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Watch: Alyssa Milano Speaks Out About Public Breastfeeding


By Jennifer McShane
07th Jan 2016
Watch: Alyssa Milano Speaks Out About Public Breastfeeding

Charmed star?Alyssa Milano has been very vocal about her decision to breastfeed both her children and has actively been documenting her journey via her Instagram account. She has previously spoken about it in an attempt to try to try to quell the judgement women who breastfeed have had to endure. The 42-year-old is a mother-of-two with her husband David Bugliari, an agent with the Creative Artists Agency. She became a mother last year to Elizabella and still breastfeeds her 16-month-old daughter. She also has a four-year-old son, Milo.

The actress chose to speak out on the topic of public breastfeeding ?after appearing on a US talk show with Wendy Williams. Williams, the host, said she didn’t believe in public breastfeeding after Milano posted the below picture to her social media account.

Almost 16 months of breastfeeding Elizabella. It’s been one of the greatest joys in my life to breastfeed my babies. #normalizebreastfeeding

A photo posted by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) on


While Milano?explained she’s become “a breastfeeding advocate” and as a public figure, she wants to help normalise breastfeeding, the talk show host didn’t share her views on the topic?”I don’t need to see that,” Williams said. “Because, I just don’t want to.”

Milano countered her argument by saying that women wouldn’t “eat under blankets” and was visibly shocked when the host said she would go to the car and do it instead. Milano then pointed out?that she didn’t deem it acceptable that women’s bodies were criticised for doing their natural, biological function, when many pop stars could?bare their breasts in a sexual manner without judgment as Miley Cyrus, for example, frequently does.?”Breastfeeding is only a particular amount of time, [but] the rest of your life, your breasts are sexual things,” Williams’said.

“But biologically, they’re not made for sexual things,” the actress said. “That’s what we’ve done to them.”

#tbt 2014 Wonder Woman! #normalizebreastfeeding

A photo posted by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) on

She isn’t budging from her stance on the matter, which is admirable and last year said that any online backlash she receives only spurs her to keep breastfeeding, adding that it was important that women see it as a “natural and positive act.” She isn’t the only public figure?to have this view. Blake Lively and Olivia Wilde are also both advocates.

While the topic of breastfeeding will always be fraught with tensions, equally important is to point out that women shouldn’t be shamed for opting for either choice; if you want to, you should be able to do so without backlash and the same applies?if you choose not?to. Model Coco Rocha was subjected to much online abuse for opting not to breastfeed her baby – which is just not on. The main thing is that you and your baby are happy and healthy; nobody else’s opinion matters.

Watch the interview below and skip to the 4.40 mark: