James Marsden’s mom sent a Golden Globe text that was pure sweetness
Can she please adopt us?
James Marsden and Thandie Newton at Comic-Con
There’s no shortage of stories of celebrities whose family members are wholly unimpressed by their fame.
“When I see myself up on a billboard, I have this complete dissociation with it ... I’m like, 'Who’s that?'” actress Emily Blunt told InStyle. "And I can see my children doing the same […] it’s not exciting for them. What’s exciting for them is when I can pick them up from school and take them swimming.”
Meanwhile, Matt Damon told Seth Meyers that his daughter goes out of her way to watch his flops. “She is very clear about not wanting to see anything that I’m in if she thinks it might be good,” Damon told the TV host. “If I get bad reviews in something, that’s the one she wants to see.”
These stories are common and admittedly amusing. Who doesn’t enjoy finding out that even A-listers are treated like mere regular people sometimes? But what about tales of stars’ family members who are just as impressed by the glitz and glamour as we might be?
These stories are far fewer.
Maybe for this reason, everyone is going absolutely bonkers over James Marsden’s mom’s sweet and uncynical reaction to his Golden Globes nomination.
The "Dead to Me" actor, who was nominated for his role as himself in the genre-bending mockumentary "Jury Duty," posted a message from his mom to his Instagram, and it’s unbelievably sweet and maternal.
We love you James Marsden’s mother!!!! 😩😩😩 pic.twitter.com/BNSP7VD3pe
— Meech (@MediumSizeMeech) January 9, 2024
"My favorite moment of tonight was when they had your picture up with the other five nominees," Kathleen Marsden wrote. "Just like I've seen all my life of different nominee pics all together like that. “And I [was] saying to myself — my son is one of the 6 chosen and there he is up on the tv screen next to the other nominees. MY son did that. I can't quit smiling.”
James Marsden first golden globe nomination for playing James Marsden pic.twitter.com/BcvslRYI1P
— wengel (@wengelll) January 8, 2024
Marsden ultimately lost to Matthew Macfayden for his role in "Succession," but that didn’t seem to tarnish the wholesome mother-son moment.
“My mom, I love you,” Marsden posted on Instagram in response to his mom’s text. He followed it with the red heart emoji.
Fans were understandably moved.
“We love you, James Marsden’s mom!!!!” X user Meech wrote about the sweet text in a post viewed over 1.4 million times.
“This is so wholesome and adorable!” JaydeExotic responded.
“This is so sweet, no wonder he’s a peach,” deedeedeeobrien said, using the crying and heart emojis.
we need more wholesome things like this on the internet.
— Baz 😷 (@allthatbazzz) January 10, 2024
“We need more wholesome things like this on the internet,” said allthatBaz (quick: someone send her a link to Upworthy!)
Multiple fans made a note of crying from the poignancy of the exchange.
“I just applied lash serum. I’m trying not to cry,” wrote AziaraNaskshatra. “Crying in the club,” lovekatebray added.
One fan took it as an opportunity to reflect, in a pretty relatable way, about how their own mom might not have offered the same unvarnished support. “I love this because my mom would be like “you looked shiny I don’t care for that lipstick color congrats on just being nominated there’s no shame in losing,” said AKCooper315832.
This is not the first time Marsden has featured his mom on social media.
A few years ago, on Mother’s Day, he posted a photo of himself with his mother and wrote, “To my loving Mom and to every mother out there, guiding our ways, filling our hearts, and teaching us what love is, we owe you everything. Happy Mother’s Day!”
If there’s a takeaway here, it’s that we all want to feel the people closest to us support us. We also all want James Marsden’s mom to be our mom.
A few years ago, on Mother’s Day, he posted a photo of himself with his mother and wrote, “To my loving Mom and to every mother out there, guiding our ways, filling our hearts, and teaching us what love is, we owe you everything.
Happy Mother’s Day!”
If there’s a takeaway here, it’s that we all want to feel the people closest to us support us. We also all want James Marsden’s mom to be our mom.
Alice McCall - Runway - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2018
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