The anger and polarisation often on display on social media have made it a stressful place to venture for many people, wary of its unpredictable pile-ons and bile-filled responses. Yet a 95-year-old Cheshire woman and her soft toy collection have become the unlikely stars of a trend to encourage kindness in the comments.
Brenda Allen said she had been flabbergasted by the response to her recent TikTok videos, in which she talks about her quirky Jellycat figures. Encouraged by a staff member at her care home, she began by showing viewers a hat-wearing avocado named Florence. Her haul also features a cuddly pot plant and a squashy, smiling pain au chocolat.
Her breakthrough video showed a flair for comedy, ending with her observation that her mushroom teddy was “a very fun guy”.
Her videos have now amassed more than 2m views on the site, as well as thousands of comments from people across the world asking if they can adopt her as their social media grandma and calling her a national treasure.
She has since been sent additions to her collection from Jellycat and John Lewis – and her videos have been reposted by Love Island contestants. The only negativity has come from her budgie, Toto, who isn’t too keen on her cuddly blue tit and robin.
“[The avocado] was my only one for a long time, then, gradually, some people have given me more of them,” Brenda said. “But all of a sudden, after the media thing, I was inundated with people ringing me and wanting to send me toys and everything. It was quite incredible.
“One of the girls asked me to do a video. I didn’t know what it was for, really. She just said would I do a little video for her about jelly cats? So I said yes, and it’s gone from there. It’s gone mad. I’ve had some lovely messages. Everyone thinks I have a nice voice, apparently.”
One of her Majesticare care home’s staff members posted the first video. It referenced the recent “you better be nice in the comments” trend, which has gained momentum as users search for more wholesome content on their timelines.
It began in the US, where creator @yearningyardis posted a video of her boyfriend talking about his pot plants. She tells viewers – in a comically threatening way – that they better “say something nice” about him. That prompted others to make videos about the often eccentric hobbies of their friends and families. One even features a collection of tractor manuals.
Celebrities including Ant and Dec have also become involved. Their video features Dec showing off Ant’s artwork, menacingly ordering commenters to be kind.
Brenda’s daughter, Julie, said the family had been “blown away” by her newfound fame. “We don’t quite understand it, but it’s amazing and it’s lovely,” she said. “What has blown me away is how lovely everybody has been. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything where all the comments are positive.”
Care home residents venturing to the local garden centre have already been asked whether they know Brenda, as word of her notoriety has spread. She is now planning to auction her Jellycat toys and donate the proceeds to a local children’s hospice.
Understandably, however, Brenda is content with only a brief moment of internet fame. “I don’t want to keep it on too long,” she said. “I’m 95, you know.”