A California mother who was allegedly shamed for breastfeeding while visiting Disneyland sparked controversy when she fought back.
Brittni Medina says she was enjoying the theme park with her husband and their 10-month-old son when her baby grew hungry, Daily Mail reports.
“I was standing in a very long line to get our picture taken my son got hungry and I wasn’t going to wait in another line again,” Medina wrote in a November 18 Facebook post. “So I took off my first top and nursed.”
According to Medina, two women standing nearby began to make “snarky comments.”
In response, Medina continued to feed her child and even took a photo of the women, saying in her Facebook post that she did so “not for attention for me but attention to the fact NO WOMEN SHOULD BE SHAMED FOR FEEDING THEIR BABY UNCOVERED.”
The photo quickly went viral, drawing more than 6,500 reactions, 1,000 comments and 900 shares in a span of just three days.
Many praised the mother and deemed her a hero. However, not all of the comments were positive.
Some found the photo problematic and hypocritical.
A few just didn’t like how exposed Medina was, while others wondered if she was simply seeking attention.
“I am sorry, but I was a breastfeeding mother and love it and thought it was a best thing,” chimed in a mother. “But I think you can have consideration for other people. You can nurse a baby and still cover up.”
Some argued Medina was unfairly shaming the women without knowing their real intentions — which may have been true.
One commenter claimed to be one of the “outraged” women in the photo. She said she didn’t even realize Medina was breastfeeding; rather they were just “hungry and tired,” hence the facial expression.
“I’m very sorry if my face looks like I was judging anyone,” the commentor wrote. “I am a very self conscious person already and reading your comments and other post comments it hurts me and I would never judge anyone like that.”
As a result, some slammed Medina for the post.
However, one defended both the women and the mother.
“No one should be shamed here either way,” commented another. “As a breastfeeding mother, we’re not in it for any attention…we’re just trying to feed our baby. But shaming these two women this way, when you didn’t even talk to them first — that’s just as bad as what you accused them of doing. Why can no one mind their business these days??”