A mother who took her baby to see the film Bad Moms has recently been inundated with online harassment and even death threats. Recently, a report emerged about a group of moms who were asked to leave a late-night screening because they brought their infants along and were breastfeeding. One of these moms, Mia Thompson, spoke about the overwhelming negativity she has faced since the incident.
“I never imagined this would escalate to such a huge conversation,” Mia shared. “We only posted on social media to inform our friends about what happened, and we never expected it to go viral.”
Mia and about 50 other mothers from a Facebook group decided to have a fun night out by attending the movie. They purchased their tickets in advance, only to be told upon arrival that children under six were prohibited from R-rated films. The infants were calm, peacefully sleeping, but the theater staff insisted that it was inappropriate for them to be there.
Although the moms agreed to see Ice Age instead, they decided to sneak into Bad Moms, likely because they felt the rule was unreasonable. After all, it seems illogical that a sleeping baby can’t attend an R-rated film, but a six-year-old, who might fully grasp the content, can. Trouble started when staff entered the theater to remove another mom, Sarah Johnson, for having her baby with her. Mia stood by her friend and asked to speak with a manager, but when Mia began to breastfeed her baby, she was told by the manager to “cover up or leave.”
“My baby was so well-behaved. She slept through most of the movie,” Mia explained. “We are considerate moms who wouldn’t let our babies disrupt anyone’s night. We hesitated to come out at all because we didn’t want to be a hassle, but our friends encouraged us to go.”
Unfortunately, the online response was far from supportive. Many people took to social media to criticize the mothers, arguing that they were entitled. “I’ve received comments saying I should lose my children or that I deserve to die,” Mia recounted. “It’s mind-boggling that strangers think they know anything about me as a mom.”
Despite the backlash, Mia noted that breastfeeding was the reason the infants were present at the movie in the first place. “I was shocked by the horrible things people were saying. It was hard to eat, sleep, or function,” she said, highlighting how the situation affected her mental health. “People were harassing me online and even in public. It’s absurd that we’re being attacked for simply going to a movie about motherhood.”
The irony is stark: while it’s deemed inappropriate to bring a sleeping baby to a film, it’s perfectly acceptable to attack breastfeeding mothers online. Many commentators voiced their opinions, with some insisting that bringing an infant to a theater is unacceptable. “If you can’t pump enough milk to leave your baby for a couple of hours, then just go to an earlier showing,” one commenter stated, completely missing the point.
Instead of supporting one another, these mothers are facing judgment for trying to enjoy a night out. “We just wanted to see a movie about the challenges of motherhood,” said Sarah. “It’s shocking that the very community that understands postpartum struggles is tearing us down.”
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Summary
Mia Thompson and her friends faced severe online backlash, including threats, after they were asked to leave an R-rated screening of Bad Moms for bringing their babies and breastfeeding. The incident sparked a heated conversation about motherhood, support, and judgment, revealing a surprising lack of solidarity among women.