A breastfeeding mother says she was shamed on Facebook and Instagram for nursing her son at a T.G.I. Friday’s in Terre Haute, Indiana. Conner Kendall says she was unknowingly photographed while breastfeeding her baby in public . She also said that the man who snapped the photo also shared it repeatedly on social media. He was a total stranger to Kendall and was sitting three tables away. He posted the following status update.
Conner Kendall, the breastfeeding mother, also used Facebook as a platform , but she kept his name and image out of the discussion. She says in her retort, “I’m not bashing like I was bashed.”
“He snapped the photo and then put it up on social media (Facebook and Instagram), many of the comments that followed were nothing less than harassing and shameful to, not only me, but every past, present, and future nursing mother,” Kendall wrote on Facebook about the man who photographed her at T.G.I. Friday’s. “Over the course of a couple or hours it was taken down and reposted multiple times before it was finally deleted. I was really very hurt by this act, because I was in no way bothering him, so what gave him the right to shame me?”
Kendall says that she sent him a private message in response to his public shaming over her breastfeeding at T.G.I. Friday’s.
“I just wanted to let you know that I am the mother who was breastfeeding my son at TGI Fridays today. I am also the woman that you felt the need to take a picture of while I was doing so. Then proceed to post said picture on social media in a shameful manner. As I was admiring how adorable your daughter was, you were posting pictures of me on Facebook and Instagram.”
Kendall went on to explain that the man who posted the photo of her breastfeeding at T.G.I. Friday’s on his social media accounts showed his true colors. Kendall also explained that with his alleged attempt to ridicule and shame her , he has given her a platform to advocate “ferociously” for breastfeeding.
“You’ve inspired me into a call of action. Rest assured, there will be action. Not only by me, the one you violated, but others like me who feel you violated them and their rights. Those that you are degrading by shaming the act of feeding their child. How I pity those who would actually belittle a mother for taking care of her child.”
Conner Kendall added that the man also challenged her character.
“You’ve given me the opportunity to display what kind of person that I truly am during a time of negativity. I now know that I am strong, you didn’t break me, in fact you made me stronger,” the breastfeeding mother wrote.
She added that she is legally supported. Kendall is completely protected by Indiana law. The Indiana State Department implicitly states on its website that the State of Indiana supports breastfeeding.
“ Ind. Code § 16-35-6 allows a woman to breastfeed her child anywhere the law allows her to be.”
Kendall wrote that it is illegal to share photos of children without their parents’ permission. Still, the ACLU says photographing anything in public is a constitutional right and lawyer Ruth Carter agrees . On the other hand, the Indiana Supreme Court once defined the tort of invasion of privacy as using someone’s personality [including photographs] in order to cause shame or humiliation. So, according to the assertions in a Digital Media Law Project report, he could be held accountable in a civil suit for what he did with the photograph, or she could also allege harassment. Meanwhile, most websites, as non-individuals , will remove a child’s photo if a parent requests its removal so as not to risk violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act from their end.
Inquisitr wants your opinion. Was the man who took the photograph actually trying to get people’s opinion on whether or not breastfeeding at T.G.I. Friday’s is allowed or was he just trying to shame Conner Kendall on social media?