Don't assume the parent is the top-level message element.

src/converse-chatview.js

@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
                                "Output has been shortened."),
                             true, true);
                     }
-                    return $(template(
+                    var $msg = $(template(
                         _.extend(this.getExtraMessageTemplateAttributes(attrs), {
                             'msgid': attrs.msgid,
                             'sender': attrs.sender,
@@ -346,9 +346,12 @@
                             'username': username,
                             'extra_classes': extra_classes
                         })
-                        )).find('.chat-msg-content').first().text(text)
+                    ));
+                    $msg.find('.chat-msg-content').first()
+                        .text(text)
                         .addHyperlinks()
-                            .addEmoticons(converse.visible_toolbar_buttons.emoticons).parent();
+                        .addEmoticons(converse.visible_toolbar_buttons.emoticons);
+                    return $msg;
                 },
 
                 showHelpMessages: function (msgs, type, spinner) {