Family discovers plastic “baby”
The elaborate act was exposed when Kira’s mother found the doll, named Bonnie-Leigh Joyce, in her daughter’s bedroom. The family, who had believed the pregnancy was real, were left shocked and heartbroken. They had even purchased expensive gifts for the expected child.
Kira’s online confession
Following the revelation, Kira addressed the controversy on TikTok, saying she felt trapped in the lie and didn’t know how to end it.
“In my own words let’s set this straight. I was in bed when my mother came into my room and found it to be a doll,” she wrote.
“Prior to this, I had been keeping myself away from literally everyone. The next thing I know, I was confronted by all the family. Don’t for one minute think they let me away with this, they haven’t.”
She added, “And none of them knew. Neither did the dad and his family.”
Friends suspected something was off
Kira’s friend, Neave McRobert, said people had grown suspicious after realising no one had ever heard the baby cry. According to McRobert, Kira often avoided visitors, claiming the baby was unwell or recently taken to the hospital.“I noticed Kira had deleted every picture and video of Bonnie-Leigh from our chats. I asked her why and she ignored me. I then asked the baby’s dad ‘Is this a doll?’ and he said, ‘Yes, it’s a doll,’” McRobert said in a video statement filmed on 16 October.
“She even went to the extreme of texting him, saying, ‘Bonnie-Leigh died.’”
Online reaction and concern
The story quickly spread on social media, drawing mixed reactions from users. Many expressed concern for Kira’s mental well-being and urged her to seek professional help. Others criticised the deception, saying it caused unnecessary emotional distress to family and friends.
McRobert summed up the collective shock, saying, “I can’t imagine how he must feel right now and everyone else who has been lied to for months and months. Everybody believed her. She had a gender reveal, she posted scan photos and even said the baby had a hole in its heart. Then she texted me saying the baby was born. We were all so happy.”
