Reality Star Whitney Leavitt Addresses Backlash Over TikTok Dance Video During Son's RSV Hospitalization

Leavitt says she posted the video to get "sympathy" rather than "clout" during her newborn son's hospital stay.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 7:31pm

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In a new interview with Ziwe, reality TV star Whitney Leavitt addressed the backlash she faced in 2021 for posting a TikTok dance video while her newborn son was hospitalized with RSV. Leavitt admitted she posted the video to get "sympathy" rather than "clout", as her fellow cast member had previously claimed. The controversial video, which has since been deleted, showed Leavitt dancing next to her infant son in the NICU.

Why it matters

Leavitt's decision to post the TikTok video during her son's serious medical condition sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing her of seeking attention or "clout" rather than focusing on her child's health. The incident highlighted the challenges and scrutiny that reality TV stars can face when sharing personal moments on social media.

The details

In December 2021, shortly after welcoming her second child with husband Conner, Leavitt's newborn son Liam was diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and hospitalized. Leavitt then posted a TikTok video of herself performing a dance routine next to Liam's hospital crib, which sparked major backlash. In a new interview with Ziwe, Leavitt addressed the controversy, admitting she posted the video to get "sympathy" rather than "clout", as her fellow cast member Demi Engemann had previously claimed.

  • In December 2021, Leavitt posted the controversial TikTok video while her newborn son Liam was hospitalized with RSV.
  • The video was deleted from Leavitt's account sometime after the initial backlash.

The players

Whitney Leavitt

A reality TV star known for her role on the Hulu series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives".

Conner Leavitt

Whitney Leavitt's husband and the father of her two children.

Liam Leavitt

Whitney and Conner Leavitt's newborn son who was hospitalized with RSV in December 2021.

Demi Engemann

A fellow cast member on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" who claimed that Leavitt posted the TikTok video "to get likes and clout".

Ziwe

The host who interviewed Whitney Leavitt about the controversial TikTok video in a recent sit-down.

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What they’re saying

“I will say just to clear the air ... I definitely did not do that for clout. Definitely wanted sympathy.”

— Whitney Leavitt, Reality TV Star

“It was really bad, people were telling me to end my life, they wished my family would die.”

— Whitney Leavitt

What’s next

Leavitt has continued to address the controversy over the past few years, including in a June 2025 interview where she said she understood the criticism but maintained that her son's condition was improving at the time she posted the video.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the intense scrutiny and backlash that reality TV stars can face when sharing personal moments on social media, especially when it involves their children's health. Leavitt's experience underscores the need for greater empathy and understanding when judging the actions of public figures during difficult personal situations.