Mom Claps Back at Trolls Who Criticized Her for Breastfeeding 16-Month-Old Daughter in the Middle of a Music Festival

"I think people are perpetuating the idea that breastfeeding and motherhood means your life has to stop," the mom said of the negative comments she's received

NEED TO KNOW

• A London mom brought her 16-month-old daughter to a music festival earlier this month
• She shared a video on TikTok of herself breastfeeding the toddler while dancing at the event
• She received a flood of critical comments, with some people telling her it was “wrong” and “not appropriate”

A mom shared what she believed was a heartwarming video of herself breastfeeding her child while happily dancing at a music festival — only to receive a flood of critical comments telling her it was inappropriate.

Tayah Ettienne, a 33-year-old singer from London, said she was thrilled to be out and enjoying some live music at the event after "barely leaving" her home since her daughter Aaliyana's birth 16 months ago, per Kennedy News and Media. As it was a "family-friendly" festival, she decided to bring Aaliyana.

"I'm a singer, so music is obviously my life and career, and I love festivals," Ettienne explained. "I hadn't been out since having [my daughter]. This was a private, invite-only festival. Most people knew each other."

"We were all having a really nice time," she recalled. "The whole thing was great, and [Aaliyana] absolutely loved it."

At one point during the festival, Ettienne was holding her daughter while dancing to the music in the dancing tent. She said Aaliyana suddenly "just leaned down and got my boob out, which she does quite a lot."

The 16-month-old began nursing while Ettienne carried on dancing. "Then, we were just dancing while she was having the boob, and she was laughing and smiling at me," the mother said, adding that no one in the tent appeared to have any issues with her breastfeeding.

"There was nothing weird from anyone," she said. "Everyone there is completely normal and okay with a woman breastfeeding."

Ettienne's friend filmed the sweet bonding moment between mother and child, and Ettienne decided to share the video on TikTok, where it quickly garnered more than 700,000 views.

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But then came the negative comments.

"Not very appropriate is it mate," one person wrote, while another said, "Stop the clock that is wrong."

Ettienne said she was "shocked" by the criticism.

"Once the negative [comments] ones started, they just didn't stop. I got upset by some of them," she shared. "I think it's really sad that [people said they found it uncomfortable to watch]."

Ettienne continued, "I think people are perpetuating the idea that breastfeeding and motherhood means your life has to stop. And that you can't be a good mother while having hobbies and having fun. I think children always benefit from seeing their parents happy and fulfilled."

She accused her critics of being "terrified of boobs and nudity."

"They constantly want to sexualize women's bodies," she said. "There's nothing sexual about it — it's a function."

Ettienne said she also received backlash for bringing Aaliyana to the music festival in the first place.

"She wouldn't be at an event that wasn't for children," she insisted.

Ettienne also said she doesn't think people should be "judging someone's capacity to be a parent," especially based on such a short clip.

Amid the criticism, the U.K. mom also received many supportive comments from people urging her to ignore the negativity.

One person cheered her on, writing, "Go moma." Another commented, "It's always 'don't lose yourself in motherhood' until you actually keep your life going. Don't listen to these comments, girl, you're doing amazing."

It seems Ettienne's taken the positive feedback to heart, as she said the negative comments won't deter her from bringing her daughter along for other such musical outings in the future.

"It's absolutely not put me off bringing her to festivals in the future," she said.

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