Vanessa Feltz's Channel 5 show has been hit with 1856 Ofcom complaints over a segment about breastfeeding. Vanessa used to be a regular guest on This Morning but she has since moved to Channel 5 and hosts her own eponymous show.
During a chat with fashion designer Karen Millen last week, she was asked on her opinion about whether it was OK to breastfeed a three-year-old child. Karen, 63, then remarked: "There’s no benefit, is there, for a child to be breastfed beyond six months really." She added: "I think it’s quite a selfish thing on the mother’s part."
When asked to explain what she meant, she added: "I just think that’s not good emotionally for that child. I mean, what does that child do later in life? The attachment – like you say it becomes an addiction and an addiction for that child too because they only know the boob. It’s just not normal, is it? I’m sorry, I find it very weird."
Viewers were left fuming over the comment. One wrote: "Karen Millen is an uneducated t**t with an unwanted opinion. It’s a scientific fact that breastfeeding is beneficial for babies beyond even the age of one. It’s a mother’s prerogative to decide how she feeds her baby and for how long."
Another added: "Karen Millen, just because you can design clothes doesn’t make you more educated than anyone on anything, when you’re on national television you have a responsibility of not talking absolute BS on stuff you’re not educated in. Therefore keep your disgusting opinions to yourself."
Following her appearance on the show, Karen issued an apology on her social media. She wrote: "The question was aimed at a three-year-old being breastfed and my thoughts on that and my answers reflected that, not the subject of breastfeeding.
"And as a woman to women, I do respect your choices and I do want to support you. Whatever you do, remember you know best about what's right for you and your baby."
The NHS advises that those who can and want to should exclusively breastfeed their baby for sixth months. They also advise they can continue to do so for two years and beyond if they wish as well as giving their child other foods.
Benefits of breast feeding include protecting the baby from diseases and infections, always being convenient and ready to use (rather than having to sterilise etc) and being a way of helping to bond with the child.
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