Holly Willoughby clashed with a This Morning guest during a debate about breastfeeding – with angry viewers also sharing her views.
The discussion followed a Mother’s Day rant by pub visitor Sheldon Sparks who complained about a woman breastfeeding in public.
This Morning guest Nilufer Atik said: “It’s a beautiful and natural thing but they don’t always cover up. It can sometimes be a shock. He didn’t feel it was appropriate visibly.”
Holly and Phil were outraged by her comments. Holly hit back: “If you were to stand in the pub with your breasts out that is weird… but she was breastfeeding her child.
“And breastfeeding is not that easy, it’s really difficult. Some babies, if you cover them up, they can’t feed.”
Phil added: “It’s not that difficult to avert your eyes. Sheldon should grow up.”
Sheldon’s post about breastfeeding went viral after he wrote: “When is it acceptable to take a five-week old baby to one of the busiest pubs in North Street, then have two large glasses of wine, and then think it is appropriate to flop a breast out in the middle of a very busy pub and so say feed it.”
He added: “Unfortunately I really don’t think there would be much milk it would be receiving, more like 14 per cent Pinot Grigio.”
Viewers were quick to agree with Holly and Phil. “#ThisMorning Breastfeeding is perfectly natural and story’s [sic] like this is the reason it’s hard for Mothers to do this in public…DISGUSTING,” wrote one viewer.
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“@thismorning why should women be shamed about breastfeeding in public, it’s 2017 get a grip #ThisMorning #breastfeeding,” added another.
Male viewers also joined in. “Listening to @thismorning on #breastfeeding, ” wrote Mark Hodkinson. “Can’t believe people still have a problem with it in public. Who cares?! Crack on #mums.”
Listening to @thismorning on #breastfeeding. Can't believe people still have a problem with it in public. Who cares?! Crack on #mums!
— Mark Hodkinson (@mark_hodkinson) March 29, 2017
Others were also annoyed with Nilufer’s words. “That woman on @thismorning talking about breastfeeding was ridiculous. She is one of the reasons why people are nervous to do it!”, wrote one This Morning fan.
https://twitter.com/icklejaynie3/status/846766188566921217
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Another viewer admitted that she felt people were judging her when she was breastfeeding. “One reason why i stopped breastfeeding because i was so ashamed of doing it in public well done her for doing it in the public!” she wrote.