Rihanna, Emily Ratajkowski, Ashley Graham and Chrissy Teigen are among a growing number of celebs posting social media pictures of themselves breastfeeding their children — riding a new online trend called the “brelfie.”
And while some celebrate the stars for normalizing the public nursing of children, some uptight observers can’t help but shame them for showcasing the perfectly natural act.
Rihanna, 35, shared the revealing snaps on the Savage X Fenty Instagram account yesterday — the “Work” singer was breastfeeding her first son with A$ap Rocky, 1-year-old RZA, while wearing one of her Savage X Maternity bras.
The chanteuse and business mogul is currently pregnant with her second child
“Not ur mama’s maternity bras … designed by @badgalriri, approved by baby RZA #SavageXMaternity,” reads the caption on the post, which already has thousands of likes.
Rihanna’s followers were mostly thrilled by the photo, and by the ingenious contraption the star was sporting, designed for quick feedings.
“I remember in 2020 when I was breastfeeding I was like damn Riri needs to sell us fashionable maternity bras 😩. Now I need another baby,” one mom wrote.
“I’m so glad I’m waiting to have children. By the time I’m pregnant Rihanna will have made all the accessories for me and my baby to be dope as hell 😂,” said another.
Model-actress Emily Ratajkowski, 32, has also shared photos of herself breastfeeding. In 2021, the first-time mom uploaded a sweet snap of herself with her son. She shares Sylvester Apollo Bear, now 2, with estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. Since being posted, the photo has amassed 2 million likes.
“If it seems like I’m always breastfeeding it’s because I am,” she wrote.
Unlike Rihanna, who had supportive social media commenters, Ratajkowski found herself being sexualized and shamed by fans.
“Hey how about sharing some of that,” wrote one perv
“👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 you don’t have to post this on the internet 🤦🏻♀️,” another wrote on the “My Body” author’s post.
Model Ashley Graham, mom of three, has posted several images of herself breastfeeding her now-2-year-old twins, whom she had with husband Justin Irvin.
Last year, Graham shared a pic of herself breastfeeding along with the caption, “Double fisting 😂 (peep the whacky tan lines).” Since being posted that photo has been liked over 800,000 times. In another breastfeeding snap posted shortly after, captioned “tired but we’re here,” she got over 900,000 likes.
“Love this. Love, sacrifice and realness all in a picture🧡,” wrote a supportive fan.
“Unfortunately, a lot of women have no respect for themselves 🙏,” said one judgmental follower.
Ashley Graham has been open online about her breastfeeding journey, and in February shared her decision to stop breastfeeding her twins when they were five months old.
“With my first kid, I was like, ‘I can only breastfeed! This is the right way!’” she said of first son Isaac. “Then I had the twins, and I was like, ‘I’m not doing this. This is not working here. Both of you want both of these? This is a lot of work,’” she told Chelsea Handler on “The Daily Show” earlier this year.
Her decision to stop breastfeeding also drew criticism — which Graham has no trouble shaking off.
“I don’t think we should be telling people how we should be feeding our kids,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, model and social media habitué Chrissy Teigen, 37, is also a member of the “brelfie” club.
“Esti has another bestie: the Haakaa Ladybug Silicone Breast Milk Collector! It is the perfect breast pad alternative for moms who want to save every drop of leakage and letdown instead of soaking it up. #haakaapartner @haakaanz @haakaausa,” Teigen captioned along with a photo of herself breastfeeding her 7-month-old daughter Esti in May that has over 300,000 likes.
Some social media commenters thanked her for being open about breastfeeding.
“Thank you for not ‘covering up,’ None of us should have to,” said one.
“4 nanny’s though c’mon,” a judgmental troll sniped.
