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13th June 2025
11:52am BST
Designer Karen Millen has issued an apology after claiming breastfeeding after six months is not normal.
Millen came under fire after slating a mother who was breastfeeding her three-year-old child.
Millen made the comments during an appearance on Channel 5 this week. She was discussing a viral story about a mother in America who still breastfeeds her three-year-old.
"There's no benefit, is there, for a child to be breastfed beyond six months, really. I think it's quite a selfish thing on the mother's part.
She continued, "I just think that's not good emotionally for that child. I mean, what does that child do later in life?"
Millen admitted she thought it was a "very weird" thing to do.
"The attachment – like you say it becomes an addiction and an addiction for that child too because they only know the boob."
"It’s just not normal, is it? I’m sorry, I find it very weird," she admitted.
Millen's remarks were slated online, and she has since apologised following waves of backlash.
"The question was aimed at a three-year-old being breastfed, and my thoughts on that and my answers reflected that, not the subject of breastfeeding. And as a woman to woman, I do respect your choices and I do want to support you."
She added, "Whatever you do, remember you know best about what's right for you and your baby."
A spokesperson for the brand stressed that Karen Millen isn't involved in the company anymore.
However, they stressed that her opinions don't reflect their brand values.
"We hear and understand the concerns regarding Karen's comments. To be clear, while Karen founded the brand, she is no longer involved in the business, and her comments do not reflect the views or values of our brand.
"We recognise that the decision to breastfeed is deeply personal, and we fully support every parent in making the choices that are right for their family."
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