby suffers even more.
Some responded to the clip with concerns that the 23-year-old might be experiencing postpartum depression. Still, much as I understand she is struggling, the baby is dangling, and his herniated genitalia are posted on a hellsite.
These are two people who not only struggle to co-parent, but they’re telling us how much they are failing their child.
I don’t even try to know what’s going on in their lives, but throughout their on-again, off-again relationship, I know so much about these people that I don’t want to.
My attitude has been that I wish them peace and no more missing teeth, but now that a baby has been brought into their chaos, I’m hoping someone who loves them intervenes and lends a helping hand before the state takes their baby.
They post everything on the internet, which means people – including folks with the legal power to do something about what you livestream and post – can see it.
I am not saying this will happen, but the child welfare system has been filled with inequities for decades, and Black children are far likelier than white children to be investigated for abuse and neglect.
Factors that motivate someone from Child Protective Services to step in include when a parent or guardian has willfully or negligently failed to provide their child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment.
Another is when a child has suffered or faces a substantial risk of serious physical harm or illness because their parent or guardian has failed to protect them adequately.
They are livestreaming evidence against them.
If the state did step in, while Chrisean would be able to get her son back, it would not be without a legal process that entails a lot of monitoring, and in the case of the baby, being taken away and placed in the care of a relative or the foster care system. The foster care system may have some kind of foster parents with good intentions, but collectively, state foster care agencies are known to take money owed to children in their care.
Given all that we know about both of them – at their insistence – imagine how much more complicated an already complicated process might be for them.
The situation requires a wake-up call for the new parents, but doesn’t need to come from them.
I don’t know who needs to step in until both can step up – ideally a relative – but can they do it before it’s too late? And can they please, please, keep it offline?
Michael Arceneaux is the New York Times bestselling author of I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beyoncé, I Don’t Want To Die Poor, and the forthcoming I Finally Bought Some Jordans.