Chrishell Stause responded to comments from fans who were concerned that she wasn’t taking COVID-19’s precautions seriously after she posted a group photo of her family and new boyfriend Keo Motsepe at Christmas.
“He introduced @keo_motsepe to the family. He fit perfectly. Merry Christmas to everyone, from mine to yours !!! Sending lots of love to everyone,” she wrote on Instagram, next to a group photo of nine people, including the couple, sitting on a sofa and matching Christmas pajamas.
The 39-year-old “Selling Sunset” star competed against Motsepe, a professional dancer, in the most recent season of “Dancing With the Stars”. Motsepe, 31, was paired with actress Anne Heche, while Stause was walking around the room with professional Gleb Savchenko. As the program followed strict preventive measures, this was the first time that Stause’s family had met their new love. However, some fans were quick to comment on the holiday.
“Please, be aware of your platform. It is not good to show great family gatherings. It makes others think that everything is fine,” commented one person.
“Isn’t COVID something there?” someone else asked.
Stause edited the caption for the holiday photo on Saturday and said “this was not a good use of my platform.”
“I usually always try to be socially responsible with my posts because I’m a naturally compassionate person. I can see how it doesn’t show it to some, ”she wrote. “I understand that you will not agree, but at least so that you can see where I come from – This is my immediate family and we can all test before and after.”
Stause said it is important for her to be with her family, as this is the first Christmas without her mother, who died in July after a short battle with lung cancer. Stause’s father died in April 2019 of the same disease.
“This is the first Christmas without our mother that we think is important to be there for each other in a difficult year. Keo brought such a welcome happiness and I selfishly posted it in a very happy moment ”, she wrote. “Please be safe and I am sending all my love to my supporters and critics. I listen to you all and I can thank you for the feedback from both sides.”
