Many people are upset by the 76-year-old actress for making the tone-deaf statement, with one person arguing, 'There are a million reasons why some women can't nurse at all.'
- May 14, 2022
AceShowbiz - Bette Midler has come under fire over her latest social media post. Having suggested mothers to breastfeed amid formula shortage, the "Hocus Pocus" star found herself being dubbed "stupid" and "uneducated" by online users.
The 76-year-old made the remark when commenting to MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle's post that read, "The baby formula shortage reveals an amazing secret oligopoly: - 3 American companies control over 90% of the mkt - hugely restrictive regulations (thanks to big $ lobbying) prohibit foreign formulas. Name another industry/sector/product like this." In response, the actress wrote, "TRY BREASTFEEDING! It's free and available on-demand."
Many have since rushed to the reply section to call Bette out over her tone-deaf suggestion. One person in particular argued, "This is truly something a stupid/uneducated person would say…." Another fumed, "A women who has not breastfed cannot just start breastfeeding on command. Your tweet is insulting to women. What should adoptive mothers do to feed infants? Adoptive/single fathers?"
"This is profoundly insensitive," a different user raged. "First, there are a million reasons why some women can't nurse at all, or can't nurse full time & supplement with formula. Second, women don't even need a 'reason'. She can decide not to just because she doesn't want to. Period."
The hate didn't stop there. A disappointed fan opined, "I love you Bette, but this is not okay. I fought to breastfeed my son, he kept losing weight, despite my best efforts, including lactation experts. It was emotional and I felt like a failure and at 3 months switched to formula, because of the stress it put on me and my son."
Bette seemingly have noticed the criticism. Setting the record straight, she explained in a follow-up tweet, "People are piling on because of former tweet. No shame if you can't breastfeed, but if you can & are somehow convinced that your own milk isn't as good as a 'scientifically researched product', that's something else again. The monopoly news is news to me, tho, no lie. #WETNURSES."
