Sue and Noel Radford, the stars of the reality TV show 22 Kids and Counting, recently clapped back at online trolls, but their message to those they call “cowardly” was not well-received.
The family is now being slammed by online trolls for “showing off” their luxury vacation in Florida, with keyboard warriors calling them a “joke.”
Keep reading to learn why some fans are raging over the Radfords!
Known as “Britain’s biggest family,” Sue and Noel Radford – who have a tribe of 22 children – regularly share their adventures on their social media accounts.
The Radford family, who first gained popularity with their appearance on the reality TV series, 15 Kids and Counting, are the stars of 16 Kids and Counting up until 22 Kids and Counting.
The couple – happily married since 1992 – are parents to Chris, 32, Sophie, 27, Chloe, 26, Jack, 24, Daniel, 22, Luke, 21, Millie, 20, Katie, 19, James, 18, Ellie, 16, Aimee, 15, Josh, 14, Max, 12, Tillie, 11, Oscar, 10, Casper, nine, Hallie, six, Phoebe, five, Archie, four, Bonnie, three, and Heidie, one.
Making Life Count
Diving deep into their lives, the couple released their memoir, “The Radfords: Making Life Count” in March 2024. In the book, which made the Sunday Times’ bestseller list, the parents address their experiences with online trolls, who Noel, 53, says must have “empty lives.”
Speaking about the book on the lunchtime chat show Loose Women, Noel said, “Our own social media accounts are a nice place to be, but then there’s a whole other world, which sadly, isn’t quite the same.”
Explaining that online trolls gain some keyboard courage, Noel, owner of the Radford Pie Company, charges haters as “people who are jealous of what you’ve got.”
“They don’t seem to see you as a real person. They’re not bothered about what they say or what effects it might have.” He adds, “Which is pretty cowardly, isn’t it? They must have such empty lives.”
The 49-year-old matriarch adds, “[Online trolls] can’t be happy with their own lives to do what they do to feel they need to try to drag other people down.”
Luxury trip
But it appears their message was not received.
Recently Sue took fans on a tour of the luxury villa she stayed with Noel and her kids in the Sunshine State.
The stately home has themed rooms, a games room and an enclosed pool with jacuzzi, which according to The Sun, costs about £235 or $300US.
In the same YouTube video, called “Villa Tour and Walmart Shopping,” fans join the Radfords on a trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While there, the family enjoys some rides and later shares a pair of solar viewers to watch the partial eclipse on April 8 from the park.
Next, fans are taken to Walmart on a grocery shopping trip where the mother is seen selecting food products like hummus, prepared salads and chips, gushing over the flavors that aren’t available in the UK.
“Try the Lays Dill Pickle chips…dill pickle is a preferred flavor no matter what,” offers one user from Alabama.
A second follower shares, “When you see all the lovely variety of foods in America, it shows how the UK have rubbish choices. I always find food abroad is far better than the UK. Enjoy!!”
Jealousy is an ‘ugly thing’
Fuelled by animosity some netizens took a different approach in the comments section.
One follower writes, “Materialism at its highest!”
“It seems the Radfords are addicted to spending and opening presents or packets of crisps,” shares a second.
A third pens, “Just showing off can’t understand how they can afford to go on holiday all the time,” and another adds, “They always moan that there having money problems but here they are, on yet another holiday. This family is a joke!”
But some well-meaning fans jumped in and defending the parents, they reminded haters that “jealousy” is an ugly thing.
“Really makes me laugh these idiots who troll you but they obviously love to watch your content!!! Jealously is such [an] ugly thing.”
Calling out the haters, Sue says, “We don’t claim benefits, the pie company is very successful and so is our media business. We work hard but we’re not millionaires!” She continues, “The nastiness is upsetting though. We just want to be able to give our children the best possible life.”
Their money, their rules!
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