news, latest-news

TIRED of the dirty looks and muttered comments of disapproval she got every time she breastfed her youngest child in public, musician Juliet Moody decided it was time to push back. But little did she and fellow Sparrow-Folk band member Catherine Crowley realise their light-hearted jab at the anti-breastfeeding crowd would become an online sensation. Their song, Ruin Your Day, hit 150,000 views during the week and has attracted praise from around the world. Moody, a mother of four whose youngest is 11 months old, said she had experienced discrimination while breastfeeding. ''I've got my fair share of comments under the breath or dirty looks but I've thankfully never been kicked out or told to go and sit on the toilet seat,'' she said. "It frustrated me that it was such an issue … and it made me step back and say, 'What is the real problem here?' And then we thought if we made it a bit of a joke that boobs are scary and frightening, it might make people think "OK, what is my actual problem with it - if I see someone feeding, what I am worried is going to happen to me?''' The school teacher and actor are a bit bemused by all the fuss after fielding media interviews from Sydney and congratulatory messages from Canada and the United States this week. "We're shocked and gobsmacked,'' Crowley said. ''We reached over 110,000 views online and we've had amazing comments.'' Overwhelmingly, the response has been positive. ''Some of our greatest idols have retweeted us. Tim Ferguson, Corrine Grant has got in contact … to have amazing comedians recognise your work is funny - it's just surreal,'' Moody said. Lyrics like ''Everybody knows new mothers are exhibitionists - Taking every chance they get to ruin your day with tits'' and ''Please don't offer me a blanket or a shawl - I'm happy for everyone to cop an eyeful'' had media personality Tracey Spicer writing to the pair to say she burst into spontaneous laughter in the middle of a shopping centre. ''When you've had a baby you can be anxious, and when you get a negative comment it can be difficult, so what we've tried to do is create something empowering,'' Moody said. Crowley hopes it will become the mantra for new mothers. ''Lots of people want it as their ring tone,'' she said. ''It's become an anthem and women have said they'll sing it next time they get a dirty look or comment.'' The video was produced in Canberra with Moody stripping off in local cafe Cupping Room.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/2711ae13-f215-4b80-bf49-cf52e67874a7.jpg/r2_0_728_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg