Sara McGinnis
posted in CelebritiesJamie Oliver has gotten an earful over his recent comments about breastfeeding.
Appearing on British station LBC the celebrity chef made it clear he's a nursing supporter by stating, "We have the worst breastfeeding in the world. If you breastfeed for more than six months, women are 50% less likely to get breast cancer. When do you ever hear that? Never. It’s easy, it’s more convenient, it’s more nutritious, it’s better, it’s free."
Though no one seems to be arguing his facts are incorrect, Jamie's comments are rubbing people the wrong way.
A columnist The Guardian reacted to the comments by writing, “It’s not Jamie Oliver’s job to lecture us that breast is best.”
Another mom also chimed in by adding via Twitter, “Wow, if only I’d had Jamie Oliver to tell me breastfeeding was easy and convenient when my baby wouldn’t latch and got dehydrated!”
In response to the backlash mentioned above (plus more comments received), Jamie Oliver posted the following message on Twitter:
"I’m not planning on starting a campaign around breastfeeding...It’s simply an area of interest following my nutritional studies over the last two years. I understand that breastfeeding is often not easy and in some cases not even possible but just wanted to support women who DO woman to breastfeed and make it easier for them to do so."
The father of Daisy Boo Pamela, Petal Blossom Rainbow, Poppy Honey Rosie, Buddy Bear Maurice (and a fifth baby on the way), went on to add:
"As a father – and father-to-be – I would never wish to offend women or mums as I know how incredible they are and I would get a kicking when I got home! Jamie."
Meanwhile, a writer at The Telegraph has covered Jamie's controversial comments in a post titled: "Jamie Oliver needs to stop mansplaining breastfeeding to women - and get back to the kitchen."
Yikes. Do I need to mention at this point this seems to be a sensitive subject? For the record, I'm not one who believes dad doesn't get any say in how baby is fed. It's a tricky subject, for sure, but not one I think ought to be automatically closed to discussion based on a parent's genitals.
Can we all not just take a step back for a moment and at least imagine he had the best of intentions at heart? I know full well breastfeeding isn't possible for everyone, but the "breast is best" campaign has been running for years now. Why the disruption when a man echoes the message?
I agree it's not his job to lecture anyone -- heck, I honestly don't even really know who Jamie Oliver is aside from a British chef who admirably sticks by his taste for flower/odd names for his children -- but so what if he's a breastfeeding advocate? Sweet goodness, I can't imagine this is the worst thing a famous man has ever said about having and raising babies.
There's a very fine line to walk when it comes to supporting breastfeeding but not alienating those who choose not to or aren't able to. Perhaps Jamie's comments on the upside of nursing would have gone over better if he'd taken a moment to be more clear he understands there are more sides to the situation in the first place?
And because I just have to ask....what name do you suggest for Jamie and wife Jools' fifth baby?
Photos: PR Photos
A look at the polls stacked up when 200,000 people asked about these controversial parenting topics:
No comments:
Post a Comment