Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Instagram has been taken over by angry fans after she bought a ‘tone deaf’ birthday present for her daughter’s 16th.
(We’ll just let you recover from the shock of learning that Buffy Summers now has a 16-year-old daughter…)
The American actress, 48, who also starred in the live action Scooby-Doo films, rose to fame on the American fantasy series between 1997 and 2003.
Around the time they co-starred in the Scooby-Doo films as Daphe and Fred, Sarah married Freddie Prinze Jr. and gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Charlotte, in 2009.
Charlotte turned 16 on Friday, and mum Sarah dedicated a sweet Instagram gallery post to her to mark the happy occasion, saying: ’16 years ago today, you made me a mom.
‘I believe the quote is, “A daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be your best friend”. Charlotte, you are that and so much more. You are strong, you are inspiring, you are kind, you are funny…’
She continued: ‘Most importantly, you are one of a kind, the best kind. I’m so lucky to call you my best friend. And I’m equally excited to finally be your passenger Prinzess.’
The last line of Sarah’s caption was a reference to the fact that, for Charlotte’s 16th birthday, she had purchased her daughter a brand new black Jeep.
Another picture of the Jeep showed that it was one of the Wrangler Rubicon models, which are currently listed at costing up to £63,000 on Jeep’s official UK website.
Some fans in the comments had their attention drawn to the flashy new motor, with some claiming that Sarah’s post was ‘tone deaf’ for including the shots of the Jeep.
AtherHolt057 said on Instagram: ‘Sarah, you are beautiful and kind and you haven’t aged a day, but I agree this is a totally tone deaf post. Some things should be kept private.
’16-year-olds should not be gifted new cars – they need to learn the value of hard work and making their own money regardless of their upbringing.’
TyreeGram added, ‘Who the Hell buys a car for a 16 year old? I got a cake. That’s all you need, while SoundsLikePhiladelphia was shocked: ‘I remember when Charlotte was born. But – a brand new Jeep? At 16?’
User GellisCnu gave a dismal assessment as an outsider: ‘Yeah, why don’t you just give a Jeep to a 16-year-old. Ahhh, the United States.’
Despite the criticism, many fans defended Sarah for her decision not just to buy the Jeep for Charlotte but to make a post about it as well.
However, FrecklesCurles04 shot back, saying: ‘It’s her money and her kid. Let’s normalize minding our business.’
SpicyItalian7 agreed: ‘You act like she bought her a Mercedes G-Wagon. It’s a practical car than many normal non-celebrities buy their kids as a first car. You’re the one who’s tone deaf.’
VerlamF concurred with AtherHolt057, saying: ‘We need to normalize not being petty and jealous that someone has what you don’t!’
MGNLenoir08 provided a sobering reminder: ‘This is the reason celebrities don’t let fans see their lives. She’s got nothing to be ashamed of – this woman has worked for what she has so has her husband.’
In some US states, the legal age to hold a learner driver’s permit is as low as 14, while the driving age in Australia (where Sarah and Freddie were spotted in 2024) is 16.
Metro has reached out to Sarah Michelle Gellar for comment.
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