Heather Rae El Moussa responds to criticism after leaving out her stepdaughter Taylor in Valentine's Day post

Heather Rae El Moussa responded to the backlash she faced after she did not include her stepdaughter in her Valentine’s Day post on Wednesday.

The following day, the 36-year-old reality TV star took to her Instagram Stories to share a photo of herself posing with her stepdaughter, Tarek El Moussa’s daughter Taylor.

She shared a video of her and her husband supporting the 13-year-old at one of her volleyball games and wrote: ‘Go Tay!!! My forever Galentine.’

Over a photo of Heather and Taylor hugging, she seemingly addressed the backlash and wrote: ‘We close our ears to the pettiness.’

The model — who celebrated her and Tarek’s son Tristan’s first birthday at Disneyland earlier this month — added, ‘We strive for positivity only. My girl knows she’s my #1 gal.’

Heather Rae El Moussa responded to the backlash she faced after she did not include her stepdaughter in her Valentine’s Day post on Wednesday. The following day, the 36-year-old reality TV star took to her Instagram Stories to share a photo of herself posing with her stepdaughter, Tarek El Moussa’s daughter Taylor

She shared a video of her and her husband supporting the 13-year-old at one of her volleyball games and wrote: ‘Go Tay!!! My forever Galentine.’

The day before, the Selling Sunset vet shared a Valentine’s Day post dedicated to her husband Tarek, their one-year-old son Tristan as well as Tarek’s eight-year-old son Brayden.

She posted a series of throwback photos and wrote a lengthy caption dedicated to ‘my boys’.

‘Happy Valentine’s Day to my boys T, T & B,’ she began. ‘I have never felt so much love in my life.

‘All three keep me on my toes but I wouldn’t want it any other way,’ she continued.

Then, she tagged Tarek and wrote: ‘I am so thankful to have you as my husband, my best friend and my partner.’

She gushed: ‘You are my person, and the best daddy I could’ve ever asked for.

‘I love you very much honey and I love you Tristan and Bray.’

Many Instagram users took to her comments section to point out that she did not include Taylor, who Tarek shares with ex Christina Hall.

The day before, the Selling Sunset vet shared a Valentine’s Day post dedicated to her husband Tarek, their one-year-old son Tristan as well as Tarek’s eight-year-old son Brayden. She posted a series of throwback photos and wrote a lengthy caption dedicated to ‘my boys’

Tarek shares Taylor, 13, and Brayden, eight, with ex Christina Hall. He welcomed his first child, one-year-old son Tristan, with Heather last year

Many Instagram users took to her comments section to point out that she did not include Taylor

Several comments were from users asking Heather why the post was only dedicated to her husband and sons

One user wrote that it was ‘not right’ to not include Taylor

One person wrote: ‘Where’s your wish for Taylor?!’

‘I love seeing these family posts,’ another commented. ‘But question why Taylor is missing. She could at least be mentioned. Really hope all is ok.’

‘You can wish a girl happy Valentine’s too. Sad to just say the male kids,’ one user wrote.

‘I cannot believe you chose to alienate Taylor on Valentine’s Day,’ another said. ‘That is SAD.’

Others came to Heather’s defense and said she did not have bad intentions.

‘Come on everyone, Taylor obviously wasn’t with them,’ one comment read. ‘Heather would never intentionally leave her out, she wasn’t there, and so she didn’t mention her. Heather is a great stepmom.’

Heather also previously told Today.com about how Taylor has a say in what photos of her are shared on social media.

Back in June 2023, she told the outlet: She’s a teenager now and she’ll be like, “I don’t love my hair in that picture” [or] “please don’t post that one”.’