Mother in tears after being called a 'slut' by two customers for breastfeeding her son in Costa coffee
- Rhea Holley verbally abused by couple in their 60s as she fed baby Arthur
- 27-year-old was in 'breastfeeding friendly' Costa Coffee in Purley, London
- Baristas 'reprimanded' the couple who had called Mrs Holley 'disgusting'
- New mother praises staff after being left in 'floods of tears' over the abuse
A new mother was left in floods of tears after being called a ‘slut’ by two customers for breastfeeding in Costa coffee.
Rhea
Holley was with a friend, both with new babies, in Costa Coffee in
Purley, south London, when her son Arthur began to cry for a feed.
The
27-year-old, from Faversham in Kent, said she knew that Costa Coffee
was ‘breast-feeding friendly’ and so she started to feed her 11-month
old.
Within
seconds, however, a couple sitting nearby started calling her a ‘slut’
and telling her she was ‘disgusting’ and that her feeding the baby in
public was ‘offensive’.
Mrs Holley said she was left in ‘floods of tears’ after being abused by the couple, who were in their 60s.
Said she spoke to Costa Coffee workers, who ‘reprimanded the couple’, telling them breastfeeding was allowed in public.
One
barista told the couple that The Equality Act 2010 bans anyone asking a
breast-feeding woman to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or
public transport and warned them to stop being abusive.
Speaking
after the incident in Brighton Road, Purley, mother-of-one Rhea said:
'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".'
Support: Staff at this Costa Coffee in Purley, south London, pictured, 'reprimanded the couple'
who had made the abusive remarks to new mother Rhea Holley
Rhea Holley, pictured right with son Arthur,
praised staff at Costa Coffee (file picture left) for supporting her
after she was branded 'disgusting' by a pair of elderly customers while
she was breast-feeding
Speaking
about the barista and Costa staff, who ‘told off’ the couple, she said:
'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.'
A spokesman for Costa said: 'Mothers bring in children of all ages to Costa and they are always warmly welcomed by us.
'We
have always been very happy for mothers to breast-feed in our stores
offering a family-friendly environment that is the perfect place for
mums to relax with their children.'
HOW THE EQUALITY ACT AIMED TO PROTECT BREAST FEEDING MOTHERS
The
Equality Act 2010 made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding
woman to leave a public place such as a cafe, shop or public transport
It states that a business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age.
In Government guidelines, companies are advised to make sure women they are providing a service to 'are allowed to breast feed on your premises if they want to'.
It also advises that staff are trained to understand the rights of breast feeding mothers.
Under the Act 2010, discriminating against someone because they are with a breastfeeding mother is also prohibited.
It states that a business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age.
In Government guidelines, companies are advised to make sure women they are providing a service to 'are allowed to breast feed on your premises if they want to'.
It also advises that staff are trained to understand the rights of breast feeding mothers.
Under the Act 2010, discriminating against someone because they are with a breastfeeding mother is also prohibited.
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