Mother Rhea Holley, who was visiting Croydon, UK with her 11-month-old son Arthur, was reportedly humiliated in public after she was called a “slut” by a nearby couple inside a Costa Coffee in Purley because she was breastfeeding her hungry son inside the cafe.

Holley, 27, told the Croydon Advertiser that she was left in a “flood of tears” after two customers — a couple — called her a “slut” inside the crowded coffee shop. According to Rhea Holley, her son was initially asleep inside the cafe. When he suddenly woke up very upset, Holley hushed 11-month-old Arthur by breastfeeding him. The cafe crowd didn’t seem to mind, except for one couple, who publicly described Rhea Holley a “slut” and her motherly act “disgusting.”

Rhea Holley comes from Kent and was visiting a friend in the town. She was with her friend at Costa Coffee when the humiliating event happened. Holley described the incident as follows:

“Arthur was asleep at the time so I went in and ordered us some drinks and cake. While we sat there Arthur woke up and he was quite upset and so I started to breast-feed him. A couple were on a table that was facing in such a way that they did not have to look at me. I heard one of them say ‘it is disgusting’, that I know what time babies should be fed and should stay at home then, and that I was a ‘slut’.”

Holley’s friend reportedly confronted the couple, who were believed to be around their sixties. However, the seniors only emphasized their previous point, reiterating that they were offended by what Holley had done inside the cafeteria.

Thankfully, Costa Coffee’s staff sided with Rhea Holley. The mother found comfort in the barista and the manager of the coffee shop, who reminded customers that Costa Coffee is a breastfeeding-friendly place as per company policy. Rhea Holley expressed her gratitude and admiration for the coffee place’s management:

“It was so good of them, not only to stand by the law [on breast-feeding] but also to be so supportive of someone feeling so upset.”

On breastfeeding her son, Rhea Holley concluded with the following comments:

“Arthur is 11 months old so I can shrug this off but if there was somebody with a newborn it would be really damaging. Babies don’t have a schedule — any normal person that goes out is not going to know when they will want a glass of water — why should a baby be any different? Women should not be made to feel like they have to stay in.”

[Image from Croydon Advertiser]