Photo of influencer sitting on her stepfather's lap sparks Instagram debate

Kroy Biermann adopted Brielle and her sister Ariana. Photo / Instagram

An influencer who shared a photo of her sitting on her stepfather's lap has sparked a furious debate, with some labelling her pose "uncomfortable" and even "triggering" to see.

Brielle Biermann, 23, is the daughter of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak-Biermann and has more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram.

Kim, 42, married Kroy Biermann, 35, in 2011 and the NFL player adopted Brielle and her sister Ariana two years later.

On Monday Brielle shared a touching birthday to Kroy on Instagram, describing him as the "most amazing father & man I'll ever know" and "love love you dad!"

View this post on Instagram

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most amazing father & man I’ll ever know. I couldn’t imagine a life without your hardworking, selfless, loving, caring self! I’m so proud of you and all you’ve accomplished 🤍 we had too much fun last night i forgot to post yesterday 🖤 love love you dad!

A post shared by brielle (@briellebiermann) on Sep 13, 2020 at 5:06pm PDT

The post contained two photos of Brielle sitting on Kroy's lap, one with just the two of them while the other also had Kim in it.

But while the post was clearly a heartfelt tribute to her stepfather, it didn't stop trolls from seizing on the fact she was sitting on his lap.

"Why you sitting on your momma husband lap?" one person asked.

Others said she should "know better" than to sit in Kroy's lap and one person claimed the image of the two of them was "triggering".

"That's a little uncomfortable she is an adult sitting on her stepfather's lap," another comment read.

However, not everyone agreed, with many commenters saying it was "disturbing" to see people jumping to unfounded conclusions.

View this post on Instagram

brunette biermanns 🤎🖤🤎🖤

A post shared by brielle (@briellebiermann) on Jun 10, 2020 at 3:06pm PDT

"Some of these comments are ridiculous! A child sat on her dad's lap … what is abnormal about that! I cannot understand why anyone would teach their child not to sit on their father's lap as some people have stated!" one person wrote.

"Stunned at these comments. If you think sitting on her dad's lap is perverted it says more about you than it does Brielle," another said.

"The comments of her sitting on her Dad's lap is disturbing … like what is wrong with you people," another commenter read.

"He's such an amazing example of what it's like to take care of and love children like his own. The episode where he adopts you girls had me in tears."

Brielle also responded to the questions about why she was sitting in her stepfather's lap, saying it had been a funny moment during Kroy's birthday celebrations.

"Honestly bc I had no where else to sit we were making jokes the whole time about him being Santa it was comedy," she wrote in response to one comment.

View this post on Instagram

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my best friend / best mom ever / lover ♥️ @kimzolciakbiermann i love you more than chickfila.. that’s a lot 💕

A post shared by brielle (@briellebiermann) on May 19, 2020 at 6:00pm PDT