Carolyn Robertson
posted in CelebritiesWhen it comes to breastfeeding, Alyssa Milano is one tough mama.
The former Mistresses star, who has kids Milo, 4, and Elizabella, 16 months, with her husband Dave Bugliari, isn't shy about sharing her nursing experience - and passionately defending it when necessary. The 43-year-old actress did just that during an appearance on The Wendy Williams Show this week.
"Alyssa recently caused controversy because she was breastfeeding," Wendy began, an Instagram shot of Alyssa nursing her baby appearing on the screen behind them (see it here!). "The picture went on social media and a lot of people thought it was way too much."
"I've been posting pictures of my breastfeeding journey since Elizabella was a little baby, and in some of them you see more than that one," Alyssa explained. "I was surprised by the reaction and I was surprised that I was then put in this position of being a breastfeeding advocate, which I love and I take that job with a lot of responsibility. But it was kind of shocking that we were that opinionated about something that's supposed to be so incredibly natural."
When Wendy admitted that she was among those "opinionated" people - "It makes me very uncomfortable," she said - that's when the debate really heated up.
"I don't need to see that," Wendy said, when asked by Alyssa to explain her negative response. "Because I just don't want to."
"Would you eat under a blanket?" Alyssa countered.
"What I would do is I would go to the car..." said the talk show host.
Seemingly stunned, Alyssa replied, "Okay, now I have a question for you. Why is it okay to show a picture of Miley Cyrus with two suspenders over her breasts and it's not okay [to show a breastfeeding mom]? Maybe you've sexualized breasts so that [seeing the Miley picture is] okay but [breastfeeding is not]."
"Yes", admitted Wendy, who said she breastfed her own son for two weeks. "They're more sexual than a feeding thing, and I don't know why I feel this way. I'm a mom also, but breastfeeding is only a particular amount of time. The rest of your life, your breasts are sexual things.... they're the fun bags!"
"But biologically they're not made for sexual things, that's what we've done to them. You have to realize that all over the world [this is normal]. You're the 'not normal,'" Alyssa noted, laughing, "You're lucky the baby's not here, I'd whip 'em out right here and feed her on your show."
In the end the two agreed to disagree, with Wendy finally conceding, "I know it's my issue."
Nicely done, Alyssa. She may not have applied for the job of breastfeeding advocate, but she does it very well nonetheless. I admire her for standing up for something she obviously feels passionately about it, and for doing it in such an intelligent and respectful way.
As for Wendy, while I completely disagree with her point of view, she's entitled to it, and I think she tried to express it in a civil way as well. But "I don't need to see that" and "Because I just don't want to" aren't very convincing arguments. I think I'd have to give this round to Alyssa.
This isn't the first time that Alyssa has publicly stood up for the right to breastfeed. In 2014 she urged moms to "break the internet" by sharing their own nursing images. "There are a whole lot of boobies on my Twitter stream," she wrote at the time. "Thanks for sharing, mamas. Thank you for your support. #normalizebreastfeeding"
What do you think of Alyssa and Wendy's exchange?
Some other celebs who have spoken out about breastfeeding...
Photo: PR Photos
No comments:
Post a Comment