A Substack essay written by actress and author Jenny Mollen has resurfaced online following criticism surrounding social media photographs she shared with her eldest son after her separation from Jason Biggs. The renewed attention comes after Mollen faced backlash over images posted on Facebook and Instagram featuring her 12-year-old son, Sid. The photographs, along with a caption referring to an eldest son as "the most toxic guy you ever date," prompted criticism from some social media users and led to a community note being added to the post.
Resurfaced Substack Essay Sparks Controversy
As discussion around the images continued, online commentators began circulating excerpts from a May 2026 Substack article written by Mollen titled "Please. Stay. I want you. I need you. Oh, God." In the essay, Mollen reflected on motherhood, her relationship with her sons, and her fears about them growing up. One passage attracted particular attention after she wrote, "Call me old-fashioned, but I only want my sons to marry women with dead mothers." Elsewhere in the article, Mollen discussed her eldest son's interactions with a girl and described the situation by writing, "Several months ago, my eldest was texting with a girl, she was twelve, but I could already tell my brand of toxic."
Emotional Challenges of Raising Sons
The essay largely focuses on the emotional challenges of raising sons and the prospect of eventually becoming less central in their lives as they grow older and form relationships of their own. However, many online commenters said they found some of Mollen's remarks disturbing, arguing that it was inappropriate for a mother to speak about her sons in those terms. Mollen appeared to respond to criticism, writing, "I said your eldest will be the most toxic bf you ever have. I stand by this!" The controversy emerged just days after Mollen and Biggs confirmed the end of their 18-year marriage.
